"You're kidding, Sir" the seller smiled awkwardly, with a slightly disappointed facial expression. But this did not discourage him, trading by bargaining for the lowest possible price was normal for him. "4,500 dollar sir, that's a good price for a rare necklace".
"No, 500 dollar" Vhaken said loudly with his offer, his face looked serious.
"No sir, that's too far from 4,500 dollar, can you raise it a little sir?" asked the seller with a hopeful face. "It's a pitiful, this lady seems to really like the necklace," he muttered, a usual trick he used to sway the price offer, so that the buyer could increase it.
Unfortunately, Vhaken didn't fall for the seller's tricks, he was firm with his offer. "500 dollar, if it's ok we'll buy it, if not then forget it" without waiting for an answer from the seller Vhaken turned his body to face Leigh "Come Leigh, that's too expensive, let's look at another stall. There must be something better than here." With that, Vhaken stepped forward and wanted to leave there.
"Sir, wait, 2,500 dollar," said the seller quickly. But Vhaken ignored his words. The seller stepped closer to Vhaken, blocking his steps. "2,000 dollar sir" again all he got was a frown from Vhaken's forehead which he thought still didn't shake his stance "1,000 dollar" Vhaken and Leigh turned past the seller and walked away. The seller ran after them, holding Vhaken's arm "Okay Sir. 500 dollar". Finally, the seller, in a weary voice, relented.
Leigh herself looks happy, she finally managed to get the necklace. Her face smiled broadly, happy.
And just like that, the heart with half heart shaped necklace was bought. Vhaken and Leigh walked back to the vendor stall. The seller wrapped it by putting it in a jewellery box which also looked antique. After that, wrap it in a small goody bag that fits the jewelry box.
Leigh, who opened her bag to take out money, was detained by Vhaken. Obviously, this made her forehead wrinkle. Suddenly she looked at Vhaken.
"Let me pay" said Vhaken and a gentle smile looked at Leigh whose face looked happy since the seller agreed to the price he offered.
"No Ken, I want to buy it with my own money," replied Leigh politely, not wanting to discourage his friend.
"I'm the one who bid, obviously I have to pay, Leigh, after all, you didn't have any intention of buying just by hearing the exorbitant price offered." Vhaken tried to argue, he wanted to buy something for her but he didn't know what would suit her. And this is the opportunity he got.
"I'm very grateful for your gift Ken, but..." Leigh's words were cut off by Vhaken.
"Consider this a gift from me, for your success in winning the annual training, Leigh. What you achieved was a great victory. Trust me, when you arrive at the office everyone will celebrate your success with a big party. This is nothing" at the end of his words, Vhaken handed over the money to the seller and Leigh couldn't argue with him anymore and admitted defeat.
Leigh received the goody bag from the seller with a happy face. The two of them continued by looking at other merchandise stalls, buying some souvenirs. When they finished, the sky was starting to turn red on the western horizon, indicating that it was already afternoon, and it was time for them to go back to the hotel, ready to go home to Terrazen.
Arriving at the hotel. Vhaken wants to take Leigh to her room. But she refused, with reason that the time to pack up their luggage was short, and it would be too late. In the end, Vhaken gave in and stepped out of the elevator when a ding sound was heard, and reluctantly Vhaken stepped out, turned around and waved his hand at Leigh.
The sound was heard again, Leigh took a deep breath before stepping out. For the last time she had to face Kendric, but in her heart, she hoped that he wasn't in the room. She prayed that Kendric was busy with his business out there. So, she could calmly pack up her luggage and prepare to join the committee and other participants at the airport.
Beyond Leigh's expectations, as soon as she opened the room door. Kendric casually sat on the living room sofa while sipping the drink in his hand. And his eyes stared at her, sharply.
"I thought you accepted my offer and didn't intend to go home," said Kendric casually as he took a sip of steaming wine from the cup he was holding. He drinks wine with Ice. The cold air evaporates elegantly from the dark yellow wine and foams at the top.
"I said, I'll consider it Si..." her last words invited Kendric to raise his right eyebrow. On the other side with her body shaking, disappointed that her hopes were not fulfilled, making her lips slip and uttering words she shouldn't have said. She grumbled from the heart 'uh, this is because the aura radiating from you makes me uneasy'. "I mean Ken"
Kendric smiled, his lips curled into a mischievous grin and his eyes stared intently at Leigh meaningfully.
"What did you buy?" Kendric asked to lighten the mood as he put his wine cup on the table. Then cross his legs, with his right foot over left foot. Show a manly and dashing posture in front of women who attract his attention.
"Hmm... Souvenirs," Leigh answered a little stammering.
"That looks like a lot, is there one for me?" he asked with shameless and a mischievous grin on his sensual lips, tilting his head to the left slightly.
"We are here attending the annual meeting, that's not call a souvenir then. And no, I didn't buy it for you" Leigh's last sentence signalled that she meant this conversation was over quickly and she could go to her room to pack up and get ready. Her heart was beating fast, remembering that there was only a little time left.
"That's very unfortunate, I hoped to get something from you, seeing you walking away happily, with that man, made me a little sad" Kendric's voice was not too heavy but seemed full of deep meaning. Making Leigh who was listening even more anxious.
'Uh, why does she have to experience a situation like now?' She blamed the collapse that occurred in her previous room. Before she ended up in this magnificent and luxurious floor and room. 'What's wrong with this man, he's too confident. As if I was happy to be around him. In fact, I wish I could be far away from him'. Leigh kept thinking. Without realizing it, her right lip rose slightly, showing her irritated face. And Kendric didn't miss this, he grinned even wider, looking at Leigh with amusement.
Without wanting to make Leigh even more annoyed, especially the shopping bag that she was holding looked heavy and she seemed to be having difficulty holding and supporting its weight any longer. He said "Do you need my help to carry your shopping bag? I would love to help." he emphasized every word, his last sentence being spoken.
"No, thank you" An immeasurable sense of relief washed over her nervous self, realizing that she could subtly disappear from the presence of the man who always carried a heavy and suffocating aura around him. Without waiting any longer, Leigh hurriedly walked towards her room. Without looking back at Kendric.
Leigh opened the door to her room quickly, stepped in, turned around and closed the door with lightning speed, afraid that the shameless and overconfident man would change his mind and bother her again. After that, she took a deep breath, pressing her forehead which was slightly sweaty from nervousness against the Door. Standing there for a moment, forgetting that her hands were still holding the weight of her shopping bag. What she was thinking about was how quickly she could run away and disappear from the sight of the man in living room right now.
A moment later, after she calmed down. She mumbled "Uh my hand" with shaking hands, one by one she took the goody bags off her wrist. There were marks left, the grooves of the goody bag strap, reddened.
She left her shopping bag just lying on the floor in front of her room door. She stepped towards the bed, throwing her body onto the soft foam of the bed. She let out a sigh of relief, her body relaxed, letting go of the tension, which seemed to take her breath away. Choking her until she almost ran out of breath. Ready to sink into sweet dreams.
Unfortunately, that couldn't happen, because she immediately stood up "Come on, pack up, get ready and get out of here quickly!" she muttered encouragingly to herself.
She walked towards the cupboard, pulling out her suitcase. She started to arrange all her belongings into the suitcase, with a serious and enthusiastic face.