Ch. 73
The mall buzzed with life, rain drumming rhythmically against the glass roof. Selene stepped inside, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor, with Raze trailing behind her.
"So... where do we start?" Raze asked, glancing at the crowd but keeping his attention on her.
Selene didn't even slow down.
"Perfume first. Let's go." She began weaving through the crowd, scanning every boutique, her eyes alight with excitement.
Raze followed silently, secretly amused as he caught the faint wafts of fragrance whenever Selene leaned in to test a bottle.
She moved like a carefree teenager in a candy store picking up, sniffing, comparing, her lips curling into soft, delighted smiles at every scent.
Her expressions were playful yet elegant, and occasionally, just a flicker of childish mischief crossed her face.
Sales assistants noticed her immediately, rushing to offer samples and suggestions. Selene nodded politely, taking in their attention with effortless grace, occasionally twirling in front of mirrors and adjusting a strap or cuff with delicate precision.
Raze's arms were already stacked with her chosen perfumes. He had become her unofficial bodyguard and shopping assistant.
Minutes passed, and Selene moved on to the clothing boutiques, where every high-end brand displayed limited pieces like treasures.
As she entered the first store, she froze slightly the sales assistants practically leaped toward her, ushering her toward racks and suggesting ensembles with almost reverent attention.
Selene blinked.
"Did they know me?" Selene leaned slightly closer to Raze and whispered.
"I don't think so," Raze replied with a small smile. "But I think they can tell you have the money to buy all these luxurious clothes."
He lifted the paper bags he was holding and showed them to her with an amused grin.
She shrugged and continued browsing as if the entire boutique belonged to her. Rack after rack, Selene picked clothes without hesitation silk blouses, tailored slacks, fitted blazers, long coats.
Raze followed willingly, arms already full of shopping bags, yet his expression looked oddly satisfied.
He tilted his head while watching her choose another black blazer.
"Do you realize something?" he said casually.
Selene didn't look at him.
"What?"
"You've picked black, white, brown, gray... and another black." He raised the bags slightly. "Are you shopping for clothes... or building a corporate empire?"
Selene paused while Raze smirked.
"I'm starting to think you're not here for fashion. You're here to attend a board meeting."
She glanced at the rack again.
Black blazer.
Beige blazer.
White blouse.
Her hand stopped.
...Right.
For a brief moment, her expression fell.
...Why am I still choosing like I'm going to the office?
Her fingers tightened slightly on the hanger, but the emotion only lasted a second. She raised one eyebrow and turned toward Raze. Without warning, she grabbed his sleeve.
"Come here."
Raze blinked.
"Huh?"
Before he could react, she dragged him across the boutique toward another section.
He looked up at the sign.
MEN'S COLLECTION.
He froze.
"Wait... why are we here?"
Selene stopped in front of the racks and looked at the suits calmly.
"I want to check if there's something that suits you."
"...Why?" Raze stared at her.
"Because I want to."
Her tone was completely casual, like it was the most normal thing in the world. She turned to the staff.
"You. Give him tailored suits. And casual ones too. His size is around... this."
She gestured toward Raze's shoulders. The staff immediately nodded.
"Yes, Miss Selene."
Within seconds, several outfits were handed to him. Raze looked down at the pile in his arms.
"Wait... I came here as your assistant. Why am I the one being dressed now?"
Selene was already walking toward the fitting room couch.
"Stop talking and go change."
"You're really treating me like your personal doll today." He laughed under his breath.
She ignored him. Selene sat down on the couch near the fitting rooms, crossing her legs casually while flipping through a fashion brochure. Her expression was calm, almost bored, as if she had done this a thousand times. She didn't even look at the fitting room.
"I'll wait."
Inside, Raze sighed.
"I volunteered for this... so I guess I deserve it."
A few minutes passed. Selene kept reading, turning the pages slowly.
Then suddenly—
She felt the couch sink slightly beside her. Someone sat down. Her body stiffened instantly.
Before she even turned her head, a familiar scent reached her.
That perfume...
Her hand instinctively pressed against her chest. She turned, eyes widened.
"Jaxen!?"
The shock on her face looked like she had just been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to. The man beside her smirked lazily, crossing his legs as if he owned the place.
"Yes, Miss Selene. It's me."
His gaze stayed on her, amused.
"How have you been?" Jaxen asked, still remembering how pale Selene looked the last time he saw her.
"I-I'm fine." Selene stuttered.
"Good to hear, why are you sitting here alone in the men's section?" He tilted his head slightly.
"Are you perhaps shopping for your father?"
His tone sounded casual, but inside he was in a good mood. When his assistant informed him that Selene came to shop at his mall, he immediately left his office and came down himself.
Good thing I decided to check the mall today, He thought.
Selene forced a small smile and looked away.
Why did I get surprised...
I'm just shopping.
She calmed herself and answered,
"Uh... yeah. Kinda."
Right after she said that the fitting room door opened.
"Selene, what do you thi—"
Raze stepped out.
He was wearing a perfectly fitted three-piece suit, his bright red hair contrasting sharply with the dark fabric. The sharp cut made him look less like a street gangster and more like a young CEO from a magazine cover.
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes landed on the man sitting beside Selene.
Jaxen looked up at the same time.
Silence.
Both of their jaws tightened slightly.
Who's this kid?
Jaxen thought, feeling an unexpected irritation.
Another rival?
Raze thought instantly, already marking him as an enemy without even knowing his name.
Selene stood up, completely unaware of the tension. Her eyes went to Raze. For a moment, she was genuinely surprised.
...He looks good.
Actually...
He could be a model with that face. Not a gangster.
She stepped closer and fixed his collar naturally.
"Yeah. It suits you." She said while nodding.
"Let's buy this one."
She turned to the staff.
"We'll take this."
Raze, who had been distracted by Jaxen, suddenly smirked slightly the moment he heard that. Like he had just won a gold medal.
Behind them, the sales staff whispered quietly.
"They look like a love triangle..."
"No, no... more like two CEOs fighting over the same girl..."
"Shhh! They might hear you!"
Meanwhile...
Jaxen's smile became thinner and Raze stood a little straighter. Neither of them spoke. But the rivalry had already started.
The sales staff carefully packed the suit Selene had chosen while Raze stood beside her, still looking a little too proud of himself, shoulders squared as if he had just won a small battle.
Jaxen noticed it.
Raze noticed that he noticed.
The air between them turned cold again, like an invisible line stretched across the boutique.
Selene slowly exhaled, letting her shoulders drop. She could feel it. Of course she could.
One was staring like he wanted to start a business war. The other looked like he was ready to throw hands in a parking lot. She closed her eyes for a second, rubbed her temple, and then spoke calmly.
"Listen."
Both men looked at her at the same time. Selene crossed her arms, tapping one foot lightly against the floor.
"Today's shopping is for my stress relief." She glanced at Jaxen, whose smirk didn't quite reach his eyes, then at Raze, who was already adjusting his posture as if preparing to defend her honor. "So don't add more stress."
Silence.
"Of course, Selene." Raze immediately straightened.
"I wasn't doing anything." Jaxen smirked faintly.
Selene raised a perfectly arched eyebrow.
"Good to hear that."
Then she turned and started walking.
Then a strange thought crossed her mind. She looked at Jaxen, tilting her head slightly, her expression a little weirded out.
"Wait... why are you coming with us?" she asked. "I did not invite you?"
I know it was quite harsh for me to say that but... he really isn't invited. Selene reason to herself.
"Aren't you busy?" she added.
Jaxen shrugged casually, leaning slightly against the railing as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
"Not busy. I'm hungry too," he said simply, his eyes still on her. "So, I'll accompany you."
"Liar." Raze muttered under his breath, barely audible.
Jaxen didn't even glance at him. He just kept looking at Selene, still in his, composed and serious expression.
Selene blinked, then let out a small sigh.
"Fine. Do as you like," she said neutrally.
If he wanted to follow, fine! She wasn't going to stop him.
Meanwhile, Raze continued carrying all her paper bags like a devoted soldier. Every single one. Jaxen, untouched by responsibility, strolled alongside them, hands casually in his pockets.
Neither of them wanted to walk behind the other, so they ended up flanking her perfectly, forming two sides of a human barricade. She felt almost like a queen being escorted, and for once, she didn't mind.
The three of them moved through the gleaming mall corridors, the quiet murmur of other shoppers seeming to fade away around them.
Selene finally spotted the VIP lounge entrance and gestured toward it.
"Let's sit here first," she said, waving her hand toward the private section. "I need a break."