Chapter 25 Hearing Her Call Him, His Heart Melts
Border Ridge City is the political hub and capital of Celestria, while River City is its economic powerhouse. It's a place of luxury and wealth, where every inch of land costs a fortune, and the lifestyle is nothing short of extravagant.
Tobias took Amelia to Star Mall, the largest shopping center in River City. The mall is famous for its high-end stores, where even the cheapest items start at a few thousand dollars.
Kevin had told Tobias to get Amelia a new phone first, so they headed straight to the electronics section.
As soon as they walked in, a sales associate named Remy greeted them with enthusiasm.
“Looking for a phone today? If you have any specific needs, I can help you find the perfect one.”
“It’s for her,” Tobias said casually, nodding towards Amelia. “Ask her what she wants.”
Sales associates at this mall are sharp; Remy quickly picked up on Tobias’s laid-back attitude and realized money was no issue.
“Got it,” Remy turned to Amelia. “Miss, do you have a preference for any brand or features?”
Amelia thought for a moment. “As long as it can make calls, it’s fine.”
Remy was surprised. Most girls Amelia’s age cared about their phone's look and camera quality, but Amelia just wanted to make calls.
That's a pretty low bar, Remy thought, swallowing his pitch for the top-tier model he'd prepared.
“All phones can make calls,” Tobias said, glancing at Amelia. “Just pick the one most girls like and wrap it up.”
“Of course, Sir,” Remy’s eyes lit up.
Tobias was clearly a big spender, not even asking about the price.
Remy suggested cautiously, “Sir, we just got a new shipment of the latest ZE series phones. The new pink and white model is very popular among young women.”
“This model is in high demand and we’re the only store in River City that still has it in stock. It's our last one. How about this one?”
ZE is the top high-end phone brand globally. Even the base models start at ten thousand dollars and sell out immediately upon release.
Remy brought over the pink and white ZE phone. The cute color and sleek glass body made it perfect for a young woman.
“It’s nice,” Tobias said, looking at Amelia. “Do you like it?”
Amelia didn’t care about the phone’s appearance. As long as it met her basic needs, she was fine with it. She nodded, “This one’s fine.”
Seeing that they had reached a decision, Remy couldn’t hide his delight. “But Sir, because this phone is in such high demand, our store policy is to reserve it for VIP customers.”
“This phone is priced at $29,999. If you’re not a VIP, you can become one by preloading twenty thousand dollars onto a membership card. The phone’s cost will be deducted from the card.”
Thirty thousand dollars for a phone?
That’s highway robbery.
Amelia was about to say she didn’t need this phone and would prefer something cheaper, but Tobias had already agreed. “Sure, where do I sign up?”
“Right this way, Sir,” Remy’s smile was almost too big to contain. “Madam can wait here while you come with me to the service desk on the first floor.”
“You wait here,” Tobias said to Amelia, giving her hair a playful ruffle. “Don’t wander off, or I’ll have to come find you.”
Amelia had figured it out.
He liked feeling needed and adored.
She nodded, her voice soft and obedient. “Okay, come back soon, big brother.”
Tobias’s ears turned red.
How could Amelia be so adorable?
Hearing her call him that made his heart melt.
As soon as Tobias and Remy left the store, a young woman in her twenties, Clea, approached Amelia. From her uniform, it was clear she was a trainee sales associate.
“Madam, your boyfriend is so good to you! He didn’t even blink at preloading twenty thousand dollars. And he’s so tall and handsome.”
Clea had mistaken Tobias for Amelia’s boyfriend, probably because they were both wearing matching black T-shirts and shorts, assuming they were a couple.
Amelia didn’t bother correcting her. She just smiled politely and took out her old phone to message Michael.
[It’s Amelia. How’s your leg feeling?]
[Have you tried walking on it? Can you stand yet?]
While Amelia was typing, she overheard another customer, Fallon West, talking to Clea.
“I called ahead and you said you had one last pink and white ZE phone, right?”
Fallon’s tone was authoritative.
“I want that phone. Wrap it up for me.”
“I’m sorry, Madam. Just a few minutes before you arrived, another customer bought it. Would you like to look at other models?”
“What?” Fallon was clearly irritated. “I called you earlier and said I wanted that phone. Why didn’t you reserve it for me?”
“I apologize, Madam,” Clea said, “but we don’t hold items over the phone. It’s first come, first served.”
Fallon took a deep breath, visibly upset. “So who bought the phone? Are they still here?”
“The customer is still in the store, but her boyfriend has gone to preload the card, so I’m sorry.”
Amelia was still looking at her phone, not paying attention to their conversation.
But the next second, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Amelia? Is that really you?”
Someone she knew?
Amelia frowned slightly and looked up.
Fallon appeared to be around her age but was dressed more maturely. She stared at Amelia with wide eyes.
She was wearing a designer dress, carrying a luxury handbag, and even her earrings had noticeable logos. Her entire outfit probably cost tens of thousands of dollars, but it seemed like she was trying too hard to look wealthy.
She didn’t seem like actual nobility.
Amelia quickly searched her memory and realized that the original Amelia indeed knew Fallon. In fact, they were quite familiar with each other.