Shopping (2)

Gina Wright knew that today was the luckiest day in her 21 years of living. She had shown up to work in the morning to find out that a big boss had booked out the store for the rest of the day causing an impromptu closure. All the associates in the store were guaranteed a large payout as long as they successfully helped out the client and it was all hands on deck.

As a new and young sales associate, she was always relegated to the less wealthy clients which caused her commissions to be low. Everybody had heard of the name Richard Carrington, but nobody knew who the special guest that he was bringing was. Since nobody knew who the client was, this was a chance for her to make an impression and maybe secure herself a regular. After all, anybody who could cause a big boss to close down the store for a day was someone whose influence could not be measured.

When the client finally arrived, it was without fanfare. A handsome man in a military uniform and the coldest eyes she had ever seen walked in along with a beautiful woman. The woman was tall and looked cold yet elegant, like a human glacier. She was dressed in a jacket dress and combat boots and seemed like the feminine reflection of the man. She had long white hair that fell below her waist with bangs that framed her delicate-looking face. Unreal purple eyes that glanced at everything curiously and lush pink lips curled up in a smile. When she looked over, Gina felt dazzled as if the sun was shining on her.

"I expect you to treat my lady well and give her anything she asks for, understood?" Hearing the ice-cold words while the man pressed a kiss on the woman's head, Gina knew she had to excel today. This woman would be her meal ticket!!!

Hearing the woman say she was looking for the most expensive sapphire jewelry sets, Gina knew she had it in the bag. She had a senior who worked at the Tiffany & Co. flagship store who had secretly told her about a new piece that had been transferred, the Sapphire Droplet Collection. When she looked up the collection online, she thought it looked like jewelry made by fairies. The earrings were large sapphires shaped like teardrops on a platinum chain. The matching necklace was a choker that had a large diamond-shaped sapphire that branched out like a chandelier with a small diamond and larger droplets of sapphire. There were matching sapphire and diamond bracelets as well and the whole set was beautiful and unreal.

Gina immediately sprinted to the Tiffany & Co. storefront and barged in even though there was a closed sign on the entrance. She made her way to the counter panting and cried out.

"I need to see the manager!"

"I'll forgive you this once for this disgraceful behavior, but you need to leave!" a sales associate behind the counter coldly told her.

"Hah hah, I'm here to buy the Sapphire Droplet Collection on behalf of Mr. Richard Carrington." Gina panted as she tried to get her word out.

"Hah! You think I'll believe that?" the sales associate snorted.

"You can call Bergdorf Goodman to call and check but I assure you, you'll regret it if you don't go tell your manager." Gina gave her most serious look.

Seeing the firm expression on Gina's face, the associate quickly made a call. After a few moments, her face immediately turned pale.

"Please stay here, while I contact the manager." She ordered Gina before running off.

Gina waited for over two hours and became antsy once she saw the time ticking away. Although she thought that this would be the best jewelry piece at the mall, she couldn't completely rule out the fact that somebody might have insider information the way she did and had gotten something better. She had to return first!

Thankfully not too long after, the associate who helped her along with a man holding a leather briefcase and two security guards quickly approached her.

"Are you an associate from Bergdorf Goodman?" the man holding the briefcase asked.

"Yes sir."

"I'm the manager here. Please lead the way then so we can finish the purchase." The man told her, and Gina thought she could hear his voice shaking. Of course, her voice would be shaking as well if she was about to get the commission coming from a multimillion-dollar sale.

"Yes!" Gina calmly led him back to Bergdorf Goodman, even though she felt like sprinting. As she led him to the dressing area, she noticed the flurry of activity as different associates were running back and forth with different clothing items in their hands.

Gina hurriedly led the manager to the back and saw Miss Carrington standing while ordering some people around.

"Take that necklace back and find me another one."

"Those shoes are hideous and feel uncomfortable. Next please."

"Uhm Miss Carrington my name is Gina. I've brought jewelry I think you would like." Gina nervously interrupted.

Celeste turned to the timid voice calling her 'Miss Carrington' and saw a mousy-looking girl with brown hair leading a group of three men.

"Oh? Bring it here let me see." Celeste ordered.

Carrolton quietly observed the beautiful white-haired woman in front of him before he sighed in his heart. Miss Titania, it seems that this time you're horribly mistaken. The Sapphire Droplet Collection wasn't being bought for her; it was being bought by a woman who everyone around was calling 'Miss Carrington'.

Carrolton quietly kept his thoughts to himself and respectfully brought the jewelry over.

Celeste looked it over and seeing the exquisite craftsmanship, she knew that it was a rare special piece. Everything about it called to her and even though it might not be the most expensive piece, she knew it would be one of a kind.

"Good Job. I'll take it. No need to tell me the price just go settle it with the associates." Celeste kindly told him.

"Gina good work on bringing this in!" Celeste complimented the girl causing her young face to blush furiously.

"Miss Carrington, do you mind if I make a recommendation for you?" Carrolton carefully asked. He was someone who chased money and seeing the woman in front of him not even inquire about the price of the jewelry she just purchased, he knew she had a lot of money. Seeing that she had numerous sapphire items surrounding her, he felt as if he understood what she was trying to do. After all, he had been selling jewelry to women in high society for several decades. He understood the complexities and secret battles they had with each other with their jewelry and clothing.

"There is a diamond floral circlet that would go perfectly with your hair. The gemstones would catch and reflect the light beautifully and it would even accentuate the gems of the jewelry you just bought. I assure you, you're the only one who would be wearing the piece tonight, and would be a way to differentiate yourself and outshine anyone at the gathering you're attending."

Hearing the subtle hints, the man was implying, Celeste only smirked. It seemed he was somewhat smart and knew how to suck up appropriately.

"Bring it over and let me take a look. If I like it go and settle the bill. No need to tell me the price" She ordered before turning away and continuing her examination of the items being brought before her.

***

Ring!! Your account has been charged $10000.

Ring!! Your account has been charged $11000.

Ring!! Your account has been charged $15000.

Richard gazed at his phone which was constantly notifying him of charges coming through. Remembering Celeste's sly face as she angrily told him that she would be spending his money until he became bankrupt, he laughed at the small change that was being spent.

He had gone back to his office to handle some business that had come up and planned on heading back to the mall to pick Celeste up before heading to the banquet.

"Commander sir! I am sorry to interrupt you, but It seems there's a problem! Someone seems to have stolen your card somehow and just spent over two million dollars. I will immediately contact the fraud department to track the person down and begin freezing the affected assets." Mary Adler burst into his office in a panic.

Richard glanced at this phone and saw that not only had Celeste spent over one million dollars in one go. A follow-up charge of another million was added less than a minute later. It appeared she did know how to spend money and spent it without hesitating in the slightest.

"Don't worry about it." Richard considered calling Celeste to ask what exactly she was buying, but he would be seeing her soon enough and could ask her then.

"But sir, the majority of these are from high-end women's brands!" It might have been his imagination, but he thought her tone sounded petulant, but he ignored it.

"Yes, I'm aware. As you were adjutant."

"But Sir!"

"Dismissed." Richard quickly glanced at her, and she reluctantly bowed her head and retreated.

"Yes sir."

He tried to get back to work but couldn't help but be curious about what Celeste was doing at the moment. The charges had stopped coming through and it was completely silent. Remembering that she had ordered him to match her in blue, he decided to get a watch to match as well as a blue car they could take to the banquet.

He then took a small entourage and made his way to Bergdorf Goodman. Keeping his guards outside the store, he quietly entered and hid in a corner to watch the flurry of activity going on.

Celeste stood in the center on a podium with a spotlight on her and everyone orbited her as she calmly ordered people around.

"Once the final touches on my face have been applied, you're going to help me with my shoes so please prep them."

"Please make sure that Mr. Carrington's suit is pressed properly, and all the accessories are collocated.

"Gina, I'm ready for the circlet so you and Mr. Carrolton please come and arrange it on me."

As if sensing his gaze, Celeste turned and caught sight of him quietly leaning against one wall and gave him a dazzling smile.

Caught off guard, Richard unconsciously smiled back and used the opportunity to examine her.

She was wearing an off-the-shoulder deep blue dress that tastefully exposed her collar bones and cleavage and hugged every contour of her body before subtly flaring out at the bottom. Her hair was loosely curled and fell to her face while her bangs lightly fell across her forehead. Dripping from her ears were sapphire and diamond teardrop earrings while her neck had a sapphire choker that connected to multiple delicate chains with tear-drop sapphire pieces at the ends. On her wrists were matching sapphire and diamond cuffs.

Her face looked as beautiful as a fairy with blue liner added to her eyes and a light dusting of blush and glitter on her cheeks. As she continued staring at him, her pink lips curled up into a smile and her violet eyes twinkled charmingly.

As he watched, a man and woman gently placed a silver circlet onto her head and added a silver and sapphire bracelet to her hands.

Seeing that they were finished dressing her up, Celeste waved the attendants away and flounced over to him.

"Babe! What do you think? Do I look pretty?" she asked as she pirouetted, causing the dress to flare up before settling down.

"You look like you spent 2 million dollars," Richard said blandly. He had to admit that she actually looked beautiful.

"2.25 million actually with the .25 being for you of course. But you didn't leave me a budget limit so you can't blame me." Celeste stuck her tongue out and looked away. It was definitely a lot of money and she HAD spent it recklessly so it wouldn't be crazy if he was upset.

Fortunately, it seemed that he wouldn't say anything else about it.

Reaching out to grab his hand, she said "Anyways, I really put in a lot of work to pick out what you're going to wear. Come and see it." Celeste happily dragged him to where his suit was stored. As they walked while holding hands, he noted that her hands were slender and chilly. The ivory color of her hands contrasted greatly with his tanned and scarred hands.

She had picked out a dark blue suit, with a matching tie, a white shirt, platinum cufflinks, and a white handkerchief. When worn the suit would complement her outfit and would make them look like a couple.

"Hurry and change so we can go." Celeste pushed him toward the dressing room and went to touch up her makeup.

When Richard stepped out fully dressed, Celeste stared at him open-mouthed for a bit. He was just too handsome!

His face was perfectly chiseled, and his jaw was so sharp it could cut paper. His low-cut hair set off his angular features and thick eyebrows while the deep blue suit set off his honey-toned complexion and hazel eyes. The suit fit perfectly and hugged his incredible body without being too tight and highlighted his tall figure. As he slowly walked towards her, Celeste looked him up and down with satisfaction. She felt as if she could understand why Titania Girardi was obsessed with him. he was a prime specimen.

"Close your mouth you're drooling." Richard lightly commented while glancing coolly at her.

"I can't help it. You look delicious enough to eat." Celeste muttered while wiping her mouth surreptitiously.

"Excuse me?" Richard asked even though he had heard her every word.

"Excuse me? I said do you have your phone on you?"

"Why?"

"So you do. Gimme." Celeste immediately began patting him all over his body until he brought his phone out and handed it to her with a sigh. She then dragged him to the floor-length mirror and leaned on him before taking a photo of them standing together. She then took a couple of selfies of herself and fiddled around with his phone before handing it back.

Richard took a quick glance and saw that she had set his wallpaper as her face. Seeing her innocent grin, he simply sighed before saying, "Let's head out before you spend any more of my money."

"Aye aye captain!" was her loud response.

Seeing his disgruntled expression, Celeste simply laughed at him as she grabbed his hands once again and led him out.