AVALON | z.m au

prologue

"He's looking at you again."

Avalon rolled her eyes and turned toward her friend Danielle. She was peeking through a rack of full of thick winter sweaters on her hands and knees.

"Girl, if you don't get your ass up." She frowned, shoving her tagging gun in the clamp on her belt.

"Avalon, he's filthy fucking rich." Danielle told her. "He spent Six-Hundred dollars in here last week alone." She got up and dusted off his beige khakis at the knee. "Also, he always stares at you when you're not looking."

The young girl's eyes trailed over to the man. He stood in the men's section holding up an argyle sweater-vest that made her cringe. The first thing she noticed was his unique sense of style, being the shallow nineteen-year-old woman she was. And the second was his attractiveness. He was about 6'2' with bushy eyebrows, light brown hair, and his eyes were a light blue that mirrored the Caribbean Sea and reminded her of home.

He looked lost for a split second, his eyes drifting from the ugly sweater to her's. She immediately looked down and carried herself to the storage room. Avalon had hoped to restock more clothing displays to keep her occupied. This guy made her nervous.

She picks up a small box of new arrivals, stacking them onto a carrier.

"Girl I saw that!"

Avalon's heart almost leaps out of her chest. "Dani!" She places her hand on her chest. "You fucking scared me."

"You guys were totally eye-fucking each other."

"We were not!" Avalon protests. "Don't you have customers to be greeting?"

Danielle rolls her eyes. "I'd much rather watch you and your new man get off on looking at each other." She tells her. "Besides, do you see any other customers around here?"

"Just... go to the register and fill in for Zayn while he's on his lunchbreak!" Avalon sighs. "Do something other than get in my business."

Her co-worker sighs in defeat. "Just a word of advice, you better scoop him up before I do."

Avalon points to the register and Danielle obliges, squeezing her curvy figure behind the counter. She sighs, tucking her curls behind her ears and loading more boxes on to her carrier.

"Hey, I need some help picking out an outfit for this banquet dinner." A deep voice echoes through the thin walls. "It's kind of a big deal."

"I'm really not good at styling people, but I can get Avalon!"

Her eyes grow wide as she listens to the conversation.

"...-Yeah she's amazing, just give me a second I'll be right back."

Danielle's footsteps move closer and closer to Avalon as she ambles toward the storage room. "Yo, Av..."

Avalon grunted, setting the last box onto her carrier. "What?"

"Loverboy needs your help finding attire for some banquet." Danielle watches Avalon with her hands on her hips.

Her face contorts toward her scheming co-worker in contempt. "Couldn't you have helped him?"

Danielle sighs. "Yeah, I suppose I could've. . . but I'm working the register, remember?" Her grin is sly. "There are a lot of could've, should've, would'ves out there."

"I hate you." Avalon groans. She mushes Danielle's face as she walks past her and toward the Men's section of the store.

The man's back is turned to her when she approaches him. He stands by a rack of assorted collared shirts and ties. She licks her lips, taking a deep breath. "How may I help you?"