ZAHANA

CHAPTER 4 - MAN IN SUIT

A Year Ago

Monday- February 24, 2014

Evening

Via Condotti, Rome

Down the streets of Via Condotti walked bright colors of spring/summer 14. The pumps, wedges, stilettos, sandals, peep toes in dazzling blues, cayenne, celosia oranges, freesias, radiant orchids, hemlocks et al. The elites of Rome and around the world bemusedly relished the exquisite vibes that fashion street offered. 'Darlings' and 'Lovely's' lingered in the air as the ladies bumped into their pals and acquaintances. Fashion and style were all around and so were huge shopping bags. The names on the retail outlets were as big as their multi-million, even billion dollar franchises.Yet as common as some printed words on those shopping bags.

And there, between those flamboyant outlets, stood one with a brilliant graffiti. In a flashy backdrop over the wall stood a pair of long legs angularly painted to give an impression of someone walking down a busy street. Adorned on the feet of those long angular legs was a pair of celosia orange stilettos. Dangling, as if through the top of the wall, was a dazzling blue lux satchel. On the center of that wall and between the top half of that graffiti were these big bold letters written in emerald green- ELITARIO. Right towards the left end of the graffiti was a glass door. Hanging over the top of the door were stilettos in yummy colors loosely tied with colored wires in a delightful but fashionable imitation of wind chimes.

While passing through that store one could easily catch some weird sounds coming from inside. Though plenty walked outside it being baffled at those sounds none dared to peep inside but one. There walked a man who would rather risk finding the details than pondering over it for the rest of the evening. To solve the enigma he approached the outlet. As the proximity between him and the outlet diminished, words behind those sounds became more apprehensible.

'Come on! Where's the damn ball when you want to kick it?'

'Down there... But don't waste your energy finding it. 'Coz I'm already kicking it hard.'

'No bitch! You can't...'

'Oh, you don't dare me.'

'No... No... No... Screw you!'

'Aaaand yes! Now who's the winner, Esther?'

The voice behind those words were both feminine. They were conversing with such exhilaration that for a moment those objects between the palms of their hands stunned him. Each of the two was holding a remote and had their eyes fixed on the screen while the Xbox laid their battleground. The girl clutching the remote with her hand raised above her head, he assumed, had won the game. She was wearing a lose crimson top over a pair of distressed jeans. Her curly brown hair rested an inch below the shoulders as she gawked at him with her hazel eyes.

'A man in suit... Now, that's a first!' He heard the other speak without missing the hint of sarcasm. She was taller than the one with curly brown hair but a tone darker. Sun-tanned he guessed. She was wearing a striped navy and crème knee length skirt over a magenta blouse and navy jacket and was staring at him with a raised brow. He got the clue.

'Hi! I am looking for some accessories. I was wondering if you can help me.' He finally said.

'You realize this is not a men's fashion outlet.' Esther mentioned sarcastically.

'Yes of course, I can see that much.' He retorted.

'Cool then, follow me.' Esther, in her four inch pink Hermosa stiletto, led the way.