Chapter 39
Celine’s POV
Glad that Bryan isn’t around, I bend down to look properly for the clothes Camilla told me he said I should look for. I would never be comfortable in this dress if Bryan was around.
I am wearing it because I know he isn’t around the house and he wouldn’t see me in it by the time he is back from work in the evening.
Scared of Bryan judging my dress as cheap and making me lose a few percent of confidence left in me, I know better than to let him see me in it. I would never fit into his category of women.
I know I can never be like Emily or any of the girls he has been rumored to be with, including the woman who almost became his wife. I am curious to know what she looks like, even though I am damn sure she must be the most beautiful woman on earth.
Wealthy young men like Bryan want sophisticated and classy ladies like Emily so I am not surprised at his choice of women and his refusal to make the public know about our marriage apart from his immediate family members.
I am not a child of a business mogul like Emily and I hold no place in the social class, what then do I have to present to the public as my addition to Bryan’s wealth? Nothing.
A poor girl like me will be seen as a gold digger since I have nothing to offer him.
Groaning in dissatisfaction, I am almost sitting on the floor to pack out all the clothes in the closet so I can start looking for the right one which has the credit card when I hear footsteps approaching and I stand upright.
I am sure it isn’t Bryan. He would never come home by this time. I hear Camilla’s voice the next minute, calling for me to know which part of the house I am in. Unconsciously, I let out a deep sigh of relief.
I am relieved that it isn’t Bryan. I have no idea what I would do if he was the one. First, I am in a skimpy dress and secondly, half of his clothes are on the floor. I am sure he would ask me to pay for the clothes on the floor.
He is as cold-hearted as doing that. He can do it without any remorse, even if I have to pay for all the clothes with my one-year salary.
“Celine”, Camilla calls, the sound of her feet fading away. She is going back the way she came, thinking I am not here.
“I am here, Camilla”, I call out loudly. I hope she hears me. I turn back to what I am doing, thinking of where to start from.
Is this one of his punishments too? Why can’t I find the credit card already?
“Celine”, Camilla calls again.
“Uhmm?” I answer and the door opens.
“I’m here”, I reply with a deep frown.
I grab another suit and search the pocket, there is nothing in it. I drop it and grab another with a frustrated look on my face.
“Why are there….” She trails off, her gaze lingers on the half-empty closet before it wanders around. There are dozens of suits on the floor but I am not bothered about it.
The floor is sparkling clean and the suits won’t get dirty. Once I find the credit card, I am going to rearrange them neatly, just the way they were arranged before I disarranged the whole thing.
“I think you should give him a call, I can’t find anything”, I throw the suit in my hand down in disappointment. I am sweating all over already and I wish to be out of here to get some fresh air.
“He is not going to pick”, she says. She is in a blue gown.
“Gosh!” I hit my forehead in frustration.
“What do we do now?” I squat to start packing all the suits one after the other when I hear a sound.
Something just dropped from the suit I am holding. It isn’t the one he wore yesterday, it is a green suit. My gaze follows the sound and I see it. It is the credit card, I almost scream in joy.
“There it is”, Camilla sees it too and points to it on the floor.
“Yes”, I grab it immediately. “Why the hell did you stress me out this way?” I act dramatic and Camilla laughs shortly.
“Let’s get going. It’s noon already”, she urges me and turns to take the exit.
Remembering the second round of job I have to do before leaving this place, I sag my shoulder in exhaustion.
“I have to rearrange all these”, I stamp my feet on the floor. Camilla snaps her head to stare at me with a hint of amusement.
“Then do that fast and come so we can go.”
I pout. “Won’t you help out?”
She chuckles lightly. “No!”
“Please”, I beg with my two hands rubbing each other. With a determined look, she shakes her head again and walks out of the door.
I groan and flop heavily to the floor, glancing at the piles of suits around me with the credit card in between my right hand and thinking of where to begin.
****
“What is happening?” Camilla demands from behind with Jason in her arms. I am holding our packaged shopping bags with a horrified look on my face as the cashier swipes it in again and it declines.
She shakes her head. “It has been declined”, she declared openly. I wish the ground would open so I can go in.
What sort of embarrassment is this? Is this one of his punishments? Is he purposely doing this to humiliate me? I can’t possibly think of a good reason why the credit card of a billionaire like Bryan will be declined. Our purchases aren’t even more than $10000.
“Declined?” Camilla stretches her neck to take a look like she has a solution to the problem. She is as confused as I am.
It is in times like this that I wish I came to the world through stinking rich parents. If I had my own money, this situation wouldn’t be embarrassing.
I stand in confusion, thinking of what to do. We can’t possibly let go of what we have purchased already and we can’t give Bryan a call. Camilla said he is going to be in a meeting throughout the day and she wouldn’t want to disturb him.
“Ma’am, how are you going to pay?” The cashier glares at me coldly and I squeeze my eyes shut in embarrassment. I open it back almost immediately and bite my lips.
“What do we do, Camilla?” I turn to face Camilla.
“Why is it saying declined? The boss would never give us a card that will do this…”
“Anything the problem?” a young man demands from behind. He looks impatient and I feel we are delaying him from paying for his purchases and going out of here.
I flash him an apologetic smile. “Sorry, sir.”
“Is something wrong?” He repeats, peering at me.
I shake my head and face Camilla. “The card isn’t paying, should we let go and come back tomorrow after laying the complaint to Bryan when he comes back from work?”
“We can’t just let go after spending hours looking for nice outfits for Jason”, she disagrees and I sigh in tiredness. This is what I am thinking too but we don’t have a choice since we can’t pay. I turn to face the cashier squarely, hoping she would give it one last try.
Bryan will never do a thing like this. He is indirectly humiliating himself and not just me and Camilla. His name is clearly written on the card and everyone in town knows the famous billionaire. I am only saddened by the fact that this unsmiling cashier will think we stole the card.
“Can you please try it once again?” She glares at me in silence before grabbing the intercom. I need no soothsayer to tell me what she is about to do. She wants to report us and have the security throw us out. We aren’t thieves, there must be a misunderstanding somewhere.
“No, don’t call the security. I am sure the card is still working.” I say unconvincingly.
“I will pay”, someone utters from behind, making the cashier’s look soften before a smile appears on the corner of her lips.
Completely embarrassed, I know I can’t stand here with a bent head forever. I need to be appreciative by thanking the person who has offered to pay for our purchases. I need to tell him he will be refunded once the issue is resolved.
I am sure this problem is from the bank and Bryan has no knowledge about what is happening.
I turn slowly to him and face him. His face breaks into a cute smile and he repeats.
“Don’t worry, I will pay.”
“Thank you”, Camilla mutters before I can find my voice. He looks really cute with his broad smile. I never knew men like this still exist. I am amazed.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.
“Hmm… I am so sorry but I promise to pay you back once the issue with the bank is resolved. I have a feeling something is wrong somewhere. We can’t come here to shop knowing fully well that we can’t pay.”
He nods in understanding. “I understand.”
He stretches his hand at me and introduces himself. “My name is Eric, what is your name?”