SHOPPING-PART 2-E

A manager walked towards Ace Wagner and bowed before guiding him inside. He introduced himself as Steve Hanks. Several staff lined up the mall to greet them surprising Astrid. Astrid did not miss glances of jealousy and admiration from some of the females' staff. She avoided any eye contact and got busy looking around the shops. She wasn't bothered, she was used to it.

Ace spoke to the manager about a few shops he had in mind for Astrid. Hadwin started conversing about his dates and their preferences, to Astrid. She listened intently and replied `Hadwin, why would anyone date you and asks you for gifts? That is abnormal. In laymen's terms, it is known as using you as a stepping stone'.

` I did not realize it, I thought it was the norm for girls. Aren't you doing the same?'

`Hell, no. I did not invite myself, but Ace did.'

`Isn't it the same?'

`Nope. Inviting and asking are 2 different things. Just as knowledge and intelligence. Knowledge is infinite. Intelligence is the strength of your brain. More like your wisdom.'

`Okay. If you put it that way how to tell them apart?

`Simple, just say you don't have any money with you because your father blocked all your cards and you only have the cab fare in your wallet. But you gotta hide all your cards first'.

Hadwin stared at her and took a moment to digest what she said. She looked at his issue from a different perspective, and he wanted to test her theory, but being grounded he knew he will have to wait.

They reached a Channel store Steve Hanks turned the sign to `CLOSE'. Ace started to look for dressed and his eyes caught a spaghetti strap black embroidered silk organza dress with short layers and the right length. He pointed at the dress and scanned the room. He pointed to another embroidered black, red, and white silk dress which reached until the feet, buttons until midsection. It had collar and pockets on each side of the breasts. Lastly, he picked long-printed silk in black, blue, pink, and white which had the letters CHANNEL written across the dress.

`Try these on'.

`All of them?'

`Yes, hurry we have somewhere else to go'. Ace looked at his watch.

Hadwin raised his eyebrows at the selection and sat on the couch lazily.

Astrid tried each of the dresses and showed them to both the Wagner brothers. She looked pretty in all the dresses but Hadwin complained about the length of the 2-long dress. Damn, she can carry herself well in this designer's dresses. I wonder how she will look in those skimpy Victoria Secret undergarments, Hadwin's trail of thought going in the opposite direction. Just then a wicked idea came into his mind.

Ace told the manager to pack the dresses before he walked to another store.

`Hadwin, how often does Ace shop?

`Once a week. Or once a fortnight. Why?

`Does he have a girlfriend?

`No. He is super duper fussy choosing a female companion'

`Is he buying those dresses for me?'

`Duh, what were you thinking?' Hadwin lightly shook her shoulder.

Both were whispering with their head leaning towards each other when Ace stopped abruptly, and both bumped into his back.

`Enough gossiping?' Ace motioned them to walk in front of him and Steve Hanks entered an Armani store, again turning the sign to `CLOSE'. She observed each store they entered was empty. Was it prior to Ace's arrival?

Astrid who was getting a taste of high-end society kept mum, for she feared saying the wrong thing or offending anyone. She is jeans and a short type of girl, hence zero knowledge of fashion or dresses. She seldom read magazines for they glamourize disproportionately sized bodies.

Again, Ace Wagner did the selection. Astrid and Hadwin sat and snickered at each other. Ace picked a high-quality silk dress with watercolour-style floral print. The garment features puffed sleeves, a skirt with overlapping pleats, and a neckline with a small buttonhole and button. The dress has a back-zip closure. Astrid tried it and the material felt soft, yet comfortable. Ace nodded towards the manager and dashed to Versace which was across the Armani store.

Poor Astrid and Hadwin dragged their feet like puppies. Ace liked Versace a lot. He loved the materials, its daring designs, and unconventional cuts.

`We will spend some time here. Please get some refreshments.' Ace ordered the manager. Both his brother and Astrid looked tired. Ace went to the dress section with Astrid. Hadwin laid on the couch and slept off. Astrid casually looked at a dress and checked the price tag. Her eyes almost popped out of her socket. She nudged Ace on the elbow and asked him `Ace, the dresses here are priced exorbitantly. I think they are scamming you'.

Ace snorted and replied no. He explained that quality, quantity, workmanship, retain value, and brand popularity factored in pricing. Including taxes from the government. She nodded but he knew she had some burning questions lingering in the mind of hers.

`But, these are too expensive. Are you buying them for me?'

`Today is all about you, Astrid', he gave her a charming smile and his thick accent stirred something deep inside her.

`But…but…'

`Sssshhhhhh'. He motioned his lips in a zip-close gesture over his mouth.

Assistance on standby came closer to Astrid and measured her body and feet size. Next, he stood behind Ace Wagner and started collecting the dressed he picked. He selected a sculptural shoulder crêpe viscose shirt dress characterized by a sculptural shoulder silhouette and enriched with a leather belt and a Medusa button on the collar.

The second dress was a jersey Medusa accent cocktail draped dress featuring a lightly draped neckline and heritage Medusa hardware accents on the shoulder straps.

The third dress was a V Barocco print silk dress crafted in pure silk twill. The dress features the V Barocco print, fusing gold Medusa, acanthus leaf, and Virtus V elements.

Fouth dress, also a Barocco signature day shift sleeveless dress with crew neck, also crafted from pure silk twill in the Barocco Signature print - depicting an all-over motif of Gianni Versace's handwritten autograph juxtaposed with gold-tone Medusa, Baroque leaf, and V element.

The fifth dress, an elegant day dress of Barocco Signature Print Silk Shirt Dress enriched with a leather belt, gold-tone Medusa, and Mother-of-Pearl buttons.

Sixth dress, a denim sleeveless mini dress with hardware details, triple gold-tone stitching, and front zip closure.

Seventh, a striped baroque jewels motif (with a central logo) sleeveless mini dress.

And the last dress a knit dress with cut-out shoulder details and short sleeves. This dress features lateral side slits and engraved buttons. The highlight was a Crisscross back strap. He kept this dress aside, a mischievous thought seeping in.

She took a good 20 minutes to change into all the dresses before Ace okayed all of them. She got used to his indifferent attitude. She was made to sit on a plush chair and Steve slips a light cross trainer with an unmissable chain-link outsole and Greca details, with Braille "Power" and "Versace" lettering giving a bold statement.

She walked about and both men watched her with amusement.

`It's beautiful', she spoke softly.

Steve clapped his hand and took another pair of Greca Chain Squalo Trainers which was inspired by the anatomy of the great white shark, the outsole of the Squalo trainers evoking the shape of the animal's jaws. Barocco print leather details feature signature Versace topstitching. The logo is featured on the tongue while Medusa is hidden in the outsole.

Ace picked the knit dress and told her to pair it with a Medusa Cage Sandals crafted in elegant satin, the platform sandals embellished with heritage cage straps and crystal-enriched Medusa hardware. He waited outside of the dressing room, and as soon as she opened the door, Ace turned to look at her.

She looked stunning, her height almost reaching his chin and it took his breath away. He motioned her to twirl and he stopped her midway, her back against his chest. Both facing the full-length mirror.

`Ace?', she saw his hands enveloping her and her eyes opened wide at the unusual hug from him.

`Just stay like this', he hugged her from the back and rested his head on her neck. Astrid didn't know what to do or say and her body went stiff. Ace noticed he went too far and stepped back releasing her.

`You look ravishing in this dress', Ace coughed and complimented her. `Just like I imagined you would'.

`The heels are high as hell' she could hardly stand on it.

`You don't like it?'

`It's too gorgeous to be disliked'.

`Ace, are you always like this?',

`Like what?',

Astrid hugged herself and raised both her eyebrows.

Ace stared at her before answering' Only with the one and only Astrid'.

`Ace, you are being cheesy'. Astrid giggled.

`I became a bird, a fish, and now cheese. What's next on the Astrid menu on men?' Ace gave a sad look.

`Ha ha ha', she laughed sarcastically.

He spun her around to face him, and she nearly lost her footing. He hugged her again. She stiffens, unsure of what to feel. Deep down she felt safe with him, but she did not want to rush her emotions. She has been guarding her walls tight with an iron grip, locking away any hope for friends or love, for reasons only known to her.

Astrid wondered if both the Wagner brothers can be trusted. Both treated her with respect and care. Heck, they even saved her when she needed help the most!

`Ace....'

`Ace…. This is awkward for me,'

`Mmmmmmmmmmmm.', he slowly let her go and she scurried to the changing room. ' I'm sorry. I just got carried away. You look too good to be true, I had to hug you'. 

'You know you are only being corny when you are alone with me', Astrid cocked one eyebrow at him and closed the changing cubicle door.

What was that? She was nervous as a tick with the mixed messages again. She never had a guy hug her like that and she felt her body react naturally to his touch, almost anticipating him to go further. Why? She hardly met him longer than needed yet here she is pondering over him.

But Ace was hot and cold again, this time with Hadwin asleep. So Ace did not want anyone to know he liked her? Or worse did he put her on the use and throw pedestal? She heaved a sigh of relief, being left alone and quickly changed before waking Hadwin up.