Shopping spree

"This is the best trip of my life."

"This is about the thousandth time you're saying that, Tristan."

"Has anyone ever told you you're a buzzkill, Ian?"

"You're neither first nor last."

Tristan tsked.

But seriously, Ian Crane didn't have the time to think about any other thing. He had to think and fast. Over 50,000,000 was at stake here and he couldn't risk that.

Though he was a famous pilot and didn't lack money, greed does things to people and he was one of those people.

They were in one of the best hotels in the Country having the time of their lives, the next day they would take flight.

And he had his plan ready.

He took permission to extend his home-coming because he had to do a lot of shopping. And truly, he had to do a whole lot of shopping, his siblings and cousins had called him more times than he could count since they landed, which was barely 28 minutes ago, and most of which were however ignored, to remind him to get them their Gifts when returning.

He lay down after pushing Tristan out of his room and when his head hit the pillow, he realized he was fatigued. He was asleep in matter of minutes and only woke up once at night, he remembered he hadn't taken his bathe, but soon he pushed it to the back of his mind and went back to sleep.

The next morning, he woke up to continuous banging at the door and he knew who it was. Tristan. He groaned and got off the bed.

An excited, dapper-looking Tristan was outside the door. He was dressed in black rugged jeans, with a black top which could be seen peeping beneath his Balenciaga sweater and his feet were clad in black trainers.

Ian frowned, throwing a glance over his shoulder at the Clock. "Man, it's 7:28. In the morning."

Tristan looked him up and down first, before glancing at his watch. "Aren't we supposed to be on a shopping spree?"

Ian groaned, realizing he had long days ahead of him. Nevertheless, he couldn't leave this man behind, they were college buddies and later became inseparable.

He leaned against the door with a sigh. "We have the whole day to do that."

"But I want to do it now." Tristan insisted like a child throwing a tantrum.

"Suit yourself." Ian closed the door.

"Wait...." Tristan searched unsuccessfully for the knob, but when he found it, the door was already closed.

Frustrated, he turned to walk away, but he turned back and clung to the door, spewing rubbish and he knew it. "You know what, they say action speaks louder than words, so buy me a suit while saying that!"

He walked back to his room slowly, mumbling to himself, "should I remove this or wear it till he's ready?"

Back in the room, Ian lay down and covered himself, only to kick off the covers minutes later and sit up in frustration.

One thing, he couldn't say no to Tristan. The guy was like a child. A big child. And if he said no to him, he couldn't help feeling guilty.

He managed to throw a shirt and pants on after taking a bath, and took long strides to Tristan's room. The thought of knocking crossed his mind, but he remembered the alarm Tristan set him that morning.

"Time for revenge, buddy." He grinned a little. Thus pressing the door bell with a finger, he banged continuously on the door with the other and didn't stop until the door was opened.

A very irritated Tristan stood on the other side, glaring daggers at him. "Must you be so noisy?"

Thinking of when Tristan started to care about the noise, he walked round him and slumped on the couch with another sigh. "I think I remember someone waking me up in a similar way."

"Must you revenge?" Tristan scowled, banging the door close.

"Of course."

Ian saw Tristan walk to the kitchen and bring out a tin of green tea.

"I thought we were going shopping."

"We will," he agreed gruffly, "when I'm done."

Ian got up and walked to the door, grabbing a chocolate bar from the side. "You know I don't wait for anyone, so when you're done, you come."

"Wait, you surly thing!" He shouted after him, closing the tin and shoving it back in the cupboard with difficulty, but it fell and he had to kick it back into a corner, because he knew Ian could, would leave him behind.

They had informed the company before going, so a Rolls-Royce stopped in front of them just as Ian was about to book a cab.

Tristan gaped at the car, but when they got into it, he couldn't help saying out loud, "this is the best trip of....."

"Not again, Tristan."

The company had made arrangements for their shopping, they didn't need to tell the driver where they were going, they were dropped in front of JR.

Ian went to the Female Shoe Section first, since he had lots of female relatives, while Tristan had to go to the Male Shoe Section. Each had an assistant.

Tristan almost freaked out when he saw the price tags, but then, they weren't paying for the clothes.

"That's a company that appreciates customers." He mused, hitting the shoe rack playfully to spread his excitement to something else.

He was deciding to stop, hours later, when he saw something from the corner of his eye. He moon-walked back without a care in the world at the weird look his female assistant and others gave him. He picked it up. It was black in colour, but the top was green, snake skin, simple and fine, with gold buttons, though they were unnecessary because it couldn't be buckled.

He scrutinized it a little bit. "One more won't make you go broke, rich company I've forgotten its name." He was about to give it to the assistant, when someone snatched it up.

A lady. She was short, he could have sworn she was beyond 4 feet since he was so tall. Her skin was slightly tanned, and her little, pride-filled eyes was enough to make Tristan scoff.

The famous Priscilla Ericsson.

He hadn't even noticed her until now, maybe because there were a lot of high profile people there and there was no need to gush over each other since they all were high-class.

Gods, he hated her with all the passion in his body. He had seen her treat people like trash only because she was rich and popular. And there was rumour she was dating a fellow actor, maybe she wanted to get the sandal for him?

Tristan couldn't care less. Dating or not, he couldn't let her treat him like she did others.

"I'm buying this," she said crisply, "look for another." With that, she handed out a black card and gave the shoe to her assistant.

Tristan ran a tongue along his lips.

Wasn't that an insult? Whatever it was, he wasn't ready to take it, so he grabbed the sandal from her assistant who was standing a little behind her. She had little or no time at all to react.

"I want this one. You go look for another one."

She glared up at him for a long time, then just grabbed the other pair and held it, probably because, she didn't trust her assistant holding it anymore. "Then we share." She said, flinging her hair in his face as she made to walk away.

He glanced at her chubby back, scowling. "What an attitude from something with such looks."

She turned.

"What did you say?"

"I don't see how what I say turns out to be your business."

Her face split into a smile then. "You're right, I shouldn't concern myself with such wretches."

"Then you should jump out your body."

Ian face-palmed himself mentally from the other side.

Priscilla turned away, looking a bit satisfied that she hit her spot, but she didn't take too many steps before she turned, looking agitated. She treaded closer to him, realizing what he meant just then.

"You're calling me a wretch?"

"You're realizing that now?" He shrugged, thinking, so it was true she was a dummy.

"You fool?" She spat, walking close to slap him, only to realize she was too short when she got nearer. But, in order not to waste her raised hand and embarrass herself, she hit him on the chest with her fist and was about to storm away, when he took the opportunity to grab the other pair, plus they had started to attract little attention, so he thought since she was a Celebrity, she wouldn't want to ruin her image.

He underestimated her madness, though. She was about to grab it, but a voice stopped her.

"Miss?" She spun around, ready to narrate her ordeal to him, when his words stopped her once again, "you're required out of the building immediately. ASAP!"

"Excuse me?!" She turned fully, blinking ferociously at him. "On whose order?!" She asked, thinking it was wrong information, or they got the wrong person, but he met her gaze squarely.

"The upper authorities." He replied, curtly. Maybe he didn't like talking or he didn't like her. Tristan could relate well to the latter.

Priscilla struck out her chin. "And who are those?"

"None of your concern, you're just needed to get out." Tristan gave him a thumbs-up from behind. Maybe this was why he didn't like to talk much, he might say rude things like these.

Tristan stepped up. "Didn't you hear him?" She thought of striking him again, but again, she was too short, so she decided to use words.

The Man must have fore-seen it, he just called security through his Bluetooth and they were there immediately, not needing to be told who to throw out.

"Don't you touch me, bastards!" But whether she liked it or not, they succeeded in dragging her out.

Meaning clear. Priscilla Ericsson was banned from JR.

"The shoes should be given to him. Everything on the rack." He told the employees. They scurried away at once.

"What?" Tristan asked in a daze, he couldn't believe it. There were over a thousand shoes here, and all of them were for him? That was new luck.

"It's a decision from above, don't look so bewildered." He went to Tristan and offered his hand. "Sorry for the mess."

He took it, a little smile on his lips. "No problem."

"You were one tough guy."

"I don't like her."

"I guessed." He seemed friendly now than when he was talking to Priscilla. "Russell Murray, PM."

"Tristan Grover."

"Should we be shaking hands this long?"

"I don't think so." Tristan shook his head and they disentangled hands, shrugging.

"I have to get back to work. Nice meeting you."

"Same here. I'm sure you're very busy, so it's time you fuck off."

"Inappropriate word, but reasonable. Nice to meet you again."

"Same here." He said again.

Tristan watched him walk away.

All in all, the girl only got what she deserved, she almost ruined his moment.

He had to go down to wait for Ian, but found he was already there, in the car.

Tristan threw a leg in. "You'll never imagine..."

"Priscilla was banned. You got all the footwear. Wow, I can't imagine." He completed sarcastically, throwing Tristan a look.

He blinked. "How did you.... Ohhh." He stoppedd when Ian showed him his phone. The internet sure had ways of ruining surprises.

The video was tagged 'bitch shown her place.'

Tristan got thoughtful.

'What's the meaning of JR?"

"Jasmine Reign."

"Good guess." So that was why everything was in his favour.

He yanked his other leg into the Car. "Let's go, I'm very tired." He said, letting out a stretch that almost ended up hitting Ian's eyes.

"Watch it."

"Sorry."