Retail therapy

Zara 

By the end of the week, I had settled into my normal routine. 

River woke up and went to work most mornings before I did. 

I worked from the penthouse, and it was very exhausting, I missed my normal life and my best friend. And find myself talking to Herbert whenever I needed a break. 

Living with River wasn’t nearly as difficult as I’d imagined. 

He was quiet and unpredictable. 

Organized to an almost frightening degree. 

But also considerate in ways he probably didn’t even realize. 

The times I didn’t abide by the rules, he doesn’t complain. He simply just does it. 

I want to go to the office today and probably have lunch at my favorite spot. 

I put on a pair of tennis skirts with a crop pink sweater, my pink sneakers and a packed my hair into a bun. 

A few moments later, the elevator doors opened onto the lobby. 

A gentleman I what looks like his early fifties stepped inside just as I stepped out. 

He paused and offered a warm smile. 

“Good morning.” 

“Good morning.” 

“I don’t believe we’ve met?”

I returned the smile. “I don’t think so.” 

He chuckled softly. 

“It’s lovely meeting you.” 

The doors slid shut, carrying him upstairs. I stood there for another second before laughing quietly to myself. 

Straightening my bag on my shoulder, I walked across the lobby. 

The concierge looked up immediately. 

“Good morning ma’am.” 

“Good morning.” 

Before I reached the revolving doors, a man in a perfectly pressed black suit approached me. 

“Miss Hale.” 

“Yes.” 

He inclined his head respectfully. 

“My name is Gregory and I am your designated driver.” 

He gestured towards the sleek black Mercedes waiting outside the entrance. “Mr Cassian instructed me to take you anywhere you wish to go.” 

For a moment, I simply stared at him. 

Then I looked at the car. 

“I was actually planning on taking a taxi.” 

“There won’t be any need for that now.” 

His tone remained polite and firm. 

“I’ve been instructed to remain at your service.” 

A laugh escaped me. 

“I could get used to this.” 

Samuel stepped down and opened the door for me. 

I climbed into the back seat, still smiling. 

As the car pulled away from Cassian towers, I unlocked my phone and sent a message to River. 

“You didn’t have to get me a driver.”

I hit send before I could change my mind. 

Knowing River, I wasn’t expecting him to respond to my message. He was probably buried in meetings. 

Three minutes later, my phone buzzed. 

“You better.” 

I stared at the message. Just two words. Yet I found myself smiling. 

“He’s improving,” I murmured. 

Gregory glanced at me through the rear view mirror. 

“Did you say something ma’am?” 

I looked up and smiled. “No.” 

I locked my phone and placed it on my lap. 

“I was just talking to myself.”

In a few moments we were at my mini establishment. For the first time in weeks, I was here in person. 

“You didn’t tell me you were coming.” 

Elizabeth’s voice echoed across the office. 

I had barely had time to turn before she threw her arms around me. I laughed, hugging her back. “I wanted to surprise you.” 

“You succeeded.” 

She stepped back looking at me dramatically. 

“You look…suspiciously well rested.”

“Ive been sleeping at lot lately.” 

“I can see that.” 

She linked her arm through mine and steered me towards her office. The money the door closed, she dropper into her chair.

“So…..before we talk about Mr tall, handsome and emotionally unavailable…”

I laughed. 

“….give me the updates on what has been happening over here.” 

Elizabeth sighed. 

“Always business first.” 

“You know me.” 

“We have had more clients this past week. And most of them are even hoping for an expansion.” 

“Good.” 

“And I think we should look into that. Now that we have resources on her hands, I think we should even get more staff to make the work easier and faster.” 

She nodded approvingly. 

“I knew I could leave things in your care. What would I have even done without you?”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.” 

We both laughed. 

“Have you started spending the money on the black card?” 

I knew that look she had on her face. 

“I don't have any reason to. I have my own money.” 

Elizabeth shook her head. “You are joking right? Because I don’t understand why you are given a black card which has no limit and you want to spend your own money. We almost shut down this place a month ago because of the same money we didn’t have.” 

“You know I don’t like being indebted to anyone.” 

“Nobody is talking about that now.” 

I sighed and leaned back on the chair.

“You own the thing that most people dream about. You have to enjoy it while you can.” 

She pinched the bridge of her nose. 

“You are impossible.” 

“I’ve heard that before.” 

She stood up abruptly and grabbed her hand bag. “Come in.”

I frowned. 

“Where are we going?” 

“Shopping.” 

I laughed. “No.” 

“Yes,” she said, pointing her finger at me. 

She slipped her handbag over her shoulder and walked towards the door. 

“We are buying clothes first.” 

“I don’t need clothes.” 

“You’ll thank me later.” 

“I highly doubt that.” 

She opened the office door and looked back at me with a mischievous grin. 

By the time we stepped out of the building, Gregory was already waiting beside the car. 

The moment he spotted us, he straightened his jacket and opened the door with practiced ease. 

Elizabeth stopped walking. 

She looked at the car and then back at me. 

“Oh, this is dangerous.” 

“What is?” 

She pointed at the car. “This.” 

I laughed. 

“It’s just a car. But guess what? I had the same expression you had this morning.” 

“You have a personal driver, and it’s not just any car. It’s a Mercedes!!” 

She shook her head dramatically as she climbed inside.

“I’m telling you now, if I get used to this lifestyle, I’m sending River the bill.” 

I burst into laughter, and even Gregory struggled to hide the faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he quietly closed the door behind us.