Jared entered the mall after parking his car on the empty lot. He needed several batches of clothing and accessories. Despite his past lack of money, he is familiar with designer clothing and brands. It was one of his ambitions to buy high-end brand garments whenever he walked around the mall, but his circumstances forced him to avoid unnecessary temptations that would make his wallet bleed.
Branded clothes are not to be taken lightly. One item can cost about a thousand or even a hundred thousand and he didn't have the heart to purchase that cost of his living.
Life is hard, and so was his.
Before buying the clothes he required, he went ahead straight to the second floor and into one of the famous watch stores. His wrists were empty, so he wanted something to fill them.
"Welcome to Patekk Phil. How may i be of help?" The woman greeted him with nervousness. Jared observed the woman who greeted him and he knew immediately that this girl is new to her job.
"Can i take a look?"
The girl immediately nodded and responded, "of course. Please take your time"
While Jared went to look at the lined up limited edition watch under the glass case, the girl's fellow employee approached her.
"Hey Vanessa. Just a reminder, men like those are just posers. They just want to look cool using their good-looking face but they will leave without buying anything. I've seen a lot of men like that, they have the face, but not the money" she muttered in the lower voice, not wanting to hear by the customers.
The other girl also approached them and added fuel to the fire. "Ugh! I've had enough of them. It's a dissapointment and he will leave your heart broken. Trust me, that poser guy will ask for you to introduce the item but will never buy"
Both girls nodded in unison with an obvious disgust and dissapointment. Their disapproving tone of mockery gave Vanessa a sense of loss. She was introduced by her cousin and it's her first day of work, but thinking about what her fellow colleagues said, she couldn't help but feel down and disappointed.
"Excuse me"
Vanessa and the other two lifted their eyes towards Jared. The other woman sneered in contempt. "See? I told you"
"Psh. I don't want to entertain that kind of customer"
The two women turned their back and stood on the corner, watching them.
Vanessa took a deep breath and immediately walked to Jared with a smiling face. "Yes, sir?"
"This" Jared pointed at the watch under the glass.
"U-uhm...the Prince on Pink---" Jared quickly raised his hand to stop the girl. Though the girl appeared innocent because she was new to her job, he caught the employees' conversation but disregarded it, attracted by the series of stunning watch designs.
"Skip that. I want this"
Vanessa's mouth is open, as the rest of the remainder of the staff. They even exchange glances as if they had heard something unbelievable.
What Jared wanted was the Prince on Pink. A pink gold case with a salmon dial, gold rim and brown leather band. The watch cost 9.7 million. Though that is not the most expensive they have in the store, but 9.7 million is no joke.
"What? Is it not for sale?" Jared asked with a furrowed brow upon seeing the girl's facial expression.
Vanessa immediately returned to reality to answer when she heard Jared. "N-no sir".
"I'll take it" he said then his eyes went around.
"I want another one," he blurted out, without looking at the female employee, who was once again balding her eyes with surprise.
"U-uhm...this---this is our latest edition..."
Vanessa began to introduce some pieces to Jared while the other employees were watching them from the corner, leaving them bewildered.
"Is he really going to buy that piece? That's 9.7 million"
"Is he for real?"
The employees couldn't believe their eyes as they watched Jared who was focusing his eyes towards the timepiece lining up.
"I'm telling the manager" the woman ran towards the manager's office and reported. The manager quickly went towards Jared who was busy looking at the piece and Vanessa who was introducing them.
"Good morning sir. I heard you wanted to purchase our latest edition Prince on Pink?" The manager stated while examining Jared.
"Hm. I want to wear that today. I also need another one" he answered without leaving his eyes on the glass case. The manager's eyes lit up and gestured the employee. He whispered something and the employee quickly went to the office and grabbed the brochure of their latest and upcoming limited edition watches and
"How about our upcoming designs. We have several collections that will be coming in two weeks"
Jared's eyes landed on the brochures that the manager handed out. He picked up the thick scented smooth paper and flipped the cover. His eyes glimmer when his eyes land on a certain timepiece.
'Sky Moon Blue Dial'
When the manager noticed Jared's gaze set on a certain item, he began to speak of an introduction: "Sky Moon Blue Dial. Patekk Phil only made seven of these to celebrate their 176 years as the manufacturer. This timepiece is the most expensive wristwatches ever sold, costing 32 million."
The manager's introduction made the employees and other customers inside to drop their mouth. The price is indeed jaw-dropping. The timepiece itself is worth so much because the time spent to create is longer and not easy. The intricate designs are also one of a kind.
"But unfortunately, that timepiece is not part of the line that will be coming in two weeks"
Jared immediately clicked his tongue. He liked the wristwatch the moment his eyes laid on it, and now it's not available.
"How about next month?" he lifted his eyes on the manager. And with a serious and determined tone he said, "make it so that this piece will be available within this month. I wanted it"
Boom!
The store fell in complete silence. They couldn't believe that someone so young would be able to afford their most expensive piece. It is undoubtedly questionable and unbelievable. The watch he previously wanted cost 9.7 million, but now he said he wanted the piece that Patekk Phil created and said to be the most expensive they ever sold. It's unbelievable and shocking.
"Is this real?"
"Can he afford it?"
Doubt and questionable look surrounded Jared but he couldn't care less. He wanted the wristwatch and he could get it. With the money he had in store, anything is possible.
The manager's eyes widen. This is the first time someone wanted their limited edition watch that only has seven pieces. Though he had a doubt that the young person in front of him would be able to afford it, but the man's serious face caught him to believe. His heart races in extreme delight.
"...sure. i will make a call"
Jared nodded and took out his card which made the whole store stand in awe. The card in his hand is the famous Black Card. Who wouldn't recognize the Card that only limits to someone who has the saving of at least a hundred million.
The doubt immediately vanished in everyone's eyes after seeing the card he was holding.
"I will pay for the two watches, including the one that will be coming"
The manager's eyes lit up and immediately held the card. "Of course" he politely replied, wearing a smiling face.
Jared took the first watch he purchased and wore it. The satisfied feeling easily filled upon seeing the watch in his wrist. The emptiness he felt completely vanished. The color and design fits him perfectly. He chose another one which cost 1.6 million.
"Your total purchase is 42,300,000"
The crowd covered their mouths with astonishment while their eyes never left Jared. Just the three items cost that much and he didn't even blink.
"Do you take tips?" He asked Vanessa who quickly nodded and replied.
"Okay. Hand out your code"
After hearing what Jared said, the employees, especially the two women who were with Vanessa showed an envious gaze when Vanessa took out her phone. If they took the chance to show Jared instead of Vanessa, they should've been the one who showered with tips and they should've been the top employee of the month. But sadly, they threw the chance at someone who had just worked on the first day.
"I will pick up the item later. I have somewhere else to be"
After Jared left, the Manager and Vanessa's eyes widened in shock when they saw the tip. They even exchanged glances, asking if they were seeing the same.
'generous. Too generous' Both of them thought, looking at the tip he gave. They were given 500,000 each.
After leaving the store. He planned to enter the next store but the unexpected encounter led his mood to drop.
"Jared? What are you doing here?" It was his ex-lover, Selena.
She still the same, wearing her favorite type of dress, a short and fitted dress. Her arm snaked around the man with a flashy outfit of black shirt and blue suit paired with gold chains and several rings and earrings.
"Darling, do you know him?" The man asked. He looks young like those second-rich generation kids who flaunt their parents money.
"Ugh! Just a poor ex-boyfriend i told you about" Selena said in disgust. The man eyed Jared from head to toe and eventually smirked. This? It's exactly like what you said" he said with a mockery.
"So? What is a peasant like you doing here?" Selena asked with his brow lifted.
Jared rolled his eyes. He wanted to shop without trouble, but he never expected that he would run into a troublesome people.
'system. Can you let me walk in life without encountering unreasonable people?' he asked in mind.
[Ding!
Negative. Life is not easy and you will always encounter people like them whether you like it or not. Avoiding also not an option, for people like them are everywhere]
He took a deep breath when he heard the system replied, but the sour feeling still in his chest.
"What? Is this mall your's? Why can't i be here?" He answered in sarcastic tone. He couldn't care less if they find it amusing or disrespectful.
Selena sneered at the boastful tone of Jared "Tss! As if you could afford anything here. With your salary? I don't think so. Might as well you go out the mall and go to the thrift store by the road"
The couple laugh mockingly while Jared continues to stay quiet. His head aches listening to this obnoxious couple. He wanted peace but peace seems to be walking fast paced, leaving him with people he didn't want to meet.
Unlucky. He felt unlucky.
He opened his mouth to speak but he was interrupted by the woman who clings to his arm. "Darling, let's go shopping. I can't wait to buy the limited-edition bag you said you would give me"
Jared was stunned by the woman who appeared out of nowhere, even Selena stopped laughing was stunned when the woman approached Jared.
"Huh? Limited-edition bag? Dream on. That guy is poor. Whatever he used to coax you to date him? Please, ditch him now or you will end up like me, miserable" Selena's tone carried warning towards the woman, but the woman beside Jared lifted her brow.
"Excuse me? He bought me this bag yesterday" the woman flaunt her Luvis Vuitton bag she was carrying. "My baby was just testing you. He didn't like gold-diggers who only after him for money. I'm thankful that you two broke up"
Selena's face turned sour while Jared faced the woman with amusement.
'wow. Nice play'