Chapter 44 Shopping
Isabella didn't know how long she had been crying but her cheeks were now dry. The visibility of dried tears on her cheeks.
'This is for the better.' she muttered. Her back placed on the sheets while she glanced up to look at the intricate designs of the ceilings.
She exhaled slowly, a feeling so foreign settling deep in her bones.
Nothing—no one— has ever made her feel so complicated and unsure of her self.
The fact she could have used a kiss to take something from him, bubbled in her heart.
She tightly closed her eyes.
Her best Serah would have known what best to do in this situation. She always had the right words to say to her.
She felt a prick at her heart at the thought of her best friend.
She missed her very dearly as no one could fill her space in her heart.
Though there were new people in her life, Serah was still more important, second to Daisy.
Elizaveta, cared for her sister dearly and that she was very grateful.
Natalya, always around to her in good ways. She always looked at Isabella like she was her lost sister.
But still, Serah was still missed in Isabella's heart.
Maybe she would kiss him and risk asking for a phone, since hers were lost when she was kidnapped by, Nikolai.
The problem now, he no longer wanted the kiss.
An exasperated sigh left her lips as a knock drifted her thoughts away.
The door was pulled open followed by a figure who had elegantly walked in.
Upon noticing the person, Isabella quickly sprang to her feet.
"Anya." A surprised expression marred her face.
Her eyes drifted to the box in her hands, "Is there a problem?"
"No problem." She replied and added, "Good morning, Isabella."
Isabella cleared her throat and replied, "Ah" her eyes quickly glanced to the clock at the wall.
Fifteen past Eleven in the morning.
A gasp ripped through her but she forced it down, instead, she replied.
"Good morning to you too, Anya."
Anya didn't hesitate to trail between long talks, "This is for you, Aleksandr told me to take you shopping. I brought this for you, since you had no clothes." She stretched the box to her.
Isabella eyes went wide as she took the box.
"Thank you. I hope this won't encroach on your personal time."
"No at all. I was actually going to shop myself. Why not double the fun." Anya let out a warm laugh.
"Yh right! I will quickly get ready."
She dashed into the bathroom while Anya looked around the room.
She noticed the ruffled the sheet. The part of the pillows that was drenched in tears.
She had informed a maid to bring this dress to Isabella but the maid returned after no response with some weird sounds heard through the room.
Dressed in a flowered print dress paired with white sandals, Isabella came through the bathroom door.
She looked more beautiful, more ethereal with her golden hair that fell over her shoulders and jade green eyes that were innocent.
Anya's eyes lingered more than necessary before she spoke.
"Beautiful. Now let's spend the men's money." She watched as Isabella's jaw dropped but she quickly linked her arms with Isabella's before she could say a word and led them out of the house.
Isabella couldn't help but let her eyes wander around in search of Nikolai but her search was futile.
She only caught a door that was left opened and as she peeked, she saw some maids cleaning up the mess.
The stench of alcohol high in the air.
How were so many bottles broken?
.
.
"This would look good on you, Bella. Try it on." Anya picked out the pink dress hanging on a rack of other dresses and pushed it into Isabella's hands.
Isabella's hand were already full.
"OMG! It's okay Anya. I have already tried on more than ten dresses." She complained, her arms aching.
"Okay. Okay. After this round we will go." She said putting a faux brown coat among her pile of clothes.
Noticing Isabella turmoil, she winked at her.
"You literally have nothing. Don't tell me you expect me to borrow you another wear!"
"That's not—"
"Good. Best to start trying them on. We've spent three hours already."
Isabella could only shake her head, and went to try on the dress.
Each time she came out, Anya raised or bent her thumb to her, signalling they were either a bad or good choices.
Finally, she came out with the faux brown coat, Anya had tossed on her last with dark trousers and a soft cream top.
Anya, raised her two thumbs, "Wow!" Her jaw dropped on Isabella's other worldly beauty.
The light above her head softened her features with the cream top that made her glow even more, alleviating her beauty.
The brown coat gave her this quiet ‘don’t test me’ thing. Like yeah she’s beautiful, but there’s still something tough under there.
Isabella watched as every lady in the dressing room stopped for a moment to stare at her.
She wasn't used to this much eyes on her without her mask that slightly obscured her face when she worked at the club.
Was she ever going to continue that job?
"Here take this. Try it on." Anya giggled like a school kid who was gifting a friend her most prized item.
Isabella stared at the red bottom heel, "But—"
"This outfit needs a pair of heels and not some sandals. Moreover, you're short no one would notice you grew a bit taller."
Her lips pressed in a thin line. It was better to shut up than to be called short again.
It wasn't her fault she was born this way.
She sat on a spare couch and before she could wear the shoes herself, a saleswoman came to her aid.
"Ah! Miss. Sorry for the inconvenience. I'm meant to do that actually."
The saleswoman quickly took the shoes from her and gently removed, Isabella's sandals before putting the red bottoms for her.
Isabella hadn't even stood up when she heard, her voice, "Were taking it and this, this, this and this."
Anya had just casually picked four extra shoes, each one a different colour, style and beauty.
Isabella watched as the Saleswoman left, "That's too much money, Anya. We're already at an expensive boutique. Nikolai and Aleksandr would go bankrupt." Even she did not believe her own words but Anya had to be stopped.
"Nonsense. We can pick everything here and their pockets would stil be full."
Well...it wasn't her money so...
She shrugged her shoulders and watched as Anya picked more dresses, coats and lots more for herself before speaking...
"Hmm... It seems there is nothing beautiful here anymore. Time to go to the next boutique. Why don't we go to Chanel's. Prettier ladies stuff, hm?"
Her mouth fell open...
Chanel? More clothes?
Certainly not!
At this rate, she would have more clothes than necessary.
But then, Anya was already dragging her from boutique into the car.
"Anya. When will we stop?" She asked, watching through the glass as the items they had bought—Anya— was going into the trunk of the car.
"Depends? When do you want to? I was considering buying a pair of shades."
"Now."
"Okay, after I buy the sunglasses I want." Anya said, a mischief held beanth them.
.
.
Isabella walked out of the Chanel's store with Fuller hands than necessary.
Anya had purposely gotten her a lot of expensive stuff.
Three chanel bags, a pair of shades, more shoes and clothes.
"Ah! I hope this will be enough for your stay here?"
Hope?
This was more than a year's worth of clothes—in quantity not prize.
Isabella nodded and chuckled.
Anya behaved exactly like Serah.
Always urging her to spend and buy things.
The arrived back at the mansion when the sky hard turned dark.
It was roughly sharp six.
Isabella was too tired to speak and began climbing the stairs.
Thank God, Anya had told her to not bother with the shopping bags that the maids will bring them up.
"Good night, Bella. We should do this another day. "
Definitely Not!
"Good night, Anya."
Soon, she reached the top of the stairs and finally the room she and Nikolai shared.
Her heart dropped slightly at the coolness of the room.
Nikolai wasn't around. She was sure he hadn't been since she stepped out.
It should be a good thing right?
At least, no one to disturb or take half the bed from her.
Inhaling and exhaling sharply, she freshened up in the bathroom but was stunned when she saw Nikolai sprawled on the bed.
"You weren't expecting me to sleep out of my room, right?"
Her eyes still held the surprised gaze in them as she asked,
"What are you doing here?"
"Sleeping."He answ
ered nonchalantly
And before he turned his head to face the opposite side, he said,
"Into the bed, Isabella."