She took a deep breath and softened her tone.
"I'm heading out to grab those matching mugs and slippers right away. Just give me an address, otherwise, how am I supposed to track you down later?"
Z, surprisingly quick this time, rattled off an address. It was pretty out there, almost like the back of beyond, outside the city limits.
Clara did a bit of sleuthing online about the place and found it was surrounded by rundown factories, looking all deserted and bleak.
Her heart twinged. Had he been working in the shadows all this time and still couldn't afford a decent place?
She kept her thoughts to herself, simply saying she'd swing by that evening.
It had been ages since she'd hit the shops, so she arranged a mall meet-up with Megan.
Megan was game, and they met up at the shopping center.
While wandering through the luxury section, Clara's eyes landed on an eye-wateringly expensive pair of slippers—two grand a pair, and they were a matching set.
Megan, all dolled up for their outing, whistled softly when she saw them.
"Clara, don’t you think that's a bit steep?"
Clara reached for the slippers, but someone else's hand swooped in faster, followed by a mocking voice.
"If you're broke, don't even think about these. They're not for those who'd have to starve for months just to afford a pair."
Clara turned to see Eden standing there.
Eden was all decked out with a hat, a braid, and dark sunglasses, looking every inch the heiress.
Seeing Clara, she sneered, giving the slippers a shake.
"Clara, you barely get any money from home. Who are you trying to impress? And your friend here, she looks like she waits tables somewhere. Even if you can buy this stuff, I wonder where the money comes from."
Megan bit her lip, her cheeks flaming as people stared.
Clara pulled Megan behind her, keeping her cool as she looked at Eden.
"Ms. Eden, isn't that a bit harsh?"
Eden threw the slippers at Clara, hitting her head, making her wince.
"Too harsh? I haven’t even begun! You troublemaker, you made Quinn cry every day, drove her into depression. And at Ferguson Corporation, you dared to throw documents at me! Running into me today is your unlucky day—I've always disliked you."
Without missing a beat, Clara swung her handbag at Eden.
Blood trickled from Eden's forehead, and she held her wound, bursting into tears.
"Clara! Just wait! I'll have Dylan fire you! He'll make you pay! Just wait!"
Eden had come shopping solo to pick up a gift for Dylan, and now she was sobbing her way back to her car, dialing Dylan's number between sobs.
She breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously asking, "Does Mr. Dylan know?"
"Dylan?"
Clara was a bit taken aback. How did her relationship concern Dylan? Still, she replied, "Yeah, I told him. He didn't have much to say about it."
They ended up with quite a haul: clothes, pants, mugs—Clara was juggling several shopping bags.
She had planned to treat Megan to a meal, but Megan got a call about having to work overtime, so they parted ways.
Clara loaded her haul into her car. By then, it was 7 PM, and she rang up Z.
"Have you eaten? I'm still at the mall. Want me to bring anything over?"
"Not hungry, just waiting for you."
The phone felt hot in her hand, and her face flushed.
"Z, not mad anymore?"
He’d stormed off from the spa all huffy, and now he was cool? Men, right? They're like mysteries wrapped in riddles.
"Wasn't mad at you."
"Alright, alright, not mad then. I'll come find you."
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