Her Shoes

~~~CAT'S POV~~~

I was dumbfounded and didn't find any words that could make me win the argument.

I entered the mall and strolled around when I heard my phone ring.

Alvin is calling me. I silently hoped that he had already softened a bit towards me.

I slid the green button and answered.

"Hey, are you still mad at me?" I said, trying to sound innocent.

"Since when did I get mad at you?" He asked in a tight voice probably because I reminded him of the not-so-good conversation we had last time.

"Just now," I said flatly.

I heard him sigh and it made me smile. I know he is trying to control his annoyance at me.

"How have you been doing?" I heard him ask, this time with his normal husky voice which I found attractive not in a romantic way though. How I wish I could be romantically attracted to him.

"I'm fine," I said and I know that it was not enough to convince him that I am fine. I thought of the reason why I am here and contemplated if I should tell him that I am about to buy heels because I know that he will freak out. He is the one who told me to stop wearing heels.

If I don't tell him about the heels and then he accidentally sees me wearing heels, he'll be mad at me. And if I tell him about it, well, I guess he'll be less mad at me. So, I decided to tell him and hope that he'll get less mad at me.

"Uhm…My new boss said that he wants his executive assistant to always wear heels."

Then there was silence. It makes my heart thump louder.

"Where are you?" He asked when I was starting to get anxious.

"I'm at the mall near my apartment," I said, sounding confused. Why is he asking?

"Wait for me." He said then he hung up.

I was flustered. Is he planning to come here? Why? Probably to scold me.

I sighed. He should've scolded me on the phone instead. That's better on my part.

I strolled around the mall unenthusiastically. What is exciting about buying something against your will? And to add to my frustration, Alvin is coming. I don't know why he should come.

Is he coming to help me buy shoes? Impossible!

Maybe he is coming to stop me from buying shoes? Most probably.

I planned on finishing my unintended shopping in just fifteen minutes so that I could go home immediately and rest but unfortunately, I can't seem to find anything that suits my needs.

I was looking at the shoes on display when a saleslady approached me.

"Hi, is there anything, in particular, you are looking for?" She asked with a polite smile.

I was about to say something but my phone started to ring. I looked at the saleslady apologetically and said, "Excuse me."

Then I stepped back and answered Alvin's call.

"Where are you?" His husky voice floats in my ear.

I looked around and then told him the name of the store. Then he hung up without even acknowledging my response. Well, that's rude. I thought internally.

In just five minutes, I saw him enter the store where I am.

His beautiful face and strapping figure caught the attention of the saleslady and the female customers of the store who only sell female shoes.

With his messy quiff curly hair, he doesn't look like a doctor and more like a model especially now that he has taken off his white doctor's suit.

"What happened?" He asked, standing two feet from me with his hands in his pockets. I had to raise my head to look at him.

"Did you have to come just to ask that?" I said as I pursed my lips.

"You'd rather that I found out about it from others?" He said with a stern face.

"You sound as if you are my boyfriend," I said and noticed that he was taken aback. Was it awkward to say that?

There was silence. Then I thought, yeah, that was awkward.

I cleared my throat to lighten the atmosphere. "So?" I asked, raising my brow at him.

"You didn't answer my question." He said.

Right, he was the first one to ask a question. I gave him a cheeky grin and then turned it into a sad face.

"Um…it seems that my boss is very particular with the look of his executive assistant. He wants me to be professionally dressed. And by professionally dressed, he means, wearing heels." While I was speaking, I could see his expression turned grim slowly until I finished.

"Resign already," Alvin said and I rolled my eyes at him. Not again! I complained internally.

"Alvin, how should I convince you that I need to work," I said, jutting my lower lip.

"Then find a new job. I don't like the sound of how your new boss treats you. First, he made you overworked even before he arrived and now he is violating your rights to choose your shoes."

I smiled thinking that if he is not a boyfriend at least he sounds like a big brother to me.

"I don't want to argue about this anymore, no one will win and the worse, we'll both end up mad at each other. And I don't like parting with you with a heavy heart. It doesn't feel good." I pursed my lips as I said that.

I saw him sigh, making me feel relieved.

"Okay." Then he nodded his head. "Aren't you feeling tired? Doesn't your feet hurt?" He asked with a concerned look while looking down at my feet.

I shook my head. "No, I'm not tired yet. But my feet are starting to hurt so I need to find the right shoes as soon as possible because I am dying to go home." I said, sounding like a child complaining to her brother.

I looked in the store searching for perfect heels for me. That's when I noticed the look that the saleslady and other customers are giving me.

The look of jealousy was very apparent on their faces. Why not? I am standing in front of a very handsome doctor acting like an overprotective boyfriend.

I sighed. I hope I can tell them that Alvin is not my boyfriend. How amazing would it be to have a boyfriend like him? But unfortunately, I do not feel any romantic affections towards him which I hope I do.

I looked back at Alvin and noticed that he was looking around the store then his eyes stopped in one spot. I followed his gaze and found a bench.

"Sit over there, I'll find your shoes." I heard him say, making me smile.

I nodded and said, "Okay,"

I walked towards the bench and sat there comfortably. My eyes searched for Alvin and found him roaming around the store that is intended for women. But he doesn't seem to mind.

After a while, he came back to me with a pair of shoes in his hands. It is a black pointed low kitten pump with a classic design.

"Try this," Alvin said and I looked up at him. He is still wearing that stern face and obviously, he doesn't like what he is doing.

"Thank you," I said, though I think a simple thank you is not enough.

I took the shoes from his hands and tried them on my feet. He even managed to get the right size for my feet. Then I stood up and tried walking on it. It has a comfortable latex insole making it flexible and a modest heel.

I was looking at the shoes on my feet when I heard him ask. "How's it?" His voice is filled with concern.

I looked up at him and smiled. "I love it. It fit perfectly. I don't think I'll have a weary walking experience with this." I said and I noticed that his look softened a little bit.

I'm so glad that he came. At least, I found a perfect pair of heels that he chose personally. At least I won't be guilty of wearing them.

I saw him nod his head then he called for the saleslady. "Miss, we'll take this." He said.

He insisted on paying for the shoes but I managed to convince him not to. I already troubled him for coming here and choosing the perfect heels for me. I will not take advantage of him any further by making him pay for my shoes.

"Are you hungry?" I asked as we walked out of the store. He looked at me then to my feet and instead of answering my question, he questioned me back.

"Aren't your feet hurting?"

I shook my head. "Nah. I've been sitting in the store for a while so my feet don't hurt anymore. And I think I needed to rest my feet more before I started walking back to my apartment."

"Okay, I know a place." I heard him say then he gestured to me to follow him.

He found a keto-friendly restaurant not far from the store so we don't have to walk for too long. It also has very comfortable chairs and tables for the customer.

"Are you still mad at me?" I asked while we were eating.

I watched as Alvin put down his fork and spoon and sighed. "I'm not mad at you or will ever be mad at you. I'm just pissed." He said then he looked at me. This time, he looked at me tenderly the way he used to look at me.

I smiled. "Good, because I cannot sleep well when you are mad at me." I noticed that Alvin's face twitched a bit.

I put down my fork and spoon and reached out for his hand. "Alvin, I only have three important people in my life. Aunt Molly, Grace, and you. You of all people should know how much I needed a job. Medications, hospitalizations, and everything I needed to live. And you know as well how I hate depending on other people. I don't like to be a burden. So, please don't be mad at me or pissed at me just because I wanted to keep my job." I said with a pleading tone and I swear that my eyes were pleading as well.

Alvin is important to me just as much as Grace and Aunt Molly are. And I don't want to lose him.

Alvin takes my hand that is resting on his palm. Then his other hand reached out to touch my cheeks. I know his gesture looked intimate to others but I don't find it malicious.

"Just remember to keep your promises." He said.

I smiled widely and nodded my head.

"Avoid overworking." He added.

"I promise."

"And those shoes, do not wear them continuously for three hours. If you are just sitting down, remove it. Rest your feet once in a while." He continued.

"I understand." I simply said because I've known that already. If I wear heels for too long, my feet tend to hurt which leads to pain in my knees, hip, and lower back. And that is the last thing I needed to happen while at work.

I have a higher sensitivity to pain and lower pain tolerance.