The poor Billionaire novel (Ethan) novel Chapter 66
'Oh my God! These women have put me in a tight corner. I shouldn't have come back here. It was a huge mistake!' He was filled with regrets.
Horace suddenly suffered a banging headache as he looked at Jessa and Kaylie. He didn't want to reveal his identity to Laila just yet.
The good friendship they had was precious to him and he didn't want it to turn sour. If she knew that he was rich, she would surely distance herself from him.
In a bid to save himself, Horace laughed and said, "Hello, ladies. I think you have mistaken me for someone else. Look at the way I'm dressed. I'm not someone with a noble identity. Don't bow to me like that!"
Kaylie squinted her eyes in confusion. She took a closer look at him and thought, 'No, I didn't mistake you for someone else. Your worn-out clothes are ingrained in my memory. You are the only rich person I have seen wearing such shabby clothes to the Sea Square. How can I forget you so easily?'
While she pondered, she caught sight of Laila and Macie who were sitting in the back seat. It dawned on her that Horace probably wanted to hide his identity from them. She quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, sir. We mistook you for someone else. Please forgive us!"
After bowing respectfully, Kaylie took Jessa's hand and they left. The latter was stunned by what just happened. "Kaylie, can you explain what just happened? You were so sure that he was the same man that came to our shop this morning. Why then did you say you mistook him for someone else? Waah! That powerful man is gone. I'm doomed to work for the rest of my life!"
Meanwhile, Laila didn't think too much about what had just happened. However, Macie was a little suspicious.
Horace's heart was still beating fast. He took a deep breath and scratched his head. With self-mockery, he said to Laila and Macie, "Ha-ha! I didn't expect that I'd resemble a rich man. I don't even look like an average man!"
"Horace, don't describe yourself in that manner. It doesn't matter if you are rich or not. You are still an excellent man!" Laila seriously chastised and praised him at the same time.
Macie didn't utter a word. She just stared at Horace with squinted eyes. She noticed that his expression was very unnatural. 'Oh my! Could it be that those ladies weren't mistaken? Is Horace really a super-rich man?' A ridiculous idea popped up in her head.
However, she quickly trashed it. She shook her head and thought, 'Don't be ridiculous, Macie. Horace has always been a poor loser. Look at the way he's dressed. How can he be a rich man? His aura even reeks of poverty! I'm thinking too much about what just happened!'
Farris turned off the ignition and got off the car. He walked to Horace, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a gentle voice, "Young man, follow me upstairs. There are some clothes shops there. You would get some clothes for your girlfriend."
Farris's last word made the faces of Horace and Laila red in an instant. They were so embarrassed.
When Farris saw their faces, he laughed and uttered, "Why are you two blushing? Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean girlfriend in the romantic sense. I meant a platonic female friend."
Before this explanation, Horace was already cursing Farris out in his mind. He glanced at Laila and saw that as soon as the explanation came, her embarrassed expression disappeared. She wore a shy smile and had a calm glint in her eyes. 'Is Laila comfortable with being called my girlfriend?'
The possibility filled Horace's heart with joy.
Despite his excitement, he decided not to make a move now. He would observe Laila's feelings for a few more days before doing anything.
With an awkward smile, he said, "Sir, you are so good at telling jokes. Let's go in and see if there are any suitable clothes for Laila!"
"Of course, there will be. This is a huge shopping mall. Laila would look more beautiful when we are done. Horace, just wait to pay the bill. You won't be stingy later, right?" Macie stated, pulled Laila and followed Farris excitedly.
"No, I won't. Don't forget that I was the one that decided to take her shopping in the first place." Horace snorted and followed them.
Macie looked back and rolled her eyes at him. 'Bah! He's talking like he knows everything. But he's just a novice who has zero knowledge about how to win a girl's heart. If it were other men, they would shower Laila with romantic words and win her heart in a trice. What a shame!'
The moment they entered the mall, Horace secretly made a hand gesture to Farris and said, "Mr. Rivera, please wait a moment. I need to use the washroom. I will be back in a minute!"
Farris understood Horace's hand gesture. He quickly said, "Young man, please wait for me. I also need to use the gents. Let's go together. Ladies, you can sightsee for the time being!"
They left Macie and Laila and walked towards the washroom.
As soon as they entered the men's room, Farris asked Horace respectfully, "Mr. Warren, Is anything the matter? Why did you ask to see me alone?"
It seemed like Farris had flipped a switch and his acting character took the back seat. His ability to adapt to different situations was superb. Now that Laila and Macie were not within earshot, he instantly became respectful.
"Uncle Farris, I called you here to tell you that I'll pay for Laila's clothes when she's done shopping. If you pay for them, I would look like a penniless loser. I don't like that. I need to show her that I am capable of such things," Horace finally answered Farris's questions after he went to pee. He felt that it was better to ease himself since he was already in the washroom.
"Well... Please accept my apologies for being so thoughtless. I shouldn't have made that offer. Mr. Warren, you can punish me!" Farris realized that he had committed an offense. He didn't waste time to apologize.
"You didn't do anything bad, Uncle Farris. I know that you did it just to help me. I'm not angry about it. Besides, you should know that I can't be so heartless to punish someone who was just trying to help. I remember your kindness. So, quit apologizing like you committed an atrocity."
Horace chuckled as he rinsed his hands in the washstand.
"Thank you, Mr. Warren. You are such a forgiving man. We need more people like you in the world. Your presence in the Warren family is a huge blessing. I promise to stand by your side forever!" Farris swore his allegiance to him with a salute.
He straightened up and continued, "Mr. Warren, I need to take my leave. I can't shop with you guys today. Please say goodbye to Laila and Macie for me. Just tell that something urgent came up in the company and I had to handle it immediately."
"Okay, no problem, Uncle Farris. Goodbye!"
Horace nodded and walked out of the washroom. Asides from the fact that he wanted to present himself as a capable man to Laila, he just didn't like people serving him. He was used to doing his things independently. He knew that Farris was too considerate and meticulous. And Horace didn't want him to behave that way in Laila's presence.
Just as Horace walked out of the washroom, Macie's angry voice wafted into his ears. "Are you insane? She didn't want to give it to you. Why are you so persistent? Can't you respect people's choices? Who the hell do you think you are? You bastard, if you know what's good for you, better leave this place right now. Otherwise, when our powerful friend comes out of the washroom, you will regret ever being born!"
Macie had no idea that Farris had already left.
Horace instantly knew that something was wrong. He rushed towards them. Before getting there, he asked, "Macie, what's wrong?"
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