Chapter 9: The shopping

_Her boss looked up at her in surprise. "Alena, what's going on? You're one of our best employees."_

Alena smiled politely, trying to appear calm. "I'm sorry, but I need to leave for personal reasons," she said, her voice firm but polite.

Her boss looked disappointed but nodded understandingly. "Okay, Alena. You'll be missed. Can I ask what you plan to do next?"

Alena hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "I'm not entirely sure yet," she said, trying to sound casual. "I just need to take some time to figure things out."

Her boss nodded again, seeming to accept Alena's explanation. "Well, if you ever need a reference or anything, don't hesitate to reach out."

Alena smiled and thanked her boss, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she left the office for the last time.

_Later That Day_

Alena received a text from Mariam with a mysterious message: "Meet me at the coffee shop at 5 pm. Come alone."

——-

Alena arrived at the coffee shop at 5 pm sharp, looking around cautiously for any sign of Mariam. She spotted her sitting in the corner, sipping a latte.

Mariam looked up and caught Alena's eye, flashing her a bright smile. "Alena, darling," she said, beckoning her over. "Come join me."

Alena walked over to Mariam's table, her curiosity piqued.

"What's this about, Mariam?" she asked, taking a seat.

Mariam leaned in, a conspiratorial look on her face.

"I have your new profile ready," she said, pulling out a folder filled with papers. "But first, I need to brief you on the plan."

Alëna listened.

" You are still going to be Alëna Vexar. Your parents are both abroad and also grew up from there. You just came to Chattin for a tour and to attend a few business events. Do you get that ?" Mariam asked.

" Yes ma'am." Alëna responded.

" We are going to do the shopping and you will look different from now." Mariam said.

" But Ma'am, It's getting late. I should get back home on time." Alëna said.

" Alright, Go and revise the profile. Don't forget a single Information in it. Tomorrow we are doing the shopping at 10am. Find me at White Castle Mall." Mariam said.

" Okay, I will be there."

——

When Alëna reached home she confessed to Sophia that she quit nursing.

Sophia's eyes widened in surprise as she put down the book she was reading.

"What? Alëna, why did you quit your job?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Alëna took a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts. "I just couldn't take it anymore, Mom. The job was suffocating me, and I felt like I was losing myself in the process."

Sophia nodded understandingly, her expression softening. "I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself, sweetie. But what are you going to do now?"

Alëna hesitated, unsure of how to reveal her plan. "I...I'm going to help Mrs Wilson. She offered me a job. We have a project," she said finally, trying to gauge her mother's reaction.

Sophia's eyes narrowed slightly. "What kind of project?" she asked, her tone cautious.

Sophia's expression changed from concern to relief. "Oh, that's wonderful, sweetie! I'm so glad Mariam was able to offer you a new job. What will you be doing?"

Alëna felt a pang of guilt for lying to her mothe she knew it was necessary to keep her real plans with Mariam a secret.

"I'll be...uh...working as a marketing consultant," she said, trying to sound convincing.

Sophia smiled, seeming to buy the lie. "That sounds perfect for you, Alëna. I'm so proud of you for bouncing back so quickly."

Alëna forced a smile, feeling a twinge of guilt for deceiving her mother.

She knew she'd have to keep up the charade until her mission with Mariam was complete.

***

The next day was a Friday and as agreed Alëna went to White Castle Mall to meet Mariam.

Alëna and Mariam spent the afternoon browsing through the various stores in the White Castle Mall. They tried on clothes, shoes, and accessories, and Alëna was impressed by Mariam's keen eye for style.

As they walked through the mall, their arms laden with shopping bags, Alëna couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and liberation. She had never been much of a shopper, but with Mariam's guidance, she was discovering a new side of herself.

Their first stop was a trendy clothing store, where Mariam helped Alëna pick out a few outfits that accentuated her curves. Next, they visited a shoe store, where Alëna tried on several pairs of heels and boots. Mariam offered her opinion on each pair, and Alëna was grateful for her input.

After the shoe store, they made their way to a boutique that specialized in designer handbags. Alëna's eyes widened as she scanned the shelves, taking in the array of luxurious brands. Mariam smiled knowingly and handed her a sleek black bag.

"Try this one," Mariam said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Alëna took the bag and examined it carefully. The leather was soft and supple, and the design was sleek and sophisticated. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as she held the bag in her hands.

Finally, they visited a jewelry store, where Mariam helped Alëna pick out a few pieces that complemented her new outfits. Alëna was amazed by the way the jewelry seemed to bring out the colors in her clothes.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Alëna and Mariam made their way to the mall's food court. They sat down at a table, exhausted but exhilarated from their shopping spree.

"I had so much fun today," Alëna said, smiling at Mariam.

Mariam smiled back, her eyes glinting with amusement. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," she said. "You deserve it."

Mariam looked at her wrist watch and it was getting to 3pm. Let's go to the salon now. You have to get your hair and nails worked on.