Chapter 34 - #34

Chapter 34: Priceless

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"Because that's what you wanted me to do," I said, almost shouting. "You told me not to feel something for you and—"

"So, you do feel something for me?" he asked.

"I'm not allowed to, and I won't let myself," I said before getting the tray with me and putting it back in the pantry.

I brushed my hair in frustration. I just don't get it. Why does he always want to talk about this all the time? He was the one who told me not to romanticize him! And now, it's he's like blaming me for not letting it happen which is very ridiculous.

...

It's been an hour and I don't know how will I talk to him after what happened earlier. Today, we're scheduled to go to New Jersey and visit the site.

I took a deep breath before going inside his office to remind him of it. He glanced at me for a second when he saw me enter.

"Sir, Rowan will be picking us up in fifteen minutes. I just wanted to remind you." I acted professionally as I said that. I didn't want to start another awkward situation.

"I know."

Is he angry at me? Am I the one who's supposed to have hard feelings towards him?

I just nodded before getting out. How can we work together properly if we're like this?

...

For almost two hours, we were silent inside the car. I feel that Rowan is getting a hint that we have a problem with each other. Because most of the time, when we're traveling to New Jersey, we talk a lot.

"We're here," Rowan reminded us.

I was busy overthinking on the shotgun seat, but thanks to him I came back to my normal state.

Mr. Parker got out of the car first, like he hated using the air that we're sharing inside the car. If he's angry, I don't care.

We walked towards the place where the hotel is being built. Everything is going pretty well and the carpenters are very hardworking. I can't wait to see this new hotel for the next two years.

That is if I am still working for him. But I guess, I still am. I'll make him believe that no matter how many problems we have, he can count on me. But of course, I still don't like it when he wants to talk about us. It's inappropriate, he should know that.

I was walking towards the small garden far away from the construction when he called me. I was stunned because I'm afraid he'll going to talk about it again.

"Liv," he called.

"Sir?" I turned around to face him.

"What happened to your feet?" he asked which made me look at my feet.

Oh, it's bleeding a bit.

I didn't feel anything, to be honest. Maybe I was immune to it.

"Do you have a bandage?" he asked and I nodded. I do have a lot of bandages in my bag, just in case someone around me gets injured. "Sit there." He pointed to the water fountain.

It was still awkward for me to talk to him so I just did what he told me to do, I sat on the platform part of the fountain. It circulates a lot of water but it doesn't splash on me.

"I can do it myself, Mr. Parker," I said, finally having the courage to talk to him.

"Let me help you," he insisted. I didn't want to argue with him so I just gave him the bandage before kneeling in front of me which made me swallow hard.

He carefully took my block heel shoes off before getting his handkerchief from the pocket of his suit. He wiped the blood before putting the bandage on.

"There," he said.

"T-Thank you, Sir," I stuttered. He stood up and I did too.

...

We were inside the car, going back to Brooklyn. It was still quiet inside but not as awkward as earlier. The wind looks so fine and I wanted to open the window but Mr. Parker might not like it.

"Rowan, do you know a shoe store near this place?" he asked him.

"Yes, sir. It's only two blocks away from here," Rowan answered.

"Perfect. We'll drop by for a while," he said. Is he planning to buy new shoes? Well, he has a lot of money so, why not?

In just more than a minute, we arrived at the shoe store that Rowan was saying.

"Come with me, Liv," Mr. Parker said before getting out of the car. Even if he doesn't tell me, I'll have to come with him because that's what secretaries do, right?

I walked behind him and I was a bit confused when I saw the shoes inside the store. Most of them are for women, like ninety percent of it. Is he seriously going to buy his shoes here?

"Choose what you want," he suddenly said which made me widen my eyes. Why is he asking me to choose? Or maybe because he wants a suggestion.

I went to the portion of the store where the men's shoes are located. I grabbed a classic l and I showed leather shoes to him.

"Here, sir," I said, handing it to him but he didn't get it from my hand. Instead, he looked at me with confusion.

"You're going to wear that at work?" he asked.

"It-thought you were—"

"I'm not buying for myself. So, go on. We still have work at the hotel. Make it quick," he said.

So, he's buying me a pair of shoes?!

"Miss," he called one of the salesladies.

"Yes, sir?" The sales lady approached us nicely.

"Can you show her your most comfortable shoes?" Mr. Parker requested.

"Of course, sir. Ma'am, may I know what is your shoe size? So, I can get some shoes that you can try on," she said.

"It's size 6.5," I answered before taking a glance at Mr. Parker.

"Okay, Ma'am. I'll be back for a minute," she said and I nodded with a smile.

I walked towards him and asked. "Why are asking me to buy my shoes?"

"Is it obvious? Your feet were bleeding. You need a better pair of shoes," he answered before walking. He was probably admiring the other shoes.

"My shoes are fine, Mr. Parker. I didn't even realize that my feet are bleeding. It doesn't hurt me," I explained while following him. He turned around to face me.

"Just because you think don't feel anything, it doesn't mean it won't cause a lot of damage. Your feet could suffer an infection," he said which made me shut my mouth.

"Ma'am here are some of our comfortable shoes for you," she said while walking towards us. "You can sit here, Ma'am," she pointed to the sofa beside the glass cabinet where the most expensive shoes of their store are, I guess. I sat on the sofa before removing my shoes and trying everything on.

"Miss, may I ask if how much are these?" I whispered while taking off the last shoes I tried.

"Those three inches block heels cost seven hundred dollars and these two are seven hundred fifty dollars, Ma'am." I almost screamed in shock when she said those prices.

"Seven hundred f-fifty dollars?" I stuttered.

"Yes, Ma'am," she responded.

I quickly stood up and help her compile the shoes that I tried on. This is a bad idea. I can't afford those shoes! I can't even buy myself a one hundred dollar pair. I don't think it's practical.

"We're not buying it, Miss. I'm sorry," I said, giving her an apologetic look.

"What?" Mr. Parker curiously looked at me. "Why?"

"Oh, it's okay, Ma'am. You can come back here anytime," she politely said. I'm feeling guilty about making her do a service for me even I didn't want to buy it.

"Wait," Mr. Parker called when he saw her walking away, probably getting the shoes back to their rightful place. "We're getting all of that. I'll pay."

"What?! No, Sir," I disagreed.

"Miss, we'll buy all of it," he said. He's starting an argument again!

The sales lady just looked at us while laughing a bit. Maybe she thinks that we're having a cute conversation, but it's not.

"No, Miss. We won't," I said.

"We will," he insisted.

Since I was struggling to have this conversation with him, I just pointed to one of the pairs.

"Okay, we'll get that one." I pointed the beige block heels.

"You don't want it all?" Mr. Parker asked me.

"One is enough, sir. I won't let you spend thousands of dollars on me," I said.

"Fine," he said, getting tired also of this nonsense exchanging of words. He handed her his card. Wow, that's a lot of trusts he has for her.

"I'll be back, sir." She then walked towards the cashier.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked him right away.

"Doing what?" he asked back.

"Buying me stuff," I said.

"Liv, it doesn't have anything to do with what I wanted to happen," he answered like he's clarifying things but he just made it more confusing.

"What you wanted to happen?"

"Yeah, I'm just being polite today. Don't worry, this is not a part of my plan," he said.

Plan? What plan?

....