The sleek, obsidian-black Lexus purred to a halt before the grand, ornate entrance of the Imperial Fashion Store. Christopher stepped out, the polished gleam of his shoes mirroring the store's opulent facade.
"Come on," he said, his voice a low, resonant drawl. "The auction starts in about three hours, so we have plenty of time." His gaze lingered on Advika, who gracefully emerged from the car, her expression a delicate blend of curiosity and apprehension.
She offered a silent nod, her eyes reflecting the store's dazzling display windows, and followed him inside.
"Good day, Sir, Miss."
A young salesgirl greeted them, her smile bright and professional.
"Good day," Christopher replied, his eyes scanning the luxurious interior. "Please, where is the women's section?"
"Oh, this way, Sir," the girl replied, her smile widening, as she led them deeper into the store.
As they traversed the polished marble floors, every female eye in the vicinity seemed to gravitate towards Christopher. His striking features and confident demeanor drew their attention like a magnet, creating a subtle ripple of admiration through the store.
"Sir, this is the women's section," the salesgirl announced, gesturing towards a breathtaking array of dresses, shoes, bags, jewelry, and cosmetics.
Advika's breath hitched as her eyes landed on a vibrant red dress, its intricate design radiating elegance. She discreetly checked the price tag, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"Fifty thousand dollars... for a dress?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Oh, Miss! That's a designer dress, custom-made," the salesgirl explained, her smile unwavering.
"Oh," Advika murmured, taking a cautious step back from the garment, as if fearing she might accidentally damage it.
'I can't even afford to stain such a dress,' she thought, her anxiety rising.
"Good! We'll take it," Christopher declared, his voice decisive.
"Huh?!" Advika turned to him, her eyes wide with astonishment.
"Yes," he confirmed, his gaze unwavering. "If it's a designer dress, and it seems to be your size... go on, try it on."
"Yes, Miss, let me help you with that," the salesgirl interjected, her eyes sparkling with the prospect of a substantial commission.
"Go on... I told you we don't have time," Christopher urged, his tone gentle but firm.
Advika nodded, her mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events, and followed the salesgirl, who carefully removed the dress from its hanger and led her towards the dressing room. Christopher, meanwhile, strolled towards a plush velvet couch situated in front of the dressing rooms and settled into it, his gaze fixed on the entrance.
_
[Ten minutes later.]
Advika emerged from the dressing room, her hair still styled in its simple ponytail, but the dress had transformed her. The vibrant red fabric accentuated her curves and highlighted her natural beauty, creating a breathtaking silhouette.
"Wow," Christopher muttered, his eyes tracing the elegant lines of the dress. "It's decided, we're taking this. Oh! She'll need some shoes, and bags, and more clothes."
Advika, hearing his words, looked at herself in the nearby mirror, then turned to Christopher, her expression a mixture of gratitude and unease:
"Christopher... I don't think I'm worth that much," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
"Why would you think that?" Christopher replied, his voice gentle. "And I'm just getting you something... it's nothing."
"Oh... who do we have here?" a voice interrupted, dripping with saccharine sweetness.
Christopher, Advika, and the salesgirl turned their heads to see a young woman approaching, her arm linked with that of a well-dressed young man. Judging by his expensive attire and arrogant demeanor, he was clearly a scion of a wealthy family.
"Love... who are you referring to?" the young man asked, his smile condescending.
"Her... Advika, right?" the young woman asked, her eyes narrowing into a smirk.
'In school you were so high and mighty, and always looked down on me... Now, I'll show you what I've achieved,' she thought, her gaze lingering on Advika before dropping to the dress.
"What?! Honey! Isn't that the dress you ordered for me?! You said you'd get me this dress today!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with feigned sadness.
"WHAT?! How dare you put on my girl's clothes?!" the young man bellowed, his face flushed with anger.
"Ordered?" Advika turned to the salesgirl, who stammered, "Sorry, Sir, this dress wasn't booked or ordered... there must be some mistake."
"You're calling me a liar?" the young man snarled, advancing towards the salesgirl and delivering a resounding slap across her face. "Do you know who I am?!"
'Hmm... aren't you a bit too arrogant?' Christopher mused, remaining seated on the couch, seemingly detached from the escalating drama.
The young man brandished a purple card, flashing it at the salesgirl. "Look! This is an Imperial purple card! I'm a diamond member, who are you?!" he demanded.
"This?" The salesgirl's face paled. Anyone with a diamond card wielded considerable influence, but Advika was already wearing the dress, and seemed to have a powerful backer. She was trapped in a difficult position.
"Now you, take off the dress! Right now, and here!" the young man ordered, turning his attention to Advika.
Advika's expression hardened, the commotion drawing the attention of everyone on the first floor.
"Didn't you hear me? Take off this dress, right now!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the store.
'Fufufufu... see that, Advika, you're nothing, even your dignity will be ruined today,' the young woman thought, a smug smile playing on her lips.
"Will you just stand there and let this happen, Eris?!" Advika asked, her voice laced with disdain.
"What are you saying? You're the one who took my dress and put it on... isn't it right to take it off?" Eris retorted, folding her arms.
"I don't mind taking it off, but why here?" Advika countered.
"That's just a small punishment for your shameless act," Eris replied, her eyes glittering with malice.
"Did you hear me? Or do you want me to take care of it?" the young man yelled, his patience wearing thin.
"I dare you to touch me!" Advika retorted, her voice ringing with defiance.
"You!" the young man lunged forward, attempting to rip the dress from Advika.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the store, silencing the onlookers.
'WOW! That will sting!' Christopher thought, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"....."
The onlookers were stunned into silence.
"..."
Eris was dumbfounded, not expecting Advika to retaliate.
"This?!"
Eris rushed forward, cradling the young man's arm. "Are you okay, Jim?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.
"You bitch!" Jim snarled, his face stinging from the slap. He pulled out his phone. "If you can't do your job, I'll call your manager!" he threatened the salesgirl, dialing a number.
The salesgirl's face turned ashen. She whispered to Advika, "Miss, I think you should apologize, the manager is very difficult to handle."
Instead of showing fear, Advika examined the salesgirl's reddened cheek, a clear imprint of Jim's hand.
"Don't worry about me... I'll be okay. But you need to go inside and change out of this dress. This is my fault, I should have known the dress was already ordered."
"It's not your fault, and we don't even know if the dress was ordered, they might be lying." Advika said, turning to the two.
"Lying?" Jim disconnected the call and turned to the two. "Do you know who I am?! I am Jim, the eldest son of the Navilla family!" he yelled.
"Navilla? Why does that name sound familiar?" Christopher muttered, his brow furrowed.
"Oh! So that's who he is." He nodded, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Insufficient."