Shopping Trip

"Mya!" the brown-haired man called, excitement laced in his voice, "Is today the day you finally accept my marriage proposal?" he asked, hope evident in his black eyes.

"No, it isn't. Good morning, Mr. Leighton," Mya answered sternly.

Elaina's eyes traveled between Mr. Leighton and her mother. A marriage proposal? What was going on here?

"That's too bad," the man's smile fell, disappointment evident on his features but the smile quickly returned, "So, why are you here?" he asked.

"As you know, invitations to the midnight ball arrived yesterday," Mya started,

"I didn't know that. Do you have a date?" Mr. Leighton asked hopefully again.

"The crowd in front of your boutique should have told you that. Anyways, I am here because of that very line," Mya stated.

"You want me to let you in before the others," he hit the bullet straight in the head.

"Yes," Mya answered straight away.

"But that won't be fair to others,"

"I know,"

"Are you using me, Mya?" he asked, his head bent slightly to look at her since he was taller.

"I'm glad you're quick to catch on," came her blunt reply as she held eye contact with him which surprised both Elaina and Alex. That was no way to ask for a favor.

Mr. Leighton stared into her blue eyes with all seriousness before chuckling in amusement. "This is what I love about you, Mya. Come in," he made room for her to pass and she entered without hesitation.

"Hmmm?" Mr. Leighton's eyes left Mya for the first time to the people behind her. "You brought your siblings, Mya?" he asked

"As I keep telling you, Mr. Leighton, I am married and those are my children," she answered.

"Really?" Mr. Leighton looked between them. He could see some resemblance between her and the girl but that was it, "We could make beautiful children too, you know,"

"Come in," she told her children, ignoring Mr. Leighton's words which only made him smile.

"Nice to meet you Mya's supposed children, I am Richard Leighton," he said to them.

"Good day, Mr. Leighton," Elaina greeted as she entered the boutique with Alex.

"No need for the formalities, we're going to be family soon, just call me Richard," he flashed a charming smile as he closed the door.

"S-sure?" Elaina replied with an awkward smile. She passed her mother a confused look and Mya just replied,

"Ignore him," she said loud enough for him to hear.

"That's so mean, Mya," Mr. Leighton increased his pace so he could walk next to her.

Alex passed Elaina a look asking if she knew about this and she just shrugged in response.

"You're hurting my feelings, Mya," he said when Mya kept keeping space between them, though he didn't sound the least bit hurt.

Elaina smiled as she watched them, they may have been a good couple but he was twenty years too late.

As Mya and Mr. Leighton entered the main room where the dresses were, all the lights came on and rows of all sorts of dresses came into view.

"Chris, take the boy to the male compartment," Mr. Leighton said to one of his workers.

"Bye," Elaina told Alex before he followed the attendant named Chris to another room.

Two female attendants were about to escort Mya and Elaina but Mr. Leighton dismissed them.

"What kind of dresses are you searching for?" he asked as they walked through the racks.

"You didn't have to stay, Mr. Leighton," Mya stated, she was clearly annoyed by his presence.

"Richard, Mya," he emphasized his name. For some reason, she wouldn't call him by his first name, no matter how much he insisted.

Meanwhile, Elaina looked between the dresses, they were all beautiful. She noticed that they were the only people inside, despite the long line outside.

"Why haven't you let your customers in?" she heard her mother ask her unspoken thoughts.

"I was waiting for you, Mya," Mr. Leighton replied

"And if I hadn't come?"

"Then I would have remained closed," he answered right away.

"That's bad for business, Mr. Leighton," Mya stated. She stared at a short blue gown decorated with stones.

"Only for you, Mya," he tried to flirt with her but she wasn't even listening to him anymore. He shook his head and asked, "What's the theme of the ball?"

"It's Masquerade and Midnight," Mya answered.

"Masquerade," he repeated. They would need masks. "Come with me," he led them to the last row which was filled with mostly dark-colored dresses. "The theme is midnight dark-colored dresses would be best," he said as he looked through the rack. "But, if you want to stand out, bright-colored clothes will do too,"

His eyes moved to Elaina, studying every feature of her body which made her feel uncomfortable.

"It's fine," Mya gave her a reassuring smile.

Mr. Leighton's eyes moved from Elaina to the rack, "You have a nice body and long legs," he said in thought, his fingers skimming through the clothes until he brought out a long black armless dress.

"Go try this on," he handed her the dress. "The dressing room is over there," he used his eyes to direct her to the dressing room that was covered with curtains at the end of the wall.

Elaina took the dress from him, "Thank you," she thanked then went to the dressing room. She ensured that the curtains were closed properly before she turned around.

It was a small room that could contain about five people and the walls were made of glass, allowing a person to see themselves from different angles.

She hung the dress on a rack, it looked simple but it had a sophisticated air to it. After that, she pulled her t-shirt over her head so she could try the dress on.

Elaina stared at herself in the mirror after wearing the dress. She couldn't reach the zipper at the back but the dress was beautiful. At first glance, it looked like a simple black gown but it had subtle designs that couldn't be noticed with just one look. Like the dark purple flowery designs that ran from the end of the gown to the knee length and two long slits at the sides that she didn't notice until she wore it.

She wasn't too comfortable with the slits since it was her first time wearing something like it, but she should be fine as long she didn't spread her legs. All that was left now was the zipper at the back.

°°°

Mya watched Elaina enter the dressing room. Her eyes moved to Mr. Leighton who was already staring at her.

"What kind of dress do you want, Mya?" he asked her.

"Any dress will do, but preferably a dark-colored one that doesn't make me stand out too much," she told him her choice.

After hearing her answer, his eyes moved to the rack, searching for a dress that'll suit her tastes. He noticed a dark blue dress and was about to pull it out but he stopped, he moved his hand to the dress before it and brought it out. "This should do," he said to himself.

"How's this one?" he held it in front of him.

Mya smiled because the color of the dress brought back some memories. "It's perfect. Thank you, Mr. Leighton," she thanked while taking the dress from him.

Mr. Leighton stared at Mya as if in a trance. She had a beautiful smile. He refused to believe that a woman as gorgeous as she was, was married and had two grown children.

Mya frowned when his stare got too long, "I'm going to try the dress," she spoke, breaking him out of his trance.

"Can I come?" he asked hopefully.

"NO!" Mya replied sternly. She warned with a small glare before turning around and walking towards the dressing room.

Mr. Leighton chuckled before leaving too.