"That will be seven thousand dollars." The woman behind the counter announced as she carefully placed the black and diamond-encrusted watch into a neat little black box-shaped bag.
Allison stared at the initials S.M. on the bag's exterior and felt the reality dawning on her, the reality that she was about to use up her life savings all on one watch.
"Here." She reached into her lavender purse and pulled out her card, the woman pressed a smile at her and took the card off her hands, off her very tight grip.
Although she had spent months tracking the watch and its price, window shopping online and purchasing an S.M. brand was an entirely different thing. She was certain in all her twenty-five years of living, that this was the first time she had owned something so expensive.
Though it wouldn't be hers for much longer.
"Thank you for your purchase." The bubbly woman chirped, passing the card and a receipt back to Allison.
So fast, she thought, staring at the debit notification on her screen, she flashed a polite smile in turn and took the little black bag off the woman's hand.
It was small, so small that Allison was tempted to lift the bag with her pinky finger, she wondered at the back of her mind how something so small could cost all her life earnings.
She carefully placed the bag into her brown handbag and stepped outside, clasping the bag as though she held a bomb in it, just waiting to go off.
Going all out on a gift was never Allison's style. She believed that as long as there was some thought included and some good ol' elbow grease, the price wouldn't matter. But that was until she met the love of her life, Marcus.
She had met Marcus six years ago on campus, they both shared the same majors and tended to bump into each other at unexpected places. At first, Allison thought he was a bother, but as Marcus kept appearing in her life, solving problems for her she started to believe it was fate.
A year later, she got elected into the university's Tech-student union, and Marcus actively played the role of her biggest supporter, helping her balance her studying and committee work. That was the same year they started dating, and for Allison every second was bliss.
Which was why, for their fifth anniversary she planned on surprising Marcus with the watch she purchased. He had previously gifted her with an all-expense paid couple's cruise on the upcoming weekend.
In truth, their anniversary was that day, but since Marcus was away with his company on a business trip, she was left to spend it all alone.
"Still not answering?" Allison voiced out her thoughts as she strutted down the sidewalk, trying to get in touch with Chloe her best friend.
She wanted to show off the gift she got for Marcus to her and get her opinion. But for some reason her number was unavailable Allison recalled that it had been for the past two days.
Chloe came from the same small town as Allison, they had both been together since the womb and even moved out to the city together to chase after their dreams…
"Watch it!" A voice pulled Allison out of her deep-rooted thoughts, and a hard shoulder brush sent her phone out of her hand and onto the street.
"You watch it!" Allison fired back at the other person who didn't bother to stop, she muttered some profanities under her breath as she crouched down to pick up her screen, hoping it wasn't cracked.
"Why is everyone in this city always in some kind of rush?" She shook her head and heaved a sigh of relief that her phone was in perfect shape.
She was expecting a call for her interview from her dream company and didn't want to be a second late for it.
As Allison rose to her feet, nudging her dirty blonde locks of hair, her eyes caught sight of an ad playing on a skyscraper building. Not just her, but everyone else on the sidewalk stopped to look at what was playing.
The advertisement was for the latest model of a smart car produced by the leading tech and machine industry in the country.
Holdings Inc.
As a software engineer, being able to work in Holdings Inc. was a pipe dream for Allison, she was confident in her skills, but as far as bagging the job that was another story.
Once the ad stopped playing, she snapped out of her trance, straightened her shirt, and hailed an approaching taxi, reverting her focus to the main mission at hand.
*Apartment Complex*
Room 89
Allison stared at the pair of black shoes placed outside next to the plant she had bought him.
"Is he back?" Her heart raced with excitement, she quickly dug her fingers into her purse and took out her spare keycard, then unlocked the door.
Upon stepping inside, Allison's gaze fell on a trail that led to the inner room, from the living room to the little dining then to his bedroom.
"This isn't mine." She said with all certainty, as she crouched down to pick up the spontaneous red bra hanging on the lava lamp she had also gotten him for his last birthday.
Allison reached into her bag and pulled out her phone to call the police and alert them that a thief had broken into her boyfriend's apartment. However, she heard some inaudible whispers coming out of Marcus's room, voices that sounded oddly familiar.
She quietly tiptoed over to the door which was drawn back a bit, and stood by it, listening in on the ongoing conversation.
"This is risky, she's gonna catch us one of these days Markie." Allison widened her eyes, at the realization that the woman inside was none other than her best friend, Chloe.
"But isn't that what makes it all the more thrilling? The fact that she could be on her way up this very moment makes me want to fuck you again." Marcus replied, then pressed a firm kiss to Chloe's forehead.
She playfully slapped his arm, "I'm being serious here, I'm tired of having to sneak around stealing quick kisses when she isn't looking. Allison is going to catch on."
"Don't fret babe. Allison's dumb enough to believe anything I tell her, that's just how in love she is with me."
"And you're not head over heels for her?" Chloe retorted sharply.
Marcus sighed, "Don't be like that baby, you know why I'm still with her. It's all for the recommendation letter, once I have that, Allison gets the boot, and you and I can finally be together for real."
Allison gasped and covered her mouth. The recommendation letter Marcus was referring to, was a privilege given to employees who were hired at the job interview she was pining for.
If she got the job, then she would get the privilege to recommend someone that the company would qualify for an automatic interview. Granted, she and Marcus were in the same field, so it only made sense that she gave her recommendation to him.
"That stupid recommendation? Which is more important, it or me?" Chole's voice turned stern with irritation.
"You of course. But I need that recommendation so badly. I didn't stick to that workaholic for all these years not to get it. Just be a bit more patient baby…"
"I've been patient for five years! When are you splitting up? You're even taking her on a fucking cruise."
Marcus wrapped his arms around her tightly, "It's all a cover my love, if the cruise is a success it'll clear up any doubts Allison may be having about giving me her recommendation. Just give it one more week…."
Allison had heard more than enough, she felt that if she listened in anymore she would break down entirely in tears. She dashed away from the door with her bag clutched firmly and rushed out of the door, slamming it hard on her way out.
Her feet ran as fast as her sneakers could carry her until they landed her in front of the club close to her apartment.
"Hey, I don't see you around here often." A man's voice said from behind her, Allison who was fairly drunk looked over her shoulder to behold a blonde-haired man, staring down at her.
"You too." She yelled over the music, although it made sense he hadn't seen her. Despite the club being a stone's throw away from her apartment, Allison had just been too busy working extra hours to visit, not even on weekends.
She had been budgeting that watch Marcus eyed for the past year and poured all her effort and resources into getting it for him. But now…
"Why don't you and I get out of here?" Allison didn't realize when the stranger had wrapped his arm around her waist, or when she had consented to leaving the club with him.
All she remembered was waving the entire club goodnight as she danced whimsically onto the streets. She could remember how light on her feet she was, as she glided across the sidewalk, singing loudly and out of tune the song playing in the club.
She was so light on her feet, that Allison could've sworn she went flying, flying towards the zebra crossing.
"Hey watch out!"
She turned her head to the side at the call from the stranger, but just as she did, a blinding light approached her rapidly, blinding her vision completely!
*Crash!*
The scent of champagne and the feel of something moist on her forehead forcefully pulled Allison out of her slumber. She sat upright but soon felt a throbbing pain at the sides of her head.
"My head hurts like hell, what the hell happened last night?" She asked with a hand at the side of her head, the moist towel on her forehead fell onto her lap.
She blinked twice and looked at her lap, "Wait, where are my pants?" She could recall putting on some pants but didn't remember when she had taken them off.
Not just that, her hands rode up to her chest taking a feel of them, "My bra…" Her eyes darted across the room in search of her bra, only for her distorted gaze to fully take in the fact that she wasn't in her bedroom, but rather…
"A hotel? What am I doing here?" She swiftly looked to her side, expecting to see someone there, someone like the blonde man she recalled leaving the club with last night.
"Gaah! Why can't I remember anything?!" She scratched the back of her head, irritated by how much of a blur her memories were.
"First I'll have to call Marcus and…" her countenance fell, although she couldn't recall the details of how she got to the hotel room, or why she was in this state. Allison's memories of her boyfriend's betrayal rushed into her mind all at once.
However, she didn't get any time to dwell on them for much longer, as her attention was gripped by the sound of a door open and closed. Allison's ears stood up at the sound of calculated footsteps flooding into the room, they sounded like they came from the bathroom.
Wanting some answers, she turned her head sharply, pointing her gaze at what would be the stranger from yesterday who would fill her in on the questions flooding her mind.
Though, it seemed she was a bit off the mark…
"Good, you're finally awake." A man tall, with broad shoulders and a V waistline causally remarked, wiping his jet black hair with a white towel, letting the water droplets run down his from his sexy neck down to his well-chiseled abs.
"Now," he said, running a hand through his hair, pushing back his locks to reveal a pair of icy blue eyes, staring intently at Allison.
"How do you plan on taking responsibility for last night?" He asked, leaving another question spiraling around Allison's head.
Just who the hell was this guy?