Get That Ring

7th December

"I hate diamonds." Zoe said this for the third time of the day, "It is a scam." 

"You hate diamonds because you are poor." Harry was driving but still had the energy to pick on Zoe, "It is unarguably the best if you consider how long it will last- which is forever. That's how long people want their marriages to last, usually." 

"But this is a fake one, you and me, so let's pick a cheap stone." Zoe snapped back.

"This is someone out of your control, Zoe." Harry drove into the biggest luxurious shopping street in Belton, the place Zoe had always tried to avoid when she went shopping.

"Hi, Mr. Ace, we received your appointment last night, so happy that you chose us to help you find your dream ring." 

Before Zoe and Harry even walked into the store, the manager was already waiting in front and started talking to Harry the moment she saw him. 

Zoe was supposed to be the "bride" but no one seemed to care about her, they kept asking Harry if he needed something, if he would like to see something while Zoe was there as an outsider.

"So what are we thinking?" Harry ignored the manager and asked Zoe directly, "Princess cut? Oval? Pearl?" 

"Wow, you know so much about diamonds, been here before? Got experience?" Zoe sounded like a jealous girlfriend to the outside eyes but both she and Harry knew that she was genuinely curious. 

"No, just had to search it up before coming here with you," Harry sounded like the perfect boyfriend anyone would like to have, "want you to have the best." 

Ewww.

Zoe thought to herself, but she knew she had to play this through with him. 

"I don't want princess cut, that seems so sharp, maybe something more classic," Zoe started looking at the exhibited rings, "what is our budget?" She said out of habit.

Even the store manager laughed upon hearing her words. 

"What budget, " Harry patted her head, "you need to learn to treat yourself sometimes." 

Zoe started walking around the store and searching for a ring that she wouldn't feel bad about wearing- she didn't want something that would get her killed if she walked outside with it. 

"This one looks like it will fit you," Harry asked Zoe to go over, the manager took the ring out and wanted to help Zoe put it on, but Harry stopped her and wanted to put the ring on Zoe himself.

"What a perfect couple!" The manager gasped.

"Serious, Harry, you need to be the actor here. You are good." Zoe whispter to him.

But Harry was right, it was a nice ring- classic round cut with a platinum ring body, the most important thing was that the ring itself wasn't too much. 

"She has small hands," Harry explained to the manager, "this will be better for an everyday type of ring." 

Zoe nodded in agreement and wanted to finish the shopping mission, but she didn't know that was not the biggest task of the day. 

"Have you received the diamond snack necklace?" Harry asked the manager.

"Yes, Sir, please follow me." 

"Where are we going?" This was the first time Zoe went into the VIP room.

 She knew that the store probably closed down for the day just to have the two of them there, but she didn't know there was another VIP room inside the store. 

It looked like a rich person's collection room, everything was so bright that she had trouble looking around.

"Please have a seat, Miss... Or should I say Ms. Ace?" The manager seemed like she was in love with Zoe. 

"Miss Jones," Zoe corrected her, "Zoe Jones, nice to meet you." 

"She is a strong independent woman, she is not going to take my name." Harry took the chance to make fun of Zoe, but all she could do was give him a glare when other people weren't looking.

The manager gently put Zoe's hair to the side and put a heavy necklace on her- it was shaped like a snack indeed, a snack that was biting its tail. 

"This whole thing is made of diamond?" Zoe asked, feeling the cold stones touching her skin, she had to take off her sweater just so that Harry could see what it looked like to have the necklace on her skin.

"It is, but the eyes are made out of gems, as you can see." The manager knew that Zoe wasn't an expert in this field so didn't bother to tell her too much about it.

"It's good, we will take this, and the whole set. I will tell Dan to pick it up before the event." Harry liked the way the necklace suited Zoe's vibe. 

"Oh, Dan, how is he! I miss him." The manager was familiar with everyone. 

"So it wasn't your first time getting a ring?" Zoe asked on the way back to their apartment. 

"Why would you say that?" Harry thought that was an interesting question.

"Because they knew you before and even know Dan."

"Yes, we have been there before to pick out sponsored items for events." Harry started watching Zoe's reaction using the side of his eyes while driving.

She had been looking at her ring this entire time, seeing how it looked from different angles.

"You like it? The ring?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it is beautiful." Zoe said, "You do have good taste in this." 

"That's good. Your first mission is on the 15th this month, if you do good, I will get you another one."