A tour at the mall

Rose pov

Was he pissed? That's a stupid question to ask; obviously he was pissed; how else would he send me back to the lodge, just after a call? “dumb ass”. I said, smacking myself in the head as I stared at the chicken and waffles he had just sent.

Does he know it was Axel calling? Who am I kidding? He knows; he's not stupid; he probably knows everything, even if he never speaks out of the ordinary. He knows every damn thing going on.

Closing my eyes, as I ease the frustration, I realize maybe I shouldn’t have hugged it, no matter how inviting it felt, I know I shouldn’t have, and maybe that’s why he got pissed That explains everything

So Stupid

That must be the reason. I probably crossed my limit. I took my phone and pulled up our past messages—nothing more than office work and tasks. Bringing up personal matters shouldn't be sent through here; I should say them in person.

No, the earlier the better. What if he sees me as a weird assistant who goes around hugging people? Or maybe I don’t have a job because I hug bosses?

That’s stupid

"I am sorry. I hugged you. I crossed my limit, and it won't ever happen again." Looking at the written message, it feels like a mistake, something butt-dialed. For all obvious reasons, my courage had left, just like my appetite.

I really want to say something, but words fail me. I look at the food, then back at my phone.

‘ your food tastes nice; it was the best choice, Thanks for the break, which I really appreciate.

What am I thinking? He doesn’t care about the food; thanking him for that would be like a silly bluff. Ahh, dumb fuck! Think of something.

I shouldn't have said that. I deleted it one more time. As I sagged back on the bed, I thought, What’s the worst that can probably happen if I call him? I have never done that, but if I do, it ends all this. My intrusive thought gets interrupted by a buzzing noise. I had hoped in seconds that it was Asher calling, but Axel Lopezz was holding a sign on the screen.

He was hesitating for a second; everything had gone south the second he called. What's the worst that could happen?

“Hey baby girl,” he said in an enthusiastic tone. “Uhm, hi, Axel, I replied, rolling over to my back as I stared at the illuminating chandelier. “Guess where I might be right now?” he said. I let my mind wonder, “Where could he possibly be?.

“ here?”

“You got it wrong! I am at the mall, and I want to get something. Would you mind being my plus one on this very day?, he asked. First, I wouldn't have guessed the mall; the lopez were like a fairytale, easy to say but hard to see.

Looking at the food, I don't think I will be eating it anytime soon, and I don't have any plans for the day as I never predicted a day off. “Uhm, ok?” I said.

“Great,” he said, “ would be waiting, sending you the location asap,” he added, as he ends the call, soon I'll get a live location from axel lopez, strange, but what's life without a little bit of glamor?

To the mall it is!

*********

“You know, I really have no use for the mall, right?” Axel said he had his hands tucked in his pocket as he wore his dark shades over his eyes, probably some celebrity lifestyle, not to get noticed, but to get passed such beauty without giving a second look.“I just wanted to spend time with you,“ he said. The way he smiles makes my mind wonder; he looks much better in person.

He stretched his hands. I wouldn’t want you getting lost,” he chipped in obviously after so much hesitation. Uhm, thanks,” I stuttered. “It’s nothing,” he replied as his fingers circled mine. “Having Axel in Peru is all you will ever need,” he added as we walked into the mall.

“Aren't you worried people will see us like this?” I said, motioning towards the clasped hands, but he replied with a scoff, “I would love to be seen with you.” He smiled sweetly before looking forward as we gently proceeded from the entrance to the main mall.

“So what would you like?, clothes jewelries, anything, i just want to know your preference for next time ” he said, as we stared at different sectors in the mall, it's so huge, i couldn't help but gawk at everything,

“ Uhm I don't really know, I don't have a life outside work” I said, as he pointed to a store for clothes, “ well, you have a life outside work, you have me “ he said pulling me towards the boutique, “ choose whatever you want” he said.

A lady walks towards us she had a nice short bob hair, which extended to her chin, and one just below her ear, trailing down her body, she had little accessories on, just rings in four fingers aside her wedding finger, she hold onto her flared gown as she pauses just to look at me, then at axel who had just removed his shades.

Pulled back a sudden gasp, “ are you?” she said gawking at axel, “ wow, wow wow” she scampers backward, then coms back again totally flushed as she waves her hands with her face, “ damn you look so good in person” she said,

She pulls out her phone, immediately turning on the camera, totally something uncalled for, “ wow, check this out, wow” she sways her phone over her face then back at axel, “ hey miss” tapping her by the shoulder , he raises my hands , “ i would like to get some dresses for my woman”

“Woman?”

Dumbfounfed aswell, i feel my cheek burn with pure redness, did he just call me his…, “woman?” she repeats as disgust lingers in her words, looking at axel, he smiles at me, before placed a kiss at the back of my palm.

“Doesnt she look beautiful?” he said, he lady who had been mute for econds, nod as she smiles at axel then at me, “ show heryour finet” he said, motioning to the lady, who still had her smile glued to her face,

“ uhm sure

I follow her into the endless pile of clothes lined up in rack. ‘ these are some of our colections i hope you like” running my eyes on all, it all look as classy as they come, “ uhm , how about this dress” she pulls out a black kneel lever gown, “try it out” she said pointing a lone place, uhm ok”, i replied, taking the dress into the dresser room., soon i was out, and i must comment i really love the way it hugs me,

“I would be buying this for sure,” I said as I came out of the dress room. There he stood, with a grin, staring at me. Perfect,” he said, making a heart shape with his hands over his head

silly

Had both of us smiling,

“If you look so pretty in one dress, heaven knows what you would look like in a million dresses,“ he said as he walked over to me, making me twirl as he held my hands above my head. “Snatched!’ he commended.

“ clothes,” he said, clapping at the side of his head. I had seen that move. At the Andean Festival, when he was dancing, he had his hands beside his head clapping when we were dancing together.

Why is Asher so two-faced all the time? He was joyous this morning; we even did rock paper scissors together; he let me hug him; he invited me for breakfast; he made me breakfast; he gave me a painting, one of his most valuable ones to be exact; but just when his presence was rubbing off on me, I found him zooming out again.

What really runs through his mind?

“ whats the problem?” Axel said as she snapped his finger before my "What's the problem?" Axel said as she snapped his finger before my eyes. "Uhm, sorry,“ I said

“I lost you there for a second,” he said. “How about we try out more clothes?”

“Uhm, no, i am fine,” i lied, “ i want to go home,” i added as i walk back into the dresser room, That was a stupid thing to say; he had been so kind to call me out, now i bail on him. That was a classic move, Rose.

************

Axel had dropped me off an hour ago,but I still can’t get my head around what he had said before he left. How dare he make me blush so much it hurts? Closing my eyes, the words come flashing in my mind once more.

“I had said those words to the sales lady because I wasn’t really cool with her approach, but just so you know, I wouldn't mind saying that out loud so the world could hear, because I hoped every word I said meant something to you.”

That was brave to admit, but just then my mind flashes back to the reason why I am back here, inside the hotel room, with chicken and waffles laying dormant on a tray before me. I still haven't gotten over how he had spoken to me earlier in the grocery store.

He had sent me back home so oddly that i had contemplated if the last three minutes were all in my head, i don't know if i am in my right senses but i want to say i hate him so much for being so unpredictable, i want to kick him so bad he has a dislocation, but...

My phone rings, holding up an unknown number. Who might it be? Is it Asher? or maybe axel?

Clicking the accept button, I place the phone delicately on my ear, careful not to say a word.

“Hi, is this Rosalie Garcia? It's Mia Lopez on the line, and I am wondering if you could have lunch with me if you don’t mind.“