KRISHNA's POV
I was relieved that Jerry drove a Maybach this time. Although it is still eye-catching, at least it would not occupy so much space on the road.
"Miss Krish, which ANNA's COLLECTION store do you want me to drive you to?" Jerry queried, and I was snapped back to my senses.
I looked at him in the rearview mirror, then lowered my gaze to my phone. "I think… As mentioned in the booklet, I need to go to their main store."
"Then, I'll send you to the Mainland City Mall. After the Crow Corporation finished constructing the mall, the owner, Anna Lawrence, moved her main store there."
He went on, "Mainland City is the largest mall in the world after they expanded and added more buildings. So one day is not enough for you to stroll around, Miss."
"Is that true, Jerry?" The thought excites me somehow. I'm not fond of shopping, but it's not bad strolling around in a foreign land.
I am glad that Jerry was bubbly and chatty. The half-hour being stuck in the traffic did not bore me. Along the journey, Jerry told me what best places to visit if I planned to go out and wander around the city. Of course, Jerry will drive me, so I don't need to search for these places. He could take me to the countryside if I wish to.
"We're here, Miss." Jerry stopped the car in front of the East gate at the second-floor parking lot.
He told me that this entrance door is exclusively for the high society. And since I am visiting Anna's Collection store, Jerry brought me here.
All I need is to take the escalator; then I will immediately see the store on the fourth floor, which is a two story, so it also occupies the fifth floor.
The fifth floor is where all the leading brand stores and famous contoured houses are located.
"Thank you, Jerry." I thanked him, as he was very helpful to me. Jerry is friendly and warm, so I never get shy to query him. I might get lost in the city.
I am still discerning when Camilla will join me. Even though she texted me saying she was alright; still, I had this strange feeling lingering in my chest. 'Is she okay?'
"Good afternoon... Welcome to Anna's Collection! How could I help you?"
At the door, a saleslady greeted me with a smile. I've heard that famous brand stores are strict; either you need to make an appointment first, or some will reject you from entering their store if you don't dress in expensive clothes, which I am not wearing. So I'm glad that Anna's Collection was a friendly store. They let me in immediately.
"Hi! Um, I was here to get a dress for a dinner party. I have a voucher here..." I swiped my phone nervously, hoping the saleslady did not notice the slight shake in my hands.
"Lena, let me assist her."
I heard an angelic voice speak from behind the sales lady. I was stunned to see a beautiful woman wearing a white jumpsuit paired with a red stiletto. Her long legs were flawlessly white, and her face had exquisite makeup that I wish I knew how to apply to my face.
Living on a ranch, I didn't need to dress up and put on makeup while working, so I didn't practice being a fashionista like Camilla.
Anyway, there is a lot of difference between Camilla and me.
I was orphaned while her parents owned an enormous ranch, while mine was just a tiny place.
So Camilla doesn't need to work in the barn, but dress up and color her face. She always has time to do it all day as she lives like a princess, not me.
And now that we both graduated from college, Camilla works in a corporation while I return to my ranch and live an ordinary life.
"Hi."
"Oh..." Shoot. I was drowning in my thoughts after I was in a trance, staring at the beautiful woman before me. Thus, I apologized with an awkward smile. "I'm sorry. Here is my voucher to pick up a dress for a welcome party tonight."
I tried to hide my embarrassment, so I smiled. But the woman scrutinized me from the head down to my flat shoes.
I was worried she would discriminate against me because of my cheap clothes. Even though they were new, these people could differentiate between famous and small brands.
"Your gorgeous,"
I swear. All I expect is criticism from here. But I was stunned when she complimented me.
"I..." I was speechless, so no word came out of my mouth. The woman smiled and how she stared at me was full of understanding after my face was burning red. It could be said that I'm easy to read because of my timid reaction, and this woman undeniably has a good eye for reading someone's emotions.
"Please, follow me." She said, then escorted me toward the elevator.
"Thank you, ma'am." Her kind of help gratified me.
"Don't mention it, dear. So? What dress do you prefer? And an evening gown? Or a cocktail cut?" she began asking me, which I was lost.
I know those dresses, but I am uncertain about what to wear tonight. Unless Camilla were here, I don't have to worry. She had better judgment. But I often turn down her invitation to go shopping because that girl makes me try on all the clothes instead.
"Please have a seat."
"Thank you." The lady brought me into a private room. I thought she would offer me a seat in the lounge area where several customers were waiting for their turn to use the fitting rooms and be assisted.
But to my surprise, we only walked past them, and I was astounded when we entered a private room that overlooked the city.
The scenery exhibited before me is breathtaking. All the buildings stood tall and proud, not to mention their spectacular designs.
"I'll get you some of our new designs." the lady told me and
I wanted to stop her when she mentioned it was "newly designed."
"I hope they were not expensive!"
My voucher only cost $5000. I am not a fashion expert, but looking at those classy gowns displayed downstairs, undoubtedly, they were pricey.
It looks like this store only sold expensive items.
"Hello, Miss... Would you like some coffee?"
A beautiful woman wearing a staff uniform entered the VIP room, pushing a food cart with different drinks and snacks. She offered me some tea and juice, but I only requested bottled water, then thanked her afterward.
Not long after, a man entered the room. He screamed all of a sudden, which made me startled. I was shocked to see how high the heel of his shoes was.
"Hello, world! Oh! Are you the one Anna told me that is gorgeous, like a goddess?"
The guy approached me, held my chin, then scanned my side profile left and right.
I was stupefied when he called me gorgeous, like a goddess. No one complimented me like that, so I didn't know how to react.
"Come here, dear! Let's begin your makeup," he told me.
"Oh. Is it free?"
"Of course! Anna told me you are going to a party, so she asked me to do your makeup, which is free. Don't worry."
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it, honey, as long as you are the prettiest girl tonight! And tell them my fairy godmother is Donny! The fairest fairy among them all!"
Donny talks and acts gleefully. He was too funny. I could not help laughing. But because of his bubbly character, it made me feel relaxed around him and overwhelmed by the service of this store.
"Hi!"
Finally, the beautiful woman returned, and an iPad was in her hand.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I have to sort out a few things in our catalog first. Our new dress hasn't been added because I couldn't find a perfect model. So, here it is! I wanted you to look at them. Which color do you prefer? Do you like a long fitted gown with slits on the side? Or a low-cut dress?"
I took the gadget and tried to pick out the most simple dress among the dresses in the catalog. However, I am genuinely hopeless on this part, so I needed help with which dress was perfect for me.
"Would you mind if I choose for you?" Donny volunteered. He asked me, with expectant in his eyes, that I would say yes. I smiled and nodded. "Great!"
In the end, Donny made me try four evening gowns and three low-cut bodycon dresses, which I would not wear!
Those body con dresses felt nice, but I'm uncomfortable showing too much skin. So, I chose a short, classy peach dress with long sleeves. The front is a deep v-neckline, so I cover my chest, but Donny would only slap my hand and gives me a look.
"There…. How lovely!"
Donny helped me wear a red stiletto and pushed my shoulder to turn around and scan my reflection in the mirror. I was in disbelief and almost could not recognize the woman in front of me.
"You are so pretty!" Donny did not stop praising me; my response was a shy smile.
"Thank you, Fairy Godmother." Since I became comfortable around Donny, I did not hold myself back from throwing this joke.
"Ah! Just make sure you would not leave the party when it hits midnight!"
I laughed on my ass. That was funny, but I shut my mouth when someone knocked on the door, and the store manager stepped inside.
"Mrs. Lawrence, Major Lawrence is waiting in your office."
"Oh, my husband is here. I'll go ahead first."
"Go, dear!"
"Thank you, Ma'am Anna," I said to the pretty woman. When I learned that she was the owner of this store, I was awestruck. Until now, I was still in disbelief.
I was impressed by her warm personality, knowing she was rich and famous in this country. She inspired me to do even great things as a woman. I was like encouraged to spread my wings and fly away.
After Miss Anna and Donny helped me dress up, I rushed to the parking lot because the dinner party was just an hour away. I was enjoying their company; we didn't notice that three hours had passed.
"Ouch!" I felt like my nose bumped into a wall.
"Are you okay, Miss?"
I looked up when the wall I hit suddenly spoke up. My jaw dropped when I made eye contact with a gorgeous blue-green-eyed man.
"I... I was fine." Gosh! I am fangirling for a mere second—why I stuttered! However, I cannot stay here and drool over at this gorgeous man. I excused myself in a hurry and did not look back.
~ ~ ~
"Heh. I wonder if she was naturally clumsy or was destined to bump into someone this constant. Could it be fate as well?"
I had these thoughts when a hand tapped on my shoulder. It was George giving me a suspicious look.
"Rowan? Who are you looking at? Are you smiling?"
"Ah... I just remembered a funny scene, George. Let's watch that movie. But before anything else. Let's go back to the hotel. The welcome dinner is about to begin."