บท 9: Enjoyment
For the remainder of the day, Phina enjoyed herself. She relished every moment she spent with Mrs. Anderson and Laney, her assistant.
They initially brought her to the salon. There, she received skin treatment that required several hours of work and had her hair done. The care she had ever imagined receiving had been provided to her.
The location was remarkable.
The hair extension applied to her head had an incredibly high price tag. She had never seen something like that on her friends' heads, and they were all unable to afford it.
She was upset they had squandered so much money on such frivolous items. However, Mrs. Anderson reassured her that since Patrick had paid for it, everything was OK, but this didn't change her feelings.
They then went to the mall, purchasing beauty supplies for her in their boxes. Additionally, Mrs. Anderson purchased a variety of colored and designed bags. They shop for watches, necklaces, earrings, and some clothing items for women.
They then moved to the shoe department, where she was instructed to select the shoes of her choosing. Though it felt more like a dream, she could not deny that she had always dreamed of having everything. Because it was only a dream, she worried everything would vanish when she woke up.
Mrs. Anderson reassured her again, saying, "You need to pick something, Phina. Don't worry. It is all settled."
The woman was patient with her, which is why she liked her. She also appeared to be aware of her feelings on things.
"Even if I pick hundreds?" the woman questioned.
She responded with a smile and a nod.
She assured her, "It's nothing to Mr. Patrick."
Phina shakes her head, allowing her words to register fully. Patrick's account would be acceptable even if she purchased a hundred pairs of these shoes, she keeps telling herself. This also leaves her wondering just how rich he is. Since the offer would only run for thirty days, everything he bought was done for that reason—a month. She was confident he would give her substantial money rather than steal it.
Maybe she was right to pass up working at the eateries in favor of this bargain.
After the transaction, at least everything she has purchased and will purchase will be hers. And her closet, which hadn't been altered in a while, will benefit much from that.
She couldn't stand the thought of wasting someone else's money, so she chose a handful that was significant to her. She had no business spending extravagantly because she wasn't the one making the money.
Mrs. Anderson shakes her head disapprovingly, "You need to pick more. These won't do."
"No, ma. This is OK. I have some at home. It's just for a short while." She said. If only she had known that everything would only last for thirty days.
Only thirty days.
The shop was their final destination. The clothes and their price tags left Phina stunned. She wanted to run from the store because of the price tags on the clothing. She never would have ventured into a mall like the one she was taken to regularly. She was aware of her boundaries and would never cross them. Even the cheapest clothing in the mall was out of her price range.
But all this was a result of an agreement she was in. She also wouldn't have to work for her pricey clothing. She felt guilty that her money wasn't being used to purchase the clothes, even if it seemed like a dream and a wish about to come true. Furthermore, neither her partner nor any family member bought it for her.
Mrs. Anderson was already choosing clothes she said would fit her well, and the female attendant nodded in agreement while considering the cost and other factors.
After glancing at her, they grabbed her and started choosing the ideal outfit for her. She watched them with amazement. Some of the cloth they collected could provide a month's worth of food for her entire family.
When they got to the second shop, she remarked, "Now, Phina, you have to pick some nice casual wear,"
"Mrs. Anderson, this is enough. I don't know why we should be here. We've got enough at the last boutique." Phina was upset.
"Those are just dresses. Moreover, This is what I am paid for Phina. And I do my job perfectly. We have dresses you will need when going out on a social outing. So now is your chance to pick out personal clothes. And those of your choice. And don't think about anything; enjoy while you can. OK?" asked Mrs. Anderson.
As she examined the tees, trousers, skirts, crop tops, blouses, and shirts, she remarked, "All these clothes are too expensive to be called casual clothes."
Mrs. Anderson grinned triumphantly and said, "You don't need to worry about that. It is taken care of."
But Phina said, "But I have enough already."
She stated matter-of-factly but with a motherly expression, "No, you don't. You pick, or I will tell Laney to do it for you."
Laney stated next to them, "I will gladly love to do it. I can already picture those clothes that will fit those curves perfectly."
Mrs. Anderson called in a foreboding tone, "Laney."
Even though he had only referred to her body type, Phina chuckled as he apologized in a whisper.
She turned to him and said, "Let's do it together." She had run out of energy to say no, but they would happily choose it even if she did.
If she is powerless, she will at least be free to dress however she pleases.
With a smile, Laney glanced at Mrs. Anderson incomprehensibly. The woman glanced at him warningly but did not say anything.
They browsed the store without selecting anything to wear. Laney chose a few, but she wouldn't take them.
She questioned, "Don't you like any of them?"
"They are amazing. It has the nicest material. But nothing seems to be at a better price. They are too expensive," he said.
"Look, Phina, I understand how you feel. I felt that way when I began to work with Mrs. Anderson."
When she learns that the woman is her relative, she seems shocked. That explains why, even though she is his boss, they seem so close, and she feels comfortable around her.
She said, "When I began to live with her and her family, I realized their world is different from the one I grew up knowing. It was hard to accept the changes, but I soon got used to them. So accept it and enjoy it while you can."
Without thinking, she questioned, "What if it's a dream I don't want to wake up from?"
Laney chuckled. "Sometimes I thought about that too. Nevertheless, enjoy it while you can. It might not be a dream but a reality that may never come again."
She thought he was cute. She pondered. She brought up her close friend Ethan with her. When she gave him some thought, she realized she missed him. And since he left for the States to continue his studies, it has been more than four months since he last saw him.
With a tiny smile spreading across her stunning features, she remarked, "You remind me about someone." She was expecting him to ask, but he only grinned back. "But thanks, Laney."
He grinned and added, "You are welcome. Let's go shopping. My aunt will be waiting."
She agreed and did as Laney had instructed, "Enjoy While You Can." She chose the clothes she desired but would not have the cost disclosed to her.
***********
When she arrived home later that day, all the shopping bags were strewn on the floor of her room. Her brother sat on the floor, examining every article of clothing and touching its various textures.
Samuel could tell they were expensive, and he questioned the purpose of all this for the "Mr. Patrick," as his sister had given him to believe was his name.
He was still perplexed as to why the man would make such efforts for something that would happen in thirty days or less in a month.
Although he was relieved that his sister had realized half of her ambition in a single day, he feared the Billionaire's plans. He had no idea what the so-called Billionaire wanted to do with his sister and was also a little afraid. He hoped they would believe him when he said it was all a charade. Not a bit more than that.
He had spent much money on clothing, not counting shoes, makeup kits, or other supplies.
The man questioned his sister, gazing at herself in an antique mirror, "Phina, do you trust this man?"
She was observing how her hair seemed to fit her perfectly. She had never before worn such pricey hair extensions on her head. And how the treatments she received seem to have changed her skin so much. She cannot dispute the expense, but Patrick was correct. She needed it. She knows why rich people spend so much money on face care products. The time and money are well spent. She felt utterly transformed in her skin. And that was the only thing on which she and Patrick both agreed.
She was confident that Avery, her friend, would tell her how excellent and how much everything was every time they visited one another, from the skin treatment to her pricey hair extensions. She also intended to talk about it endlessly and give Patrick a song of praise. She already knew that, eventually, she would become weary of hearing it and would roll her eyes at her. She grinned to herself at that.
"Phina," called Samuel once again.
She pivoted to respond to her sibling.
She said, "I don't know."
He said, "I'm scared, Phina. What if he's planning something bad and wants to use this to blind you?"
"I don't know. But he looks sincere. And also desperate, just like I am. He needs the actress, and I need the money. Moreover, Daddy knows him. If anything happens, Daddy knows where he lives and his workplace," she assured him. But she was also thinking about what her brother could have said.
"It will be fine. Just think about what we can use the money to do after the end of one month. This is our chance."
He continued to gaze at the bags on the ground while nodding.
Their father came into the room a few minutes later. His eyes sprung up when he saw the bags and the new shoes on the bed and the floor.
His unexpected question, "Where did you get all this Seraphina?" startled them.
She got up from her chair and walked up to her dad. She can see that he was already furious and needed an explanation before losing his mind.
She calmly said to him, "Daddy, calm down. Mr. Patrick bought them for me."
"What?" he asked, eyebrows going up. "What for?" His tone was irritated.
Phina gave him her response. "He wants me to act like some rich business lady."
He says, "Why can't he let you be the person you are? I don't like all this."
The concept of the absurd 'deal' had never appealed to him. With his daughter, he has no faith in the man who used to be his boss despite being aware of his limited interactions with women. He was rarely spotted with ladies who weren't colleagues or clients in business. He also has an impeccable record. Before starting to work for him till now, he was single, but the person they were discussing was his daughter. And he has no faith in any man to be with her. He remained unconvinced of his motives for the transaction.
Because he is wealthy, he can fulfill any woman's desire. Any lady would want to spend time with a man like him. Thus, he finds it incomprehensible that he selected his daughter.
His daughter.
He doesn't think he can handle her. All he wanted was to win her approval and bring her joy. And for that reason alone, he had initially agreed to this absurd notion.
"I wanted that too, but he is obstinate. He won't change his mind. He said that is the only way his family will believe him." She clarified it for him. She omitted the part about how he disapproves of her miserable situation. Furthermore, he felt that she did not live up to the standards of the kind of lady he would have loved to date. That's why he desires her in that manner.
A well-off, educated businesswoman with a bright future.
He didn't want to think about it, much less speak it aloud, but "But isn't this all too much? I thought he would pay you after the... deal."
"He doesn't count it as anything. He wanted it, and I had no choice. But the agreement still stands. He pays me after the deal ends," she said with assurance.
She had a copy of the agreement forms they had signed, and she thought that would qualify as proof.
The old guy sighed but said nothing. Phina turned to face her brother, who shared their father's appearance but had to accept their father's circumstances.
She grinned, appreciating their concern for her safety and understanding of her having to take this action even though they didn't like it. But extreme measures are necessary in desperate circumstances.
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