The first floor was neatly arranged with glass cabinets which had rolls of fabrics of different materials; silk, cotton, linen, et cetera. More than a hundred people filled the floor walking from here to there admiring the goods. Others retrieved the fabrics from the cabinets before walking to the counter which was near the entrance to pay for the product of their choices.
Catherine and Eddie walked past several different cabinets before finally stopping at one. "This is chiffon, for the dresses I was telling you about, it is the best material. The color pink will match the style." Catherine pointed at a cabinet with a 'chiffon' sticker on it. She then turned and pointed, "For those shirts you were talking about, linen is the best choice."
They had talked about the designs they would specialize in. Mostly, Eddie would design men's clothing while Catherine would design ladies'. Their products would range from jackets, handbags, shirts, dresses, trousers to footwear. While Eddie was only a footwear student, his love for art had pushed him into trying other products and he was doing so well in his work that when Catherine saw what he could he do, she suggested a partnership.
They had just picked all the materials they needed and were on their way to the counter when Catherine bumped into someone. It was a middle-aged man in his late fifties. He had a plump physique with a large belly. A fair complexion with a smooth face showed how well he took care of himself. His eyes were sharp and with his long nose, muckle lips and a bearing unique to the affluent people, any ordinary person would be too scared to meet him. At this time, he was clutching a cigar with his teeth. On his right hand was a varnished wooden stick that glossed as he twisted it from time to time.
"Cathy, it is you?" He quickly removed the cigar from his mouth looking at Catherine with surprise.
"It is me, why are you so clumsy, Mr. Billy?" Catherine looked at him contemptuously.
The man laughed sheepishly before throwing a questioning look at Eddie, "Who is this you are walking with?"
"He is my boyfriend, is there a problem with that?"
"Catherine, who is he?" Eddie asked leaning slightly towards Catherine. He did not even give Billy a chance to answer the question Catherine had just asked.
"He is a man I wanted help from in the past only to realize that he was a lousy old fool." Catherine threw a scornful look at the man before walking to the counter.
"Cathy, wait. I am so sorry for what happened that day. I am truly sorry. I did not tell you but I am really glad to have met you. If you are willing, we can have a meeting. I also have a problem I may need your help on." The man gently pulled her arm making her turn.
"When I needed help you could have taken that advantage. Sorry, you no longer have the chance to meet me." She then went to the counter alongside Eddie, paid the necessary sum and walked out of the shop leaving Billy standing with a face full of regret.
When Catherine had contended for the organizing secretary position almost two years ago, she lacked enough money to fund her campaigns. She approached Billy Kelvin, a notable mogul across the entire Woodland for help. He agreed immediately but on the condition that she would allow him inside her thrice in a particular week.
"I came here so that you could loan me your money, not become a whore." She answered disappointedly.
A close friend of hers had recommended him to her. His reputation as a righteous and a generous man was also known by many. All she wanted was a loan and no bank would lend her the amount she needed without a reasonable collateral. She also did not want help from her people. She had decided to approach the man with the hope of receiving his help.
"The amount you ask for is huge, little girl. If you give me what I am asking for, you will not have to pay the money back. Otherwise, don't even dream of having my help." He replied impassively.
"I have other ways of obtaining the money, if you are not going to lend me, I will just walk away. Farewell." She declared before banging the door behind her as she left.
"Bob...she has what I have been looking for for the last fifteen years. I want you to trail her and find out where she lives. I wish I knew earlier. " After Catherine left, Billy called for his butler before issuing instructions.
"Master, how did you find out she has it?" The butler asked.
"In her little moment of anger, she unknowingly unleashed her power."
Like that, Billy looked for Catherine so that he could befriend her. However, she seemed to have dissipated in a thin air, a fact that really baffled him. After all, she was vying for a high position amongst the students' populace; finding her shouldn't have been a problem. If he had known she was one person he wanted, he would have given her the money she asked for straight away without expecting anything in return.
"If she's the daughter of those people, it is really understandable why she is able to cover her trail even after I borrowed the help of those freaky sniffers." He could not help but shake his head bitterly one day.
"This opportunity will not slip again; I must find her."
Billy dashed out of the shop only to find Catherine's vehicle diminishing several kilometers away from where he stood. He knew he would never catch up with his vehicle. "I will still find you, Cathy." He declared before returning to the shop.