The store manager followed where his finger was pointed to see the new staff, Elena.
'Why does he want her?' she thought to herself. But then with a smile, she returned her gaze to him.
"Mr Wang, she is a new staff who only resumed work this morning. She doesn't really know her way around. If you are worried about your needs being met, I will attend to you," she said and offered a small bow.
Mark withdrew his gaze from Elena. It didn't matter if the store manager's intention was good. As long as she wasn't doing what he wanted, he wouldn't appreciate it.
Mark let his vision rest at the top of her head without saying anything. He wasn't going to repeat his words.
On the other hand, when the storekeeper waited for a while without hearing his response, her brows furrowed in confusion. Feeling the heated stare on her, she quickly lifted her head only to meet Mark's gaze head-on.
Realizing where she had gone wrong, she cleared her throat and straightened her back immediately.
"Miss Huang, please come here," she said while gesturing for Elena to come to her.
At the far back, Elena released a deep breath she didn't know she has been holding. Hearing her name being called, she hurriedly walked towards them, bypassing the whispers and stares from her colleagues.
'Mark Wang was here for her?' That was the only thought that occupied her mind until she came to stand next to the store manager, just face-to-face with Mark.
As soon as she arrived, the storekeeper made a formal introduction. "Sir, this is Miss Huang, a new employee at our store." Turning to Elena she stated her job for her, "Your duty is to assist Mr. Wang in shopping today."
"Sir, I will take my leave then," the store manager smiled at Mark and turned on her heels, but not without giving Elena a clear warning. "Don't give him any room for complaints."
Elena nodded instinctively as those whispers flew into her ears.
As some memories started making their way into her head, she was all shades of flustered, shocked and overwhelmed.
She still couldn't believe that the man standing in front of her was the same man she had spent one night with a few years ago and as if the memory jolting back into her head wasn't enough, she had to be reminded of the fact that she had tackled him to the floor in the elevator the previous night.
Could her nerves get any more tensed than now?
With the manager walking back to the customer she had been looking after, the rest of the staff left for their station, leaving Elena and Mark alone.
A smile that reached Mark's eyes appeared on his face as he exchanged glances with the woman standing before him. 'I got you,' he thought proudly.
"Sir, how may I serve you today?" Elena asked, mustering up the courage to meet his gaze head-on.
She still wasn't past her shock, but for the time being, she would attend to him while pushing back the thoughts of the reason behind his coming to Deluxe Store.
"Take me to the women's section, I will need your help there," Mark requested, surprisingly following her lead.
Without wasting time, Elena led the way toward the women's section of the store. "Sir, would you like to use the VIP room?" she suggested.
"No. I will be fine with following you around."
Mark had thought things through before coming over to the store. The only reason he rejected the premium treatment was that he wanted an opportunity to spend the rest of his time there with her.
If he agrees to go to the VIP room to be served, Elena would be too busy running around to bring some outfits to him and then, he wouldn't have the time to speak to her.
"As you wish, Sir," Elena replied while trying to ignore the different questions popping into her head.
In the women's section, Mark asked about the latest collection for women below their thirties.
"From clothes down to jewellery, show everything to me."
Following his request, Elena took him around that section while pointing at some of their latest collection. She didn't forget to steal more than a glance each time she looked his way.
Finally, Mark who was having fun watching her struggle inwardly decided to indulge her.
He had observed how her lips moved several times every time they continued on their walk, but no words came out of them. He knew just how much she was dying of curiosity hence he prompted her to speak.
"Elena, go ahead and ask your questions."
It took Elena five seconds before it registered in her mind that he was speaking to her.
The way he addressed her so casually threw her off balance. He forwent all the formalities and stepped over the line drawn between them in that environment.
Regardless of how Mark chose to approach her, Elena wasn't going to let the opportunity he presented before her, go to waste.
"Are you really Mark Wang?" her tiny voice asked as her hands reached for a red leather designer's bag on the white shelf.
"Yes, I am," Mark admitted with a smile. To be honest, he was loving her reaction and curiosity more.
He liked that she seemed to be into him, unlike the normal way he usually reacted to other women trying hard to get close to him.
He didn't know why, but he actually favoured Elena.
Hearing his response, a rush of breath escaped Elena's lips. He was Mark Wang, the man she had been looking forward to meeting.
Their path had crossed a few times all in special ways yet, she did not know he was the one she needed. How ironic their situation and relationship were.
Seeing that she wasn't saying anything as she was probably still trying to digest the news, Mark took the chance to ask his own questions.
"Don't you remember me, Elena, from that night 5 years ago?"
Instantly, Elena's heart raced in her chest as her breathing ragged. Her eyes widened as her legs trembled. Her lower limbs could barely keep up with her upper body weight.
She was beyond frightened.
Mark chose to ignore the heavy breathing being let out through her nostrils and continued.
Leaning in, he asked as his eyes met her frightened gaze, "Did I not leave a good lasting impression for you not to have remembered me when we met five years later in the elevator last night?"
This seemed to be Mark Wang's only concern at the moment.
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(Thank you for spoiling me with the Inspiration Capsule. Ms Cocodemc ^_^. Thank you to everyone voting. XOXO)