Don't Tempt Me

"Who do you think could have paid for our meals?" Ava asked Maddie as they walked out of the restaurant. The waitress had refused to tell them the person's name, saying he or she wanted to remain anonymous.

Maddie shrugged as she glanced at her wristwatch, "I wouldn't know, it could be a secret admirer or something. The most important thing is that we now have more money to go shopping."

Ava gave her a surprised look, "shopping? Why are we going shopping?" They didn't plan anything about going shopping. The plan was to come have dinner and then go back home. She had a busy day ahead of her tomorrow and wanted to go home and rest.

"We need to go shopping for you. You need to get some new office outfits, you can't keep showing up there like you are the poorest girl in the city," Maddie said as she started walking away.

Ava chased after her, "Maddie wait." Maddie turned around to face her. "I'm okay with the clothes I have. I don't have to..." Maddie didn't allow her to finish as she grabbed Ava's hand and started dragging her along with her.

"We are going to get you some new office outfits and that's it."

"But Maddie with whose money?" Ava finally pulled her hand away from Maddie's grip. Maddie brought out the credit card from earlier. "Ricke's card remember?" A mischievous smile played on her face.

"Rickie did truly give you his card to shop with?" Ava knew Rickie to be a nice guy, in fact, he seemed like the nicest guy Maddie has dated in a while. But she didn't he was nice enough to trust Maddie with his credit card. She was an overspender and giving her your card was tantamount to losing all your money.

"Yes, he did," Maddie replied and started walking away again. She turned her head to see Ava still standing. "Are you coming or what?"

"Oh, Maddie I just hope we don't get into trouble for this," Ava said as she fell into step with her friend.

"Of course, we won't, I will just make sure we don't exceed the limit Rickie gave me."

******

Mason was sitting in his car parked a few blocks away from the restaurant. After he had left the restaurant he couldn't get himself to just leave without having to make sure that Ava and her friend had gotten back home safely. He doesn't know why it bothers him, probably it's because Ava had been once attacked, he wanted to make sure that never happened again.

"This is me just being a good Boss," Mason whispered to himself as he watched the two ladies come out of the restaurant.

"Liar! How many of your employees have you stayed out to look out for their safety?" A voice in his head accused.

Mason rolled his eyes because the voice was right, he was only doing this because he has a soft spot for Ava. "I just want her to be safe, that's all," he mumbled.

Mason was surprised to see that instead of the ladies taking a taxi back home, they went to a clothing store that was not far from the restaurant. He drove his car and parked some feet away from the clothing store watching them.

"You should go home Mason, you're slowly becoming a stalker," the voice in his head said again but Mason ignored it.

Ava watched as Maddie picked out a nude-colored pant and brought it to place against her dress.

"This would look good on you. I think you should go try it on," Maddie said. Ava collected the pant from her and watched as she went back to start searching for other dresses.

Ava noticed the way Maddie was avoiding having eye contact with her.

"Maddie is there a problem?"

Maddie's hands paused on the hanger, "no. Why?" She asked pasting a smile on her face.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Now go try that on, we don't have all evening," Maddie pushed Ava into the changing room.

After about an hour of shopping, Ava got herself seven new office outfits and two pairs of shoes, while Maddie got herself some new dresses as well.

"Thank you so much, Maddie," Ava said to her as they paid for their items with Rickie's credit card.

"You're welcome," Maddie replied.

"Are you sure Rickie is okay with us shopping with his card?" Ava still didn't have a good feeling about this.

"Yes."

And as if to answer her question, the door to the clothing store swung open and Rickie burst in.

"So this is where you are huh?" Rickie asked referring to Maddie, his voice slightly raised. He looked at the shopping bags they were holding and back at Maddie frowning his face.

"Hi Rickie," Ava said as he came closer to them. He threw her a glance and then focused his attention back on Maddie. He was breathing slightly fast, it was as if he had been running.

Maddie who had completely ignored him like he didn't exist, finished paying for their items and collected the card back from the cashier.

"Is that my credit card? Wait a minute is that....." A notification sound came from his phone in his pocket. Rickie paused as he brought out his phone from his pocket. "What the hell Maddie?" His nostrils flared as he looked at his phone screen.

Ava turned to look at her friend trying to figure out what was going on, but her expression was unreadable.

"Ava let's go," Maddie said.

Rickie stood in their way, "no one leaves here until you've handed back my credit card and returned those items you bought with my money!"

"Too late, the shop has a non-refund policy," Maddie said with a wicked smile.

"Don't mess with me Maddie," Rickie growled.

"Maddie, what's going on?" Ava asked.

"Nothing. Let's go."

"And I said, no one leaves here until I get my card and my money back!"

"And what would you do if I don't return it?"

Rickie scowled, "Maddie, don't tempt me."

"Or else what? What would you do?" Maddie challenged him.

"Is there a problem here?" One of the salesgirls asked walking up to them.

"No!" Both Maddie and Rickie snapped, making the salesgirl leave immediately.

"Maddie please calm down, please just hand over the card to him, and let's return the items we bought with his money," Ava said. This was becoming embarrassing as other shoppers were already beginning to stare at them.

"I think you should listen to your friend," Rickie warned.

Reluctantly, Maddie handed the credit card to Rickie and he quickly snatched it out of her hand. And then he presented his left hand to her.

"What?"

"You just spent two thousand dollars from my card, I want it back."

"It's gone!" That was all Maddie said before trying to walk away but Rickie blocked her way.

"It's either you give me the money now, or you would see the other side of me that you aren't going to like!"