Elena walked to the front of the car door that was already open. The driver stood respectfully and waited for Elena to get into the car before he closed the door and then drove the car.
In the luxury car, Elena opened the car window observing every road she passed. She immediately realized this wasn't the way home to the mansion. Where were they going?
"We're going to the shopping center," Vincent said politely. "Master said madam wants to go shopping."
"Oh… that's not true. We're going back to the mansion!" said Elena. She wasn't in the mood to go out or buy anything.
"You must buy what you want, Madam. Mr. Elleard sent me a message to make sure I take you to the mall," said Vincent. "I dare not argue."
Elena exhaled at the driver's words. She then chose silence and leaned her back on the back seat. Of course Elleard's orders reign supreme.
Not long after, the car entered a huge shopping center. Before the car entered the parking lot, Vincent dropped Elena off first. One man was already waiting for Elena at the entrance. He was the bodyguard that Elleard had sent to guard her. The man introduced himself as Alistair.
Elena decided to do what Elleard expected of her, wandering around a few shops and looking for things to buy. However, she was not used to having so much money to spend, and now she didn't know how to. She ended up walking aimlessly, as she previously expected.
Elena was tired of being alone. Finally, she took out her cell phone and called Elleard. On the second ring, Elleard picked up her call.
"Hello, Sir Elleard," said Elena.
***
Elleard was in a meeting with the board of directors in one of their companies. Xavier was sitting beside him. He overheard his brother's voice talking to Elena.
"I can't go, Elena," said Elleard when Elena asked if he read her message to have lunch together at the mall. "Sorry, I didn't reply to your message. I was having a meeting."
"Ohh..." Elena immediately pressed her lips in panic. "Am I interrupting your meeting? Gosh... I'm so, sorry... I'll hang up now."
Elleard chuckled and shook his head as if Elena could see him. He rubbed his temple and said, "That's OK. You can always call me if it's important. Obviously, this is important for you."
Elena was silent. Asking Elleard to lunch was not important compared to his meeting at work, wasn't it? She had to understand his priorities and not bother him like this again.
"Are you okay?" Elleard asked when he didn't hear her voice.
"Uhm... I'm okay. I just... don't know what to buy," Elena admitted. "I'm not good at this."
"So, do you need help?" Elleard asked. Xavier pretended to scribble on his notes, but his ears perked up to listen to his brother's conversation. The board members also focused on their own computers.
"I... I do," said Elena helplessly. She felt so stupid.
"You can ask Greta to go with you," Elleard suggested. "Would you like that?"
Elena gasped. She didn't think about this. "Can I?"
"Yes."
"Well... I'd love that."
"You can call the house and tell them to send Greta your way."
"Oh, thank you. I will do that."
Suddenly, Elena's mood improved.
"Have fun."
"Thank you, Sir Elleard."
CLICK!
Elleard put down his phone and returned to the slides as if nothing happened.
"Master in black," call Elena.
"Call me Alistair, Madam. Anything you need?"
"I want to call Greta, do you have her number?"
"Greta?" The bodyguard seemed to be in thought. He didn't know the name. He then turned to Vincent who had joined them.
"She's my personal maid in the mansion," Elena explained. "I want to ask her to come here."
Vincent and Alistair exchanged glances. Vincent then nodded and took out his cell phone. Then he called someone. Elena looked at the big tall man talking on the phone with a hopeful expression.
If Greta could come here, it would be a lot of fun shopping together.
She raised an eyebrow, asking about Alistair's call when he hung up and put the phone in his pocket.
"Greta is coming, madam," Vincent said politely. After confirming with Elleard about Greta, Vincent asked the people at the mansion to send Greta to the mall.
While waiting for Greta to come, Elena decided to buy gelato ice cream and sat on a wooden chair to enjoy it. She really liked the ice cream. It felt great to be able to enjoy nice things without having to think about the price.
In the past, she had never bought snacks or spent money on fancy food and drinks because to her every cent was precious. However, now the situation was different.
Elena could buy whatever she wanted. While she was sitting leisurely with her ice cream, Vincent and Alistair stood tall behind her in a dangerous manner, as if giving a warning that if anyone dared disturb Elena, they would have to face the two bodyguards.
"Madam!" Half an hour later, Greta arrived at the mall and immediately greeted Elena. Her face was beaming.
"You've come," Elena immediately got up from her seat and grabbed Greta's hand. She was very happy to see Greta appear in casual clothes, not a maid uniform. "Come with me and help me do my shopping."
Elena pointed at the department store in front of them and walked inside. Greta immediately walked beside her.
"Don't you have a lot of clothes in your walk-in closet, Madam?" Greta asked cluelessly. Clothes in this department store were nothing compared to Elena's wardrobe, so why would the future madam of the Osbart family want to shop here?
Elena explained, "I'm going to college soon. Please help me to choose some suitable clothes for college. My wardrobe has mostly formal dresses and outfits. I need more casual ones."
Greta nodded in understanding.
"What kind of model do you like, Madam?" Greta took one step closer to the row of hangers for casual tops.
"Just casual clothes, like this." Elena showed off a white and blue striped shirt and a simple pair of jeans... "Casual summer dresses and skirts are okay too."
"All right. I'll help you find them," said Greta.
She then picked out several pairs of clothes and took them to the dressing room for Elena to try on. As the madam tried on the clothes, Greta waited for Elena by sitting on the brown sofa outside the dressing room.
Elena came out in a pink floral shirt and black trousers. Her brown hair was flowing down to her back beautifully. Elena's petite body looked perfect in such casual clothes.
"Nice, madam," said Greta. "You look so pretty in this outfit."
"Thank you," said Elena. She also liked this pair. She went back into the changing room and tried on some other clothes.
Next, Elena came out wearing a black knee-length dress decorated with a beautiful leather belt. She looked beautiful and elegant. The dress truly flattered her curves.
"How about this one?" Elena asked while turning around.
"That's nice too, madam," said Greta.
Elena narrowed her eyes. "Why do you keep saying 'nice'? They can't be all nice on me."
Greta smiled. "I'm not lying, they all look good on you. Master Elleard would approve too."
"Really? Would he like me if I wear casual clothes like this? Most of the dresses in my closet are... sexy," said Elena, chuckling. Then, she looked deeply at Greta, "Greta, you've been working at the mansion for months already, haven't you? You must be pretty familiar with what Elleard is like. I don't know much about him yet. Do you know what he likes and dislikes?"
Greta looked awkward. She smiled and shook her head.
"Madam, you can ask Master Elleard about that yourself." Greta wouldn't dare discuss who Elleard was. She was worried she would say the wrong thing.