Chen Peiling withdrew her hands from the handrail and sauntered down the stairs fearlessly. She was too busy thinking if they all left to worry about ending up coming across them.
Standing in the middle of the foyer, Chen Peiling realized that store was extended behind the staircase. Previously, the attracted dresses prevented her from noticing that.
There was a difference in the design of the front part of the store and the back part. As in a trance, she unknowingly went there. Her eyes wandered around in admiration and fascination.
So cool! This shop was like a fairytale!
There was a way to halway on her left. She looked there and at the end of the passage found the people who had gone missing.
So here they were.
Shop assistants stood outside the room whose door was opened. They were looking inside. What were they doing?
She remembered the shop assistant saying that they inspected the clothes. If that was so, she wanted to see that too. It was too intriguing for her to miss.
But on second thought, she dropped the plan. If Sister Zhao found out about it she would be very angry. Having been working with her for the past three years, she had come to know how much she detested rich people and even being near them.
She simply didn't want to have anything with them!
When she was reviewing her idea, a light commotion was heard from the end. Her eyes widened and without a second thought, Chen Peiling ran.
Suddenly, shop assistants had cleared the way to make a passage by standing at the sides and she didn't need to think twice about who it was.
She could hear the noise of soles hitting the marble in the same rhythm which was more than enough to give a bigger terror.
How could they get done with their work so early? Was it that easier to examine the attires?
At this point, Chen Peiling didn't know who to be more afraid of, that old lady or her dear boss if she got caught.
While running fast, she was thanking her lucky stars that she hadn't worn heels today.
Gladly!
She stopped at the foot of the staircase and without a delay, kept her hands on the knees to catch her lost breath. Chen Peiling was feeling like a criminal.
The sound of walking forced her to hurry up the stairs.
When she was almost up and was about to take a breath of relief just after two more steps, an aged voice boomed in the store startling Chen Peiling.
"Stop."
With her one foot on one step and the other hanging in the air, Chen Peiling was frozen on her spot. The voice had an underlying strength to make the other person abide by the command.
Neither Chen Peiling nor the strand of the hair that was in front of her eye dared to move. Her whole body was paralysed.
Yet, she couldn't ignore the chills moving up her spine which caused her to shut her eyes tightly. She was gone! Undoubtedly gone!
Her eyes didn't waste unnecessary time and at a stroke brimmed with unshed tears. She was scared!
And with fear heavily etched on her face, when no other voice came, she slowly pivoted. The silence was too intimidating for her. It gave her intimidating suffocation and to bring a stop to that feeling, she gradually lifted her lashes only to find the place empty.
She blinked once.
And then she blinked again. She had heard correctly, right? Someone did say stop but how come no one was here?
She was bewildered but above that relieved too. It meant the order was not for her. Chen Peiling let out a small laugh at her stupidity. Obviously, how could they have sensed her presence when she was too fast in running? It was not like they had an extra eye that could see across the walls.
Just when she was about to turn back, her peripheral vision noticed the guards in black marching to the foyer and coming to a stop. Their stare was intent on the main door.
Chen Peiling's gaze shook seeing that and another wave of thoughts hit her. What was happening? Why did they stop? Move! She shouted in her mind. Go out of the door! Please...
The shop assistants followed them with their heads still bowed to a certain angle and at the end, came the same old lady they had seen before.
Everyone made the way for the Old Stewardess who stood in the middle. With each step, her cane hit the surface and Chen Peiling was not sure if it was merely her hallucination but she could feel the extra force being used by her in the process.
Chen Peiling felt her nerves jingling as she stood like a statue there waiting for the next action. Did they see her or not? It was as if a morsel was stuck in her throat which neither she can swallow nor take out.
After a moment of stillness, Old Stewardess abruptly pointed her eyes at the statue who was standing on top of the staircase, taking Chen Peiling aback. "Come down." The same domineering voice enunciated.
That was it.
They had seen her.
She was gone.
How would Sister Zhao react now? What if she dismissed her from the position of assistant in anger? Her mind was right away crashed with several what if's.
The shop assistant who had assisted them before peeked through her eyelashes hoping for the scene to not be what she was thinking.
But Alas! Her wish didn't come true.
The look she threw at Chen Peiling was full of pity and sympathy. She should have not come out. The shop assistant exchanged a worried glance with the shop manager before bowing her head down. Only God could save them now.