CHOICES

In the car, John sat close to Neo, just as he always did. He never for once bought the idea of sitting at the back sit because the person driving is a paid driver.

"Thanks for coming through for me, she released me on time because of what you said." He ignited the car and started driving.

"She had no intention of making things hard for you, if she already had you in her bad book, you will surely get into the cooked trouble, no matter how ridiculous it might be."

Deep down in Neo's mind, he wanted to explain to John the consequences of what he had done. Mirabella might deny him of intimacy for a long period of time until she is sure he isn't seeing anyone else apart from her.

"But I am so sure Diva made advances at you." Neo added.

"Yes." He nodded. "That was why I asked if you think she is wife material."

"I am not getting married to her, she is cheap, she fits in spotlight." John laughed and Neo joined him. "The last time I was there something crazy happened, you won't believe it."

"That was last night, what happened? Men fighting over a prostitute?" His eyes was fixed on the road.

"A thick ass fair lady came to me to market her merchandise, before I knew it, another guy from nowhere started banging her from behind."

"In presence of everyone?" Neo asked again.

"I am telling you, I wanted to give the guy a punch in his face but I realized no one really cared about them, it was a normal and regular stuff there."

"And this girl you are obsessed with is from there too?"

John kept quiet, he knew where his only friend was driving at. Trying to classify all spotlight girls as birds of a feather. He sighed heavily and didn't say any word further, he wasn't going to defend a girl he wasn't sure of.

*********

Julie stood beside the lady, watched her with both arms folded. She rolled her eyes with less tolerance. "You've been spinning for the last fifteen minuets and staring at yourself." she spoke with a tone of frustration. "Do you like the dress or not?"

"You really need to learn how to treat your customers better." The lady spin again looking at herself at the mirror. "Customers are always right you know."

"Madam, do you like the dress or not?" Julie asked again.

"It's not bad." The lady sighed. "I am not going to lie, you really tried, you did a great job."

"So, I hope you are not going to negotiate the proposed price?" Julie asked again raising her brows.

The lady looked round her store. "You need to do more, this place doesn't look good enough, this place can never attract any sort of customers for you."

"Please pay up." Julie stretched her palm.

The lady deep her hand into her big expensive bag and with her full palm, she brought out some squeezed currency note. "I am so sorry it is looking squeezed." She placed It gently on Julie's palm.

Julie quickly supported the cash with her other palm. Her eyes widened at the sight of money as usual. "This is more than I asked." She whispered.

"I like the dress, it looks nice." She smiles again striking some poses.

"Are you a model?" Julie asked in a more friendly tone. "The dress looks good in you by the way." She walked briskly to her table and started arranging the currency note.

"Where did the friendly tone come from?" The lady asked too.

"Pardon my manners, we can forget the rude past and prepare for a better future."

The lady chuckled. "I have a big party soon, me and my girls are in need of someone who can design our dresses for us." She faced Julie. "But I am not coming back here if this place still looks like this." She looked round again.

"Can I please have Eve's contact?" She asked without having a second thought, at that point, She needed money, and Eve was the only one who could help her out with that.

After the lady left, She settled well to think about it. She was left with two choices, to call Eve and accept her request or just let go of the huge offer that was proposed to her.

After the long thought, she called Eve, and the call didn't ring much before it was answered. "Hello." She said in a soft tone.

"Hi, who am I speaking with?" Eve asked with a soft tone too.

"This is Julie, the lady who designed a prom dress for you yesterday."

"Are you calling to thank me for the referral?" She asked again.

"Not really?" Julie said dragging the last syllable.

"Then why? You want to apologize for being rude the other day?"

"About what you told me about yesterday, are you still up for it?"

"I don't understand what you are talking about." There was noise as she slumped in the chair. "Go straight to the point."

"I mean, about helping me with the upgrade and influencing of a thing."

"Oh!" She exclaimed a bit loud. "I don't think that is going to work anymore for now, cause I just got an ambassadorial deal with a clothing line today, and it's going to be against the rules to advertise another clothing line until the deal is over. I could be sued for breach of contract or something like that. I hope you understand?"

Julie sighed in disappointment. "I understand, thanks for the referral." She ended the call, and regretted why she ever did in the first place.

She did a quick calculation in her head, trying putting somethings together if it could amount to the price the man was asking for. If only she hadn't gotten her apartment, she would have had more than enough money to deal with her store upgrade. She picked up her phone to call Monica, but discarded the motive almost immediately. "She has a lot of bills to pay too." Julie muttered