James kept his eyes on Cloudy, hoping to catch a hint of sarcasm or mockery in her expression.
She had laughed pretty loudly earlier, and if she could just throw in some snide comments now, he'd have the perfect opportunity to drop the iconic line: "I'll take everything in here."
Not getting his anticipated moment of glory irked him, so he continued observing Cloudy, hoping she'd give him that chance.
To his surprise, though, Cloudy's face started to turn inexplicably red, leaving James slightly flustered.
What the heck? What's she blushing for?
Cloudy noticed James leaning casually against the counter, watching her with a smile, and mistook it for personal interest.
Tucking a stray lock behind her ear, she glanced at Tailsa, who was busy packing their purchases, and smiled a curious, playful smile.
"Mr. James King, you're so bold; you and our Tailsa make a perfect match," she commented, her voice laced with insinuation.
Alright, lady, could you not sound so coy when you say that?
James forced a smile. Just a while ago, she was looking at him as if he were some country bumpkin.
Now that he'd splashed some cash, she was all smiles. Who knew what was going on in her mind?
As he reached to take the golden card she handed back, he felt her fingers briefly graze his palm, a flirtatious glint unmistakably present in her gaze.
Was he being hit on by an older woman?
James was caught off guard, shocked by the unexpected turn of events.
Looking at this woman, pretending to be bashful, he struggled to keep an exclamation of disbelief from escaping his throat.
Really, lady?
James couldn't help but compare her to Tailsa. She didn't even come close.
Thick makeup caked her face like spackle.
He quickly shook his head, trying to convey his disinterest without a word.
He really didn't want to give her the wrong idea.
It was clear to him where his priorities lay.
Let's not swap a watermelon for a sesame seed.
Plus, the system info showed she was 39, with a charm rating of 67 and 59 past romances.
Good grief, she sure was well networked.
Cloudy's smile froze in place.
She felt certain he'd been giving her signals, but when she reciprocated, he'd given a cold shoulder.
Could he be snubbing her for the earlier laugh, looking to embarrass her instead?
Her frustration turned to quiet anger, and she shot him a sharp glare. What a tasteless guy.
Seeing her brows knit together, James hurried away, worried she'd somehow crease her meticulously powdered face even further.
Unaware of their little exchange, Tailsa turned to Cloudy, saying, "Cloudy, could you hold our stuff here? We're going to check out some other stores."
With some effort, Cloudy managed a smile. "Sure, you two go ahead and enjoy yourselves."
Tailsa effortlessly slipped her arm back into James's. "Where to next, Big Brother James?"
James pondered, "Wherever you want to go."
Feeling a bit shy, Tailsa hesitated. She wanted to browse Chanel, maybe check out LV...
But to drag an old classmate around those high-end stores right off the bat might make her seem materialistic.
However, squandering the chance with such a generous spender felt like a waste.
After a moment of indecision, she timidly raised her eyes to James, probing him cautiously:
"I... I'd like to check out some Chanel bags."
James gave a carefree wave of his hand, "Let's go."
His quick agreement made Tailsa's eyes light up with enthusiasm.
This guy was clearly the real deal.
Having such a capable benefactor to herself for only a single outing seemed like a missed opportunity.
A slow, steady approach would be more prudent.
Looking at his clothes, she had an idea.
"But... it's been me buying everything. Isn't there anything you'd like?"
James shrugged. "I'm good. I don't really bother spending on myself."
Tailsa pinched his shirt, playfully scolding, "Nonsense. Look at this T-shirtâit's practically turned beige. Let's return the favor, and let me buy you some decent clothes."
Feeling a bit embarrassed, James hesitated. "Um..."
"You've done so much for me. Let me get something in return to show my appreciation."
Her fishing game was strong. She knew well that demonstrating care could reel them in; no one liked a one-sided relationship.
James found no reason to refuse Tailsa's thoughtful gesture and accompanied her into the Armani store.
Tailsa wasn't holding back, buying from top to bottom for James, confident with his earlier monetary gesture.
In the end, it was just over $4,000.
Men's fashion really was cheaper.
Now, dressed up, James took on a snazzy, stylish appearance.
A fitted black cotton T-shirt paired with relaxed-fit jeans and shoes with a little hidden lift.
The transformation was remarkable, boosting his height from 5'10" to an impressive 6'0", making the very air he walked through feel fresher.
It's true what they say: clothes make the man, and gold adorns the Buddha.
Originally a "60 out of 100" kind of guy, James's new attire surely elevated him to an "80."
Women passing by now greeted him with smiles.
Even Tailsa seemed pleased with the transformation, removing any worries about social perception.
Her affection rose a further two points, reaching 22 (Acquaintance level).
As she adjusted his collar, Tailsa teased casually, "Big Brother James, don't you have a girlfriend to dress you up?"
Even James could tell she was inquiring about his relationship status, so he responded honestly, "I was too busy with work before. Now that I've made some money, I'm focusing more on my personal life."
Tailsa believed him. In her mind, successful men often found themselves too swamped by work to date extensively.
Thinking how he reached out to her first, she grinned confidently, playfully poking his chest. "And why did you think to find me?"
James replied sincerely, "Because I always thought you were very pretty."
Tailsa was charmed by the straightforward compliment, her smile growing even more enchanting. "Hehe, did you have a secret crush on me back then?"
"A little," he admitted bluntly.
She lightly punched his arm, her touch gentle enough not to harm an ant, "Naughty boy, I remember you had a girlfriend at school."
James quickly clarified, "I didn't have a girlfriend in college. But I did chase a girl for three years, though it never went anywhere."
It wasn't a subject he liked to revisit.
Just as every good woman has likely been heartbroken by a jerk, every decent man has a crush they couldn't win over.
When love fades, it leaves as if it never was.
He believed if he ever saw that girl again, he'd feel nothing at all.
Seeing his mood, Tailsa offered consolation, "She didn't know what she was missing. Don't dwell on it."
James nodded, still expressionless.
Tailsa shrugged, grabbed his hand, and said, "Let's hit the mall. Honestly, since I started working here, I haven't had much chance to shop."
"Really? As popular as you were, nobody's taken you out shopping?"
"Don't get me started," Tailsa sighed. "Just a bunch of phonies. A while ago, some guy rented a sports car, trying to impress. The second we hit checkout, his phone alarm went off. Fake call, of course..."