His Collateral

Chapter 9

I had my breakfast and went upstairs. Then I loosened my hair and combed it out before checking the night stand and like Alessandro said, I found a credit card in it. I slid it into my pocket since I didn't have a purse and made my way downstairs. At the front door, a driver was standing beside a black car, waiting. He opened the door for me and I got in looking around.

It was the car Aunt and I had driven in on my wedding day.

Being in it made me remember them. I hadn't heard a word from them since the wedding. I wasn't surprised though. The drive to the mall was quite long as there was traffic and I found myself tapping my foot impatiently in the car. Maybe it was the excitement that I was coming to the mall for the first time or the fear of doing it alone. Either way, I was nervous.
The moment we arrived, I swore I lost my balance staring at the place. It was huge. I looked at the driver and told him I wouldn't be long before following people through an entrance.
I got in and looked around the place. It looked even bigger on the inside. The were so many shops and restaurants, I didn't even know where to go first. There were people talking, couples walking hand in hand, friends giggling...and I felt out of place. I stood there awkwardly. I didn't know where to go or whom to ask for directions, I just stood there.

I turned on my heels, deciding against the idea of coming here when I suddenly bumped into someone causing a few bags to fall on the floor.

"I..I'm so sorry." I stuttered bending over to pick up the bags.

What was I thinking?

I finished picking up the bags and stood up to give it to the person. It was a lady. She looked at me with a huge smile on her face and I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. She stood straight, emanating a lot of confidence. Her long blonde hair, flawless skin and perfectly manicured nails didn't fail to enhance it either.
"I'm really sorry." I apologized again becoming self conscious.

"It's fine but what are you doing, standing like that in the middle of the mall?"

I looked at her for a minute. I half expected her to be mad at me or something but she wasn't.
I stuttered. "I-I don't know my way around."

She looked at me and burst into laughter, sending her head back with her hand over her mouth. She laughed for a good minute before recovering from her reverie and looking back at me.

"Wait, you're serious." She said. It was less of a question and more to herself.
"You've never been to the mall?" She asked and I nodded in reply.

"This isn't something you hear everyday." She smiled subtly
"Well come on.. I'll show you around."

"No.., its fine. I don't mean to be a bother."I said my eyes glancing over to the bags in her hand.

"Because of this?" She asked raising the bags in her hand
"I haven't even started."

I looked at her in disbelief. She was carrying so many bags it looked like she bought half the place.

"Well what do you want to buy?" She asked. I stared at her again. I didn't know how to tell her what I was looking for.

"U..underwear ." I replied nervously

Her face suddenly lit up even more. "I think I know the perfect place."
She turned to a lady I didn't notice standing behind her. She handed the bags over to the lady before returning her focus to me.
"Let's go." She smiled taking my hand in hers as she pulled me away.
"By the way, I'm Christy." She added walking towards an escalator.

I smiled. "I'm Bella."

"Nice to meet you Bella." She replied and continued walking.

"The pleasure is mine." I said. She just nodded and kept walking. We got to the escalator and went all the way to the first floor and walked into the first shop  on the left of the mall. VICTORIA'S SECRET, was the name. If I hadn't seen enough pink before, I did now! The sweet jasmine scent of the store hit me like wind. The elegant decor and layout of the place added to the suiting ambiance. A few white mannequins stood tall at different corners of the store, each with its own piece of clothing. My eyes scanned the place, glancing at every item in the store. Christy lead me to the very first line of underwear before looking at me.