Chapter 20 Chapter 19:
Arya:
Tuesday comes faster than expected and Mrs. Brookes has already texted me the address where we are going shopping, since I am going to work, I am meeting her in the evening. Before I leave work, I grab my coat from the edge of the chair and log out of the computer.
“Do you need a ride home?” Axel asks, as he gathers his things. Wanda already left earlier than us because apparently she has a ‘rich date’ tonight with some hotshot millionaire CEO from a company that I can’t seem to remember. Sigh, everyone’s just dreaming of scoring a rich dude these days.
“No, but thank you.” We linger in the office door for a while. I am really nervous to meet Barbara, but the best part is we are going to be shopping all evening, so I have more collections to add to my closet. Also as a designer, studying the latest trends is a must.
Devon already informed me this morning that he is flying to Canada this evening when I get back, something to do with business, I think.
He’s going to be gone for two weeks, and that’s it. No big deal.
“So...Any hot dates lined up today?” I ask him, with a brow raised, setting him and Wanda together is futile, since Wanda is all for the rich guys.
“Yes, I am going to Netflix and chill tonight.” He grins but his face pales when he sees the color drain away from my face. “With my cat, I mean.” The tip of his ears turn bright red, I elbow him in the shoulder, though as I come outside, Clara’s eyes are fixed on me from her glass walls.
I take an Uber to the boutique. As I approach the building, I can’t help but marvel at the sight. Expensive cars are parked outside, on the building is written in gold shimmering letters, ‘Maison de luxe.’ Which is French for the house of luxury.
I can’t help but feel giddy at the prospect that Devon’s step-mother is treating me to this kind of luxury, the entrance door glides open as I step aside, I am almost left breathless, the air smells amazing here- like perfume meant for the elite.
The marble floor stretches out beneath me, and the racks of clothing are spread out with price tags that could make almost anybody gasp. There’s another golden glass that displays accessories that will almost make anybody giddy.
Feeling a strong presence behind me, I turn and see Barbara striding towards me, with the same kind of elegance she used to receive Devon and I the other day. “Oh, Arya. Dear, lovely you could make it,” her slender arms wrap around me slowly, her powder wafting through me. “You look stunning as usual. Isn’t it perfect? Just you and I, shopping.” She smiles brightly and because I don’t want to feel awkward, I smile too.
A tall, elegant woman approaches wearing a tailor made blouse tucked into a pencil skirt. “Bonsoir, Mesdames.” She says, her voice thick with a French accent. “I am Madame Leclair, the owner of this Maison de luxe; it’s my pleasure to assist you. Please follow me.” She turns, her high heel clicking on the floor.
I keep a tiny smile, this kind of life feels rare, yes I treat myself good all the time, but this? This is another form of luxury that I couldn’t afford even if I tried; she leads us through the boutique, stopping in front of clothes where she tells us all about the type of fabric used and whichever celebrity wore it, the chandelier above the tall ceilings cast a warm, soft glow on the racks.
When I touch it, the silk feels comforting underneath my fingers.
For a moment, I try to imagine the clothes that I designed displayed on this rack, with my initials on them, that will be a dream, but at this rate, I don’t even think having my own design line will be possible.
“This way, please.” Madame Leclair continues, turning gracefully on her heels, she approaches a crimson curtain and opens it, the room is dimly lit with the walls painted in a cream color, velvety sofas facing each other, on the center table is a bottle of chilled champagne. The air smells amazing here like jasmine and roses.
“Please sit down while the workers arrange the best collection for you.” She smiles- it’s not particularly a smile that meets her eyes, but is sharp enough to make anyone feel welcome.
Barbara nods at her, before she disappears out the curtains.
Barbara sits down and crosses her legs together. “I don’t like the champagne they serve here; it’s so salty and tastes horrible, thankfully I brought my own.” A woman with a straight face walks in, dropping a bottle of Blanc de noirs on the table; she walks away without even saying a word.
Barbara fills the two glasses with champagne, as if this is normal to her, just like an everyday walkthrough, I can’t even imagine what her closet looks like.
But this? This is a whole step into a luxurious world for me. I don’t know Barbara much but I can tell she’s a nice person. What I don’t get is why Devon acts so coldly around her.
“Let me tell you darling, life was really hard when Devon’s mother died. Let me show you something.” She digs through her purse and brings out a photo, before handing it over to me.
Staring at it, I frown. I recognize Devon’s father, he still has the same rugged, sharp look, beside him, is a woman smiling brightly, with light green eyes, wearing a floral gown.
Two small boys stand in front of them, not much around eleven, they aren’t smiling like the woman, but they are alike. Beside them is a woman...whom I recognize as Barbara, but the younger version, also smiling brightly.
“What is this...?” The question dies slowly as it leaves my mouth.
“That is Devon’s mother and I. We were close, best-friends actually, we have known each other since when we were little, her name is Kathy, gosh. You would have loved her.” She dabs her eyes with a handkerchief she fetched out of her purse.
The two boys...I look at the photo again, not unsure of what I should be seeing, but the resemblance is there, the sharp eyes, the unwillingness to smile, the ticked jaw.
“Devon.” I say breathlessly, looking at the other boy. “Who’s he?”
She sighs, “The point is when Kathy died, Devon’s father took it horribly, I was there for him all throughout helping him to recover, and I just fell in love during the process.” She looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed. “Did I betray Kathy? Is love a sin? I feel like anytime I wake up, she’s up there screaming at me.”
I don’t know what to say, well if they are best-friends, Devon must have known her all his life, but why does he....?
“I know what you are thinking. I don’t have a stable relationship with Devon, and I have been trying to fix that for years now. He thinks I stole his mother’s life, and it hurts because all I did was just fall in love with his father.”
I don’t know why I feel tears pricking at the corner of my eyes; Mrs. Brookes didn’t do anything horrible to Devon, so why does he resent her?
Even though it’s not my place to say, I grab her hand, and gently tap her palm. “Mrs. Brookes, I really don’t like to talk about family matters, but maybe I can convince Devon to spend more time with you.” It might not work since Devon and I are only fake-dating, but Mrs. Brookes is doing everything to be close to her friend’s son.
That is the least I can do for her.
“You would do that for me? Thank you so much, darling. Angels do come in the form of people.”
I can’t help but smile at her words.
“Now, Arya dear. Why don’t we have champagne? I brought it specifically from my house.” She gives me a smile and hands over the glass to me, she holds hers in her hand, still grinning.
My phone pings with a text from the babysitter.
Babysitter: Hi, Miss. Morris! Sorry to bother you, but Vera is running a high temperature, do you think you can stop by the medicine section of the mall and get some medicine?
Me: I am on my way.
My heart skips a bit, Vera can’t be sick; the thought of her shivering and burning hot has me leaping out of the chair and grabbing my bag. Barbara looks at me in shock, “whatever is the matter, dear?”
I want to open my mouth and tell her about Vera, but Devon specifically said not to tell anyone, so I say something else. “I am really sorry, Mrs. Brookes, but there’s an emergency at home, I am afraid I have to leave, and I am sorry, I really hoped we could spend some time together this evening.”
Her concerned smile fixes on me. “At least have some champagne before you leave.” She says forcefully.
“I am really sorry, but I can’t. Champagne makes me dizzy and I really need to concentrate, I promise to bring a bottle of champagne the next time I visit!” I rush out of the relaxation room, Madame Leclair is surprised to see me leave and I apologize.
Only when I am out of the boutique do I realize that Barbara never did tell me about the other boy in the picture.
I take a taxi down to the mall and hurry to the medicine section. The pharmacist attends to me kindly as I spill over the details. I consider texting Devon, but he might be in his office and his flight leaves at any moment from now. Besides, we don’t really exchange text messages.
When I come outside, I notice him immediately, a man wearing a black coat, hands tucked into his pockets, peering intently at me, a shiver can’t help but run my spine, there’s something off about him, something so weird, I shudder.
He catches me, before casually strolling into the shoe store, for a moment, my heart skips a beat. There was just something so...off with him, like a negative energy, it’s a shame I didn’t get to see his face, why am I worrying about some random stranger?
I walk hurriedly through the escalator, it’s almost closing hours and we are all jammed in the escalator, as it goes down. I keep jerking my knees impatiently, waiting for this to end so I can go see my beloved Vera.
I am biting through my nails, when I feel that negative energy, whisking my head. I stare at the man from earlier beside me, we lock eyes and that familiar shiver runs through me again. I am almost six steps down when I feel his elbows brush against mine, before shoving me hard.
I lose balance and soon I am falling off the escalator, trying to grip the railing but all I hold on to is thin air, my feet slipping under me as I tumble towards the floor.
The impact is brutal; pain shoots through my body as I hit the hard tiles, my knee jerks and my body feels paralyzed to the floor, the buzzing of people gathering around resounds in an echoing distance.
For a moment, the thought of not going home to give Vera her medicine terrorizes me, my health doesn't matter, I need to get home to my daughter.
My visions blur and darkness starts to surround me, my vision spills in faded colors and echoes of the people gathering, my eyelids feel heavy and I don’t think I can keep up with keeping it open.
Finally...As the darkness consumes me, all I can think about is my little daughter...for some unknown reason, Devon and then, everything turns blank.