The luxury mall glimmered under the bright lights, bustling with activity. Zara stepped out of the car with a confident stride, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. Xavier followed behind, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, his demeanor calm but his gaze attentive as always.
"I'm thinking we start with clothes," Zara declared, linking her arm with his without asking. "You're going to help me pick."
"I'm terrible at this," Xavier said flatly, though a hint of a smirk tugged at his lips. "You do realize I'm just going to say yes to everything, right?"
"Perfect," Zara said with a mischievous grin. "Let's go."
The first store was a sprawling designer boutique filled with racks of exquisite outfits. Zara swept through the aisles like a queen surveying her kingdom, pulling out dresses, coats, and blouses with practiced ease. She disappeared into the fitting room and emerged minutes later in a sleek black dress.
"Well?" she asked, striking a pose.
Xavier looked up from his phone and gave her an appraising glance. "It looks good."
Zara rolled her eyes. "That's it? 'It looks good'? Xavier, you're supposed to be more descriptive. Say something like, 'Wow, Zara, you look stunning in that dress. I can't take my eyes off you.'"
He raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall. "That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
"Not at all," she shot back, retreating to try on another outfit. This time, she emerged in a soft pink jumpsuit. "How about this?"
"It's good."
Zara groaned. "You're hopeless."
They continued the routine through several more outfits, with Zara occasionally stopping to lecture Xavier on the art of giving proper feedback. When he kept saying everything looked amazing, she crossed her arms in mock frustration. "You know what? Fine. If everything looks so good, I'll just buy all of it."
"All of it?" Xavier asked, an amused look crossing his face.
"All of it," she repeated, her tone challenging.
True to her word, Zara handed over an armful of clothes to the sales assistant, who began ringing them up. When the total flashed on the screen, Zara turned to Xavier expectantly.
"Your turn, partner," she said with a sweet smile, gesturing toward the card reader.
Xavier pulled out his sleek black card without hesitation, swiping it with ease. "Anything else, Your Highness?" he asked dryly.
"Oh, plenty," Zara replied, already dragging him to the next store.
By the time they left the third boutique, Xavier's arms were laden with shopping bags filled with clothes, shoes, and purses. Zara, walking ahead of him, glanced back with a cheeky grin. "You're holding up okay, aren't you? That's not too heavy for you, is it?"
"I'm fine," Xavier replied, though there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.
She slowed her pace, walking beside him again. "You know, I think I've achieved something remarkable today."
"And what's that?" he asked, shifting the bags in his hands.
"I made you my slave," Zara teased, her voice light and playful. "And to think you said it wasn't possible."
Xavier chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible."
"And yet, here you are," she quipped, her smile radiant.
As they walked toward another store, Zara caught a glimpse of his face. For a moment, his expression softened, and she couldn't help but notice how his usual indifference seemed to melt away. It wasn't just about the shopping or the teasing anymore—there was something deeper in the way he looked at her, as if her happiness mattered more than he was ready to admit.
She decided not to dwell on it. For now, she had another boutique in mind and a partner willing to indulge her whims.