Just Like Work

Chapter 9. Make Him Pay

The hustle and bustle were dying down inside the store , staff members were starting to plan their evenings after work . Meanwhile , Maria , waited for her doom dressed in a three-piece suit to show up . Her thumb played with the ring on her ring finger , planning how she should break the news that she was engaged , to have the most impact .

“Will he buy it ?” sighing she lowered herself on the stool in the corner of the handbag counter .

“Maria , I am leaving . Bye ,” the senior salesgirl said smiling as she waved at Maria before leaving.

Checking her clock , Maria switched to the girl's chair , which was now empty. It was five in the evening , she would have to wait another hour before it was her time to clock out .

The junior sales assistants like all other temporary employees had to arrive an hour early and leave an hour late , it was the norm .

‘Should I just leave ?... Noooo … then he might strut right inside the hospital like today morning ,’ Maria pouted at the thought , ‘or inside the house … that would be worse . well , if it’s just my time that he wants then …’

A familial smell hit her nostrils and she did an involuntary eye roll , scoffing at the footsteps that she heard getting closer to her and then stopping . Forcing her feet to stand up, she walked to the counter .

She waited for him to get started with his nonsense , without uttering a word .

Anthony was dressed in a dark blue suit this time , different than what he had worn when he had showed up at the hospital that very morning . His hair combed in place , his hands inside the pockets of his pants , and his eyes … waited on Maria’s .

“You came to stand and stare ?” her tone was neither soft nor rude , but there was annoyance laced in every word .

“You called me …” Anthony’s calm voice responded .

“Call you ? I have way important things to do …” she stared right at him .

“Like …”

Maria opened her mouth , with a sassy remark right at the tip of her tongue but she held it in and instead said , “Just get on with it . I will clock out in …” She checked her watch , making sure that the ring on her finger was visible to him , “… 30 minutes .”

His eyes lingered on her hand before he said , “Have dinner with me .”

It wasn’t a question or a request just a statement , like stating a fact .

“No ,” she said in the same tone as his and saw his lips twitch .

‘Is he smirking or devising a revenge plan ?’

The intercom rang , breaking the tension between Anthony and Maria . It was to call for staff who weren’t assisting any clients , to come and help with the inventory stocking .

Returning to Anthony , Maria announced , “If you don’t have any purchases to make , you should leave . I am required elsewhere .”

She waited for him to respond but he didn’t , as if he were refusing to believe her .

With a raise of her eyebrows , Maria tapped the counter , “Fine then , I need to go .”

“You will not .”

She walked out from behind the counter and started to walk away , without a second thought , “Watch ME !!”

With a slow sigh , Anthony grabbed her by the arm , reaching her in two quick strides , “Watch you … You need to stay here for that .” His eyes locked with hers , with the other hand still in his pocket .

“What do you want from me ?” she gritted her teeth , trying to get his hand to let go . “Why are you after me ?”

One end of his lips twitched as he said , “Stay and you will know .”

‘You want me to stay then … I must make you pay’ She thought of an idea .

“Buy something , if you want me to stay ,” she tilted her head , signaling at the shelves behind her , “You do realize that I get paid by the hour and per sales . Staying here while wasting my time costs me …”

He inched closer to her , his strong perfume filled her senses as his eyes roamed around the shelves stocked with designer luxury handbags , “… I will take that .”

Suppressing a smile , Maria turned to look at the bag he was referring to , “Just one ?”

With a slight smirk , he replied , “Two !”

“Just two ?”

Letting her arm loose , he placed his hands inside his pocket again , he was enjoying it , “How many should I ?”

“Hmm …” Maria turned around , picking out the expensive ones out of the shelves , “… Take ten .”

Without a word , he took a seat at the chair Maria was sitting on .

“Do you want to pick them ?” She said walking closer to the shelves .

When he didn’t respond , she asked another question , “Do you have any color or type in mind ?”

She waited but he kept staring at her . “Right … Then I will pack the ‘finest’ from our collection .” it was her mocking him ,

Maria disappeared to the shelves , to pick out the ten most expensive pieces , that would also earn her a good commission plus drain him out . ‘But I wonder if it will even make a dent in his card …’

“How are these ?” she made two trips to line up the handbags for him to finalize .

“hmm” His eyes never left Maria as he agreed to everything she was saying .

Rolling her eyes as she walked away from him , to the billing counter , she got the billing done and came back within a few minutes .

“you may collect your items on your way out , … sir” She forced herself to use that word – ‘sir’ . She would rather call him a clingy stalker . “Would you like assistance with carrying the shopping bags ?”

Ignoring her words , he got up , and checked his watch , “Your 30 minutes are almost over . I’ll drop you .”

“No ,” she said folding her arms on her chest . “You will leave now .”

“Why should I ?” he stood up , taking a step closer to her .

Intimidated , Maria blinked but refused to show any signs of the same . “Because I don’t have time for this …”

She grabbed her things and left in a hurry before he could catch her or do anything to make her regret acting out .

Anthony inhaled slowly , watching Maria leave in a hurry . His lips curled in amusement as he chuckled to himself , “Maria , Aren’t you full of surprises ?”

As if he was told a joke he couldn't stop smiling , he walked out of the store where his men had been waiting for him . They rushed inside , to get the shopping bags for him .

"Who are these for , Boss ?" David asked , inquiring about all the shopping bags .

"who got a girl ?" Anthony asked . "give them as a gift ..."

Cheers echoed in the corridor , as Anthony and his men walked out of the building .

"What do we do with the rest ? there are only 4 guys who got girls ." David said taking one bag out and examining it . "Why do you even buy this many ? It wouldn't even hold a gun ..."

One of the men from behind, interrupted with a cheeky smile , "My girl would shower me with kisses when I give this to her ."

"Ooooo !" the other joined on to tease him . "Are we going to get a nephew or niece , then ?"

Anthony walked ahead , enjoying the conversation going on behind him . To add more spice , he said , "David , you should take one too ... lure a girl into dating you ."

Chuckling , David added , "One wouldn't be enough . I should take all 6 ..." he ran past them and started walking backward as he talked , to have all eyes on him , "... and gift her one every week . Maybe she will stick around longer !!"

the men roared with laughter , even Anthony smiled at that self-deprecating joke of David .

"Don't be too hard on yourself , David sir ." a man came forward to place a sympathizing on David.s shoulder , "Just give up already . No girl is falling for you ." they all collectively laughed while David stood motionless .

With a long sigh , he reached into his back pocket pulling out a gun . The laughing men fell silent, one by one under the gun pointed at them .

"Now , who was the one laughing ?" David scratched his head with the gun in his hand , "Was it you ? huh ?" he said pointing at one of the men's stomachs . "Laugh again ."

Anthony stopped , soaking in the drama behind him . he added with a serious face , "Laugh , he said ."

Whimpering , the man attempted to laugh , his face distorted in a helpless frown that begged to be spared . "Ha ... Ha"

"That isn't how you laugh ." David settled the gun under the man's chin . "Laugh properly . you all too . LAUGH !!"

Intimidated by the gun , the men made laughing sounds like they were singing in a choir , "HA HA HA HA"

A snickering voice caught their attention , it was Anthony . Exchanging weird glances , the men continued the laughter choir .

Laughing out loud , Anthony slapped David's back a few times , "Stop . They are about to s**t themselves ."

David broke out , joining Anthony . "Look at all your faces . A bunch of Cowardly bastards !"

nudging their chests , David retreated his gun into the back pocket . "I was teasing you all . Relax ."

Sighing in relief , the men started with their thoughts and excuses as they all arrived in the parking lot , "I thought we were dying today ."

"I knew he was just joking . I was only playing along ."

"I wouldn't pull David sir's leg anymore . Lonely man with a gun ... I am staying away from him ."

Listening to all their conversations , David smiled and whispered to Anthony , "Watch this" then turned around and yelled , "Who THE f**k CALLED ME LONELY ?"

"not me !" the men scurried inside the jeeps like the floor was burning hot .

"f*****g i***t !" Anthony smiled watching David , who was pretty pleased with the response from the others after another one of his theatrics .

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