The Gold I Married

Chapter Five

As Anna disappeared into the fitting room, the attendant made small talk with Jay, but it was clear neither of them felt like continuing the conversation. Anna’s shopping spree had a predictable rhythm: find something bold, buy it, repeat. It was as if she was looking for something to fill the empty space that kept whispering beneath the surface of her polished demeanor.

When she reemerged in the emerald dress, she looked every bit the part of the confident, untouchable woman she always presented herself as.

“Well, Jay?” she asked, twirling in front of the mirror, her eyes catching his reflection. “Do I look like I own the world yet?”

Jay met her gaze through the mirror. “You always do, Miss Anna.”

Her eyes softened just a fraction, but it was gone before anyone could notice. She turned back to the attendant. “I’ll take it,” she said, her tone returning to its usual cool command.

After she paid, they made their way out of the boutique and into the bustling hallway of the mall. As Anna moved forward, she noticed a group of influencers huddled in front of a designer store, their phones raised high to capture their latest outfits.

They were laughing, posing, and showing off what was likely their most recent purchases. Anna’s gaze lingered on them for a moment before she quickly turned away, pulling out her phone with a slight frown.

Jay followed her, wondering if she had noticed him watching the influencers.

Finally, she settled herself at an upscale café inside the mall, sipping on an iced latte and staring at her phone again.

Her social media feed was filled with posts she didn’t care about and news she didn’t want to read. With a sigh, she looked out at the bustling mall below.

Minutes later, she snapped her fingers to summon Jay back to her side. “Come on. Let’s go. I’m done here.”

As they walked back to the car, Anna turned to Jay with a sly smile. “Next time, remind me to do something less exhausting. Like, I don’t know… taking over the world?”

Jay chuckled nervously, unsure if she was joking this time.

The polished floors of the luxury mall gleamed under the cascading light from the skylight above. Alexandra strode through the marble hallways with an air of authority, his tailored suit emphasizing the sharpness of his presence. Two friends flanked him, and just behind, his secretary hurriedly typed notes on her tablet.

The deal was done. This mall, one of the city’s crown jewels, was now his. The acquisition was seamless, another trophy for his growing empire. They weren’t here for business anymore; this was a victory lap, a chance to inspect the jewel up close.

“Impressive,” said one of his friends, James, gesturing to the bustling storefronts. “You’ll be swimming in profits by the end of the quarter.”

Alexandra gave a nod, his gaze scanning the crowd with disinterest. “That’s the idea,” he said, his voice cool and detached.

They were halfway down the second floor when James suddenly stopped, his eyes narrowing as he pointed to the floor below. “Wait… Alex, isn’t that your wife?”

Alexandra didn’t even glance up from his phone. “Anna’s at home,” he replied dismissively.

“No, no, no,” James insisted, his tone more animated now. “That’s definitely your wife.”

The other friend, Richard, peered over the railing, his eyebrows lifting in amusement. “He’s right. That’s her. Look, dressed to the nines, shopping like there’s no tomorrow.”

At this, Alexandra finally looked. His gaze followed their pointed fingers until it landed on her. There she was, Anna, gliding through the mall below like a queen surveying her kingdom. Her heels clicked against the floor as she moved from one store to another, flanked by attendants carrying her growing collection of bags.

She wasn’t even looking at what she was buying. She merely gestured at items, spoke briefly to the staff, and then moved on. Her movements were fluid, confident, but there was something almost mechanical about the way she carried herself.

“She’s not even looking at what she’s buying,” Alexandra muttered, his jaw tightening. “Does she think it’s easy to make money?”

James chuckled. “Well, you gave her the money, didn’t you? She has the right to spend it however she likes.”

Alexandra didn’t respond. His eyes remained fixed on her, watching her every move.

Anna stopped briefly at a jewelry store, pointing to a diamond necklace that was quickly added to her pile. Then she moved again, her entourage trailing behind. Alexandra’s gaze followed her until she reached the café on the ground floor.