An alarm clock.
That's the most annoying thing I want to shatter right now this morning when its earsplitting ring blasted the whole room. It just didn't ruin my sleep, it wakes my whole entire being. With a fast heart rate— a heavy breath and a sour feeling, I pleat myself to rise up from the bed.
My face crumples when I saw the suspect holding a sonic bomb alarm clock leaning tall against the side of the room's doorframe. His presence was screaming dominance as his lips curving a smirk like a devil. He wore a plain white shirt and a khaki short that complements his fair skin tone. He shamelessly look like a freaking Greek god model!
"What do you want?" I shoot a dagger look at him.
"What do I want is you working at this moment. I would appreciate it, Gomez, if you didn't forget why you're here in my house." he really stressed the last word. Oh shoot! Right. I almost forgot. "And I bet I told you yesterday to be my human alarm clock. So why the hell did I woke up first right before my alarm?"
I tried to be tough around him. I try not to swallow hard hearing his authoritative voice. The smirk was gone on his lip. He crossed his arms and intentness flashed on his face. So this the Noah Acosta. How foolish of me to think I knew the real him. I just knew him on the surface. That's all. I must not forget that he's an Acosta. He's like his father. Evil.
Fool of me to act surprised when he goes all dominant to someone like me. A powerless. I hated that. And I hated more the fact that he's really acting like nothing had just happened between us. I feel so insulted. And yeah, probably humiliated too.
"S-sorry. Not going to happen again."
I'm working for him. I need to work to pay off our debts. Yeah. Just a year, Lorelai. And this will be over. No more Acostas. No more Noah. No more of his annoying shadow.
"Should be. Now clean up yourself 'coz we're going in a mall."
"Why?"
"I have lots to buy. Now, change." he smirked once again before leaving me confuse in my room.
What is the jerk buying? Just because he's a billionaire and had lots of money, he'll blatantly spend all of it buying nonsense. Well, I hope it's not nonsense.
I heavily bring myself to stand tramping towards the bathroom to shower. It's Sunday. It's Sunday and the first thing he wants was to go in a mall. Is that how a billionaire does during the free time?
Yesterday was a haze to me. All day long I was just in my room and go out when I felt hungry. I never saw Noah nor his shadow around. I thought he was gone. But a maid told me that he was just in his room. I was planning to ask him for a lunch but the maid stops me before I could knock on the master bedroom. He doesn't like to be interrupted when he's in his room. Unless he goes out, no one should knock on his door. He hated that. He's something else when he's mad. That's what the servant told me.
The dinner came and he did not step down to eat too. I wonder if he's still breathing in his room or already dead. I never heard from him. Never mind. His presence never brings me good anyway, so it's better he's not around.
So when he came here to pester me early in the morning, I am a bit surprised. I thought he was gone for good. I come to conclude that he probably forget our deal. What a shallow thought.
I wore a simple cherry spaghetti strap dress and cover it with a cardigan. I grab my purse on the study table and descended down the stairs.
Noah's already waiting—he's sitting perfectly on the sofa. When he glanced at my direction, he quickly stood up. There's a swift amusement light up on him when he saw me. It quickly fades though just like a bubble naturally popped out in the air.
He wore a black chino pants and a light blue button down shirt. It highlights how masculine and lean he is. How annoyingly attractive.
He cleared his throat. "If you're ready, let's go."
***
We arrived at one of the best and expensive malls in town. The StarMall or SM for short. When we enter, there were staff that greeted us. Having no idea if they know Noah or it's just because of his VIP aura that's why they serve him fast.
This man unfortunately doesn't know how to be thrifty. There were lots of malls that didn't cost much. Though I admit the quality in SM is authenticated and better. But only those rich people can buy anything in here with a happy face. Because me, I won't waste a half million just buying a five t-shirt! The price is hurting my eyes.
This man! He threw those three plain shirts on me that I fortunately caught on time. The musk scent from the fabrics scream luxury. Oh my cash. I could sleep in this expensive smell forever and never complains.
Noah checks for another cloth again, a saleslady was accommodating him on his whims. Another shirt was thrown at my face. Then another hoodie. Sweater. Pants. Another shirts again. He kept throwing all those on me. The other cloths escape from my hold. I struggle every time I reach it on the floor.
"Hold all of that tight, Gomez. I am not fond of wearing dirty clothes." I can sense the mockery in his voice. Jerk.
"If you're just thinking like a normal person, you know I am not a basket nor a cart to throw these pile of clothes on me and expect it not to fall from my little hands!"
Noah grins like a devil. "It's not my fault that you have the hands of a little kid."
He threw another cloth on me. It's a jacket this time. It hurts my face a little because of its metal zipper. Inconsiderate bastard.
"I'm not a little kid! You're just old!"
"I'm just 26." he glared.
I want to laugh at his reaction if he didn't throw another shirt at me again. I'm now sure I probably look like a juggler trying to balance these pyramid cloths with my arms.
"Can't we just get a basket?" I'm really struggling.
He studied me for a tiny minute before looking away and shook his head. "No. You're my human basket. That's enough."
"Jerk."
"I know, Gomez."
It feels like forever when finally the jerk has finally done purchasing half of the items inside the SM. I thought he would buy everything just to see me suffers from catching every item he intentionally launch at me. He really meant it when he said he will make me work hard, huh. That he will make my life a living hell. I should know better.
"Two million and three hundred forty-two thousand, sir." the saleslady announced on the counter. "How do you want to pay this, sir?"
My eyes bulge out. Something inside my lungs has chucked my breathing. What the heck? Almost three million? These whole things cost almost three million?! My ear might be hearing wrong.
"I'll use a credit card," Noah opens his wallet and offers his card to the counter. The saleslady scanned the card for a minute then gave it back to him. "I-It's good now, sir Acosta."
I noticed how the sales lady switches her behavior as she reads the name on the card and finally realizes that the one she's talking to isn't just a mere rich customer. He's the Noah Acosta. I bet everyone in the business industry knew that name.
The girl audaciously gawk at Noah. Her admiration couldn't put in a place especially when Noah removes his aviator. I know he's attractive but she should have at least pretend he's not. She's damn salivating.
Noah disgustingly get his card out from the saleslady's hold before asking me to get all of the shopping bags and follow him outside. He is so rude. How can he boldly show disgusts on his face? He could've at least pretend.
I looked back at the girl to check if she's just okay, but I regretted it sooner. She's still freaking gawking and eyes dreamily followed Noah walks outside. Oh heck. She's too much— No, they're too much. Another bunch of girls and staff took stolen pictures of Noah and yelping like crazy as if he's some kind of a celebrity. Geez.
I ran to catch up with Noah. A baggy staff helped me to bring the monster's reckless purchases into his car. How can that asshole expects me to carry these hundreds of bags all at once? Do I look like a robot to him? Not a gentleman. Of course, there's no evil gentleman after all.
I almost lost my balance and fell off the ground carrying all these heavy shopping bags but he never ever bother to look at me. Mean. I would really love to throw a big rock on his head one day.
I opened Noah's Buggati's trunk and put all the bags there.
"Thank you for the help," I bowed a little to give the baggy guy an appreciative nod and gave him enough tip.
"No problem. Thank you too, Miss."
"Lori, do that fast." he opens the car door in a half and displayed half of his body just to peek at me and said those four words.
His eyes shoot dagger to the mall staff. What a jerk really.
"I should go. The monster's whining again. Thank you once again."
He chuckles and nod. Then he waves. And then finally turns his back to leave. I sighed as I closed the trunk and walk inside the shotgun.
"What took you so long talking to that rustic man?"
I wince hearing those from him.
"Why do you care? And he's not rustic, you're just entitled."
"I'm not entitled," he trailed off. "I'm privileged. I can have what I want. I acquire what I desire. And what's mine is mine. No peasant or anyone could ever try to seize that right from me." he said like some congressman.
"Then why you seem so mad at that guy? He's not taking anything that yours."
He cocked his head, then eyes turned wary watching me. The way he stared at me feels so awkward as I remember his stares during the night that something had happened to us.
He licks his lip, "Of course, he's not taking anything from me. He can't. He doesn't stand a chance. But I don't like him nearing what's mine."
I think about his purchases.
"How can you be so judgemental, Noah? He wouldn't steal those items!"
I can't believe this man. Did he really think that guy would steal something he bought? That guy was just helping me. And he's just doing his job. He seems a good guy. Of course, Noah wouldn't see that because he's from hell.
He shakes his head in disbelief. "Naive." he muttered under his breath.