Bab 27: TWENTY SIX (Brazen)
Ethan returned with two gift bags right on time to meet Mia walking out of the dressing room while the manager took the dresses to the front desk.
"Well?" She smiled,
"....Um, I borrowed your advice and bought this ruby sundial, then had their names engraved on it—"
"It's a really thoughtful gift—"
"Then I bought these red draperies for Mrs Kenato, I've noticed she's much of a house keeper." He smiled,
"Oh wow, that's really thoughtful, Mrs Kenato will certainly love this—"
"And I also got this for you." He said as he handed her the other gift bag,
"What is it?" She replied as she took it and looked inside it,
"Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed with excitement,
"A photo album!—"
"Yeah, for all the photos you've been taking—"
"I thought you wanted the trip to be confidential—"
"It's fine, and you're right, you ought to keep memories."
"I know you don't like hugs, so thank you." She told him with a wide smile.
"Thank you so much....This means a lot." Her voice cracked,
"It's like the first thoughtful gift I've received since....You know, since my parents." Tears swelled up in her eyes.
"You're welcome." He replied then pulled out a handkerchief from pocket and gave it to her.
Ms. Ariake returned to inform them that they clothes had been packed up and asked if there was anything else,
"....You know what, actually there is." Ethan grinned,
"Huh?" Mia murmured,
"....Purses, shoes and—"
"Ethan!"
---
"Phew! I'm glad we're finally out of that boutique." Mia laughed as they walked.
"Why would you shout my name like that, clothes go with purses and shoes—"
"And I already have those. Don't you know I already feel bad for letting you buy those overpriced Kayia Astley dresses." She laughed,
"....They are not overpriced, they are for people who have rich taste in clothes."
"Way to go Ethan, making me feel poor again." She murmured.
Ethan chuckled softly,
"Look at that, I made you laugh." Mia grinned as they stopped in their track.
Ethan let out a small sigh and asked,
"What would you like to do next?"
Mia thought for a while then replied,
"Um....I definitely don't to go shopping anymore," she laughed "But it'll really be fun to window-shop—"
" But you just said—"
"Yeah, that's because window shopping isn't actually shopping, please don't tell me you've never window shopped?"
" I probably have without knowing." He shrugged,
".... C'mon!" She grabbed his hands, " we're going window shopping!"
----
First, they went by jewelry store, Mia gazed at the jewelries on display and admired them.
"....Are you sure you don't want that?"
"No!"
Next they passed by a cosmetic shop, a perfume shop, a shoe shop, a shop dedicated to kimonos and a hair shop. Two shop owners even had to shoo them away.
Ethan wanted tried to get angry, but he couldn't help but laugh the whole time as they ran around the mall like love sick teenagers.
While they were aimlessly walking around, Mia caught sight of a photo booth. This time, it was Ethan who dragged her in for a photo.
"I can't believe you want to do this." She laughed heartily,
"Well yeah, you said to live a little, say cheese!" And there was a bright flash.
After they were done, they got and took out the photos,
"How do manage to look so coordinated all the time she chuckled, is that your drunk face?" She pointed,
"Well yeah, I am after all Ethan—"
"Cheater! You didn't do the drunk face or any other face, now I feel stupid." She chuckled with embarrassment,
" This will certainly be a fun memory for me to keep then." Ethan chuckled,
"Really?" She asked curiously,
"Yeah—"
"Why?" She asked without thinking,
"Why would you ask that, isn't obvious it's the most embarrassing photo you've taken on this trip." He sneered,
"You...." Mia was interrupted by someone calling out their names. It was Nicholas.
" ....Oh guys, I didn't think you would make it—"
"Make it for what?"
"The luncheon I was trying to tell you about, the other couples are at this cool spot we found, c'mon they'd be happy to see you. They think you've been avoiding them." He laughed as he escorted them to a lounge.
"Oh and by the way, the chauffeur called, he said the car has been fixed, so I asked him to come here, who knew you'd be here too." He laughed.
At the lounge was Brian, Luke and Ale Xavier all seated at a table with some empty seats. Mia was quite relieved that the ladies weren't present.
"Oh! The Regals, who would have thought we'd be at the same mall, please have a seat with us." Ale Xavier began.
Ethan and Mia greeted them all as they say down.
" Are you two enjoying Japan?" Luke began,
"Yeah, totally. It's a land of rich culture and traditions. What's not to enjoy." Mia smiled.
" Ethan, you seem overly quiet, we are men, we don't hold grudges." Brian smiled at him,
"Yes Sir." He nodded.
" First, I think we owe you both an apology especially you Mia, for our wives behavior at dinner, it was unruly and uncalled for." Brian said and the others nodded.
"Ladies can be like that sometimes.... Like a bunch of crack heads." Ale Xavier said and the others including Ethan laughed,
"Hello gentlemen, lady in the room." Mia sneered, but they laughed even harder.
And from then, they got into their conversations about hotels and somehow it progressed from there. Mia sat there feeling out of place and feeling weird underneath, so she excused herself and went to the restroom.
----
"...Shit! Mr. Period, I thought you weren't supposed to be here until next week." Mia sighed as she stared at her blood stained panties in the bathroom.
"....Now I get where all that courage was coming from.... Stupid hormones, can this week get any worse." She mumbled.
----
Mia returned with the excuse that she had forgotten something then grabbed her purse and dashed out to a pharmacy she had seen earlier.
She purchased some tampons then wore it at the restroom. As she walked out of the pharmacy, she came face to face with Lena, Wendy and Tamera.
"Oh look at that ladies, it's Mrs Regal." Tamera sneered,
" And what are you even wearing." Lena questioned with pure disgust.
" For the wife of a very powerful Hotelier and billionaire CEO, you dress like a peasant." Wendy added.
" My choice of clothes shouldn't be any one's business." Mia retorted, but deep down, she was hurt. She studied their outfits, from their fancy trench coats, elegant dresses to their fancy heels, they screamed "upper class women."
Her coat, fluffy beret, sweater, jeans and boots simply said "regular."
"Off course it's nobody's business, we're just…Concerned for you Mia." Wendy sneered,
"Exactly, who knows.... She might be shopping from a thrift store." Lena smirked.
"Take a look at yourself, do you deserve to be next to Mr. Regal?" Tamera questioned,
Mia felt a huge lump in her throat and couldn't speak.
Tamera smirked,
"Exactly what I thought—"
"Why are you ladies being so mean to me, can't you at least pretend to be nice for once." Mia suddenly retorted.
"Oh darling." Lena chuckled, " NICE is for simple people. And I don't do nice." She told her as she waved a finger.
"You know there's something off about you Mia, but I just can't put my finger on it. But when I do, I promise to bring you down to dust, so it's best you spit out whatever you're hiding or else—"
"Or else what?" Ethan appeared from nowhere as he snaked his arms around Mia's waist, and brought her close to his face.
Without another word, he gazed into her eyes gently cupped her face and kissed her lips right in front of them. After those few electrifying seconds, he pulled back and gently put a free strand of her hair behind her ears. Mia went stiff.
" Babe, I've been looking all over for you. I thought I had lost you, are you okay?" He cupped her cheeks with concern,
".... Yeah, I'm fine." Mia croaked.
With his hands still snaked around her waist, he turned to the ladies who watched in awe and told them,
"The next time any of you ever threaten my wife again, I'll make sure to bring you to dust, one by one. " Turning to Mia, he murmured, "c'mon let's go, the car's in the parking lot."
The ladies quietly as Ethan walked away with Mia, his cold words deeply sinking into their heads.
" Ha! He's so brazen." Lena chuckled nervously.
----
The ride home was tensed and filled with an awkward silence, Mia wanted to thank him, but he had his poker face on and seemed really distant.
When they finally reached the ryokan and entered their suite, Mia finally had the courage to thank him.
".... Ethan?" She gently called,
He simply paused in his track without turning to her,
"I just wanted to say.... Thanks for today, and for what you did back there—"
He turned to her direction,
"I only did what felt right at the moment. So don't catch any feelings, this is a business environment...." Mia slowly nodded, but He wasn't looking at her, he was looking forward past her.
He glanced at her bag in her hands then told her,
"....You don't have to attend the banquet if you feel unwell."
"Also, you should learn to defend yourself. This world isn't suited for nice people." With that, he dropped the bags he had been holding on the table and walked away.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone