SHOPPING WITH GRANDPA

The next day, Miguel left for the office, since Bella didn't have any gigs or audition at hand, she stayed with Charles Rodriguez all day. 

He taught her how to play pool and many other interesting game. After lunch, she took permission to go shopping. 

The old man insisted on going with her which she agreed after many arguments. She can't believe she was getting along well with the whimsical old man that was the cause of her problems. 

"Together... I mean, let's go together," Charles Rodriguez said, extending his hand as an invitation for them to go together. 

"No, no, Grandpa, don't stress yourself. Just continue what you're doing. I'll hail a cab to come home," Bella insisted, her voice trembling with worry.

"No, I don't have anything else to do at home," Grandpa replied gently.

In the car, Bella tried to dissuade him. "Grandpa, seriously, you don't have to stress yourself. I have nothing interesting to buy—just some underwear and sanitary pads. It's nothing serious anyway," she rushed, hoping to make him give up. But he remained silent.

It was surprising to see the godfather of the formidable Agatha Mafia group being soft with his grand daughter in-law

The ride was quiet. Grandpa noticed her stealing glances at him before quickly looking away.

Meanwhile, Bella was wondering why the man was being soft and gentle with her. She can't understand. What kind of wrong could his father done to him make him hate her father?

When they arrived at the supermarket, the dropped them off and left on his own.

Bella blinked uncertainly, unsure of what was to come.

As they walked into the store, Charles Rodriguez, accustomed to walking with fast strides while his subordinates trailed behind him, slowed his pace so that his she could keep up.. 

Surprisingly, she walked behind him, bowing her head. Being someone that's growing in the industry, she can't afford any scandals to her name right now. 

She accidentally bumped into him. "Sorry... I'm so sorry, Grandpa," she apologized, keeping her head down.

Charles Rodriguez said nothing in response. Instead, he grabbed her hands and pulled her close, wrapping his arm around her as they walked together.

"You don't have to feel insecure around me. I'm human, not a monster. Feel free, with me dear" he whispered in her ear.

"I'm not nervous," she replied, her voice trembling slightly.

"Really? We'll spend more time together in the future," he remarked.

As they perused the racks of dresses, Bella felt uneasy about Grandpa's insistence on buying her so much.

"Grandpa, this is too much, you know... I'm not used to all of this," she protested gently.

"Go on and change," he instructed, brushing off her concerns.

After much discussion, Bella relented and changed into one of the dresses, Then they proceeded to leave the store.

"Grandpa, this is way too expensive. You don't have to go overboard for me," Bella expressed her concern.

"Expensive? You're my grandson's wife. You're married to an Agatha man. I have the money. If you want, you can buy all the clothes in the malls in one day. I have the money. If you want, you can buy a whole mall in Dubai. I have the money," Grandpa declared arrogantly.

Bella smiled inwardly, this is what she wants. Bianca and her mother will never be able to buy her now. She could get any role she wanted with Agatha. 

As they walked through the mall after Bella had changed, she spotted a jewelry store. There was a particular necklace catching her eye—a stunning piece with a blue sapphire gem at its center. The bluish and darkish hues reminded her somehow of Miguel. She couldn't help but smile.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Charles Rodriguez asked, noticing Bella's distracted demeanor.

"Oh... no, nothing, Grandpa. Just passing by... Yeah, passing by," Bella replied nervously.

"Did you like the necklace?" he inquired.

"No... no... I don't deserve such an expensive piece of jewelry. Let's just go home, Grandpa," she insisted even though she was lying she really wanted that necklace.

Bella smiled as her grandpa purchased the necklace. It suited her perfectly.

As they were leaving, the salesman presented the bill. "Sir, your total is eight hundred thousand dollars for the necklace, and for the clothes, it's five hundred thousand dollars. Everything totals..." he calculated on his device, "...1.3 million dollars."

"Okay," Charles Rodriguez replied nonchalantly.

"Cash or card?" the salesman asked.

"Did you expect me to carry around 1.3 million dollars in cash?" He snapped rudely.

Bella quickly pulled him away, feeling overwhelmed by the extravagance and the confrontation.

"Grandpa, that's way too much, you know... Maybe we should drop everything and try another store. How can we spend 1.3 million dollars on just one dress and a piece of jewelry?" Bella asked anxiously, her mind racing with the realization of the immense sum.

After the whole shopping thing, they spend 10 million dollars on the 5 dresses and a jewelry. 

Bella and Charles Rodriguez were outside the shopping mall while the driver were packing the goods into this boot when the billboard across the street displayed a broad picture of a well known person advertising body lotion.

"Wow, Trevor Quin is never caught without any beauty on" She said subconsciously. 

Charles Rodriguez looked at the billboard, "That punk, how many times will I warn him to stop all these shameful things?" 

Bella looked at him, "Grandpa did you know our Trevor too?"

"Our Trevor? That punk is acting acting big?" 

Bella wondered why he was calling Trevor's name that casually. 

"Are you familiar with him?" She asked. 

Charles Rodriguez sighed and hoped into the car while she followed, "Yes of course, that's one of your brother-in-law, he acts in movies too like you do, you should be familiar with him" 

Bella gulped, where will she, a lowly actress come across Trevor Quin the most popular and influential actor in Liverpool.

"That's Miguel's cousin. He's my last born's son. His parents left the country and He and Miguel lives with me, not until he wanted to be on his own. What an impudent kid'

Bella gulped again. She just stuck an oil well no a gold mine. 

The Rodriguez family, is definitely her road to success but what if Grandpa know that she was Cartersville Trump's daughter?