Chapter 4 QUITE EXPENSIVE

Wednesday, 3pm at their computer lab, Lhan neatly picked her notebooks and stuffed them inside her backpack. The class was just dismissed and she planned to look for shirt in the mall. She had checked the online shopping but to no avail. Thus, she decided to look for it in the biggest mall close to her University.

"Girl, let's go to the mall!" Gideon Sons, her closet gay friend stood at her back.

"Yeah right. I have to find this long sleeve polo shirt." She pulled out her phone and showed the picture to her friend.

"That's one expensive brand. Are you sure? The cost is ranging from 60-70, 000!" Gideon's shocked eyes gaped at her.

"That expensive?!" She was also shocked. Though she knew that the shirt was expensive, she never expected that it will cost her her 5 months' salary. She felt like crying upon hearing the price.

"Surely! My dad has one of that brand. I also have 2 of that, but a little cheaper than that." Gideon confrmed.

"Let's go and check. I need to buy one." She alighted her chair and grabbed Gideon's arm as they walked out of the room.

"For who?"

"For an old jerk." Lhan casually answered showing disinterest.

"Are you dating a DROM?" Gideon stopped walking and gave her a questioning look.

"What's that?" It was Lhan's first time to hear the word.

"Are you human? Girl! It means Dirty Rich Old Man." Gideon rolled his eyes.

"Of course not! Do you think I am too poor to marry a rich guy? I don't have plans of dating yet."

"That's good then. But to whom are you giving that shirt?" Gideon's left eyebrow was raised.

Lhan pondered for a moment before she answered, "A CROM!"

"Ha?" This time it was Gideon who wasn't sure about the word.

"Clean Rich Old Man. He looked clean to me."

"Silly!"

Lhan explained to Gideon on what happened at the bar. Detail by detail as they were on their way to the mall.

"Let's call Elise." Gideon suggested when they arrived at the gate.

They tried to invite Elise but sad to say the latter was busy preparing for her Thesis with her groupmates.

Lhan had three best friends. Fleur, Elise and Gideon. Elise and Gideon were both from wealthy family. While Fleur and Elise were from middle class. Fleur was having internship at the neighboring town for almost three months and was due to finish it after three weeks.

They took a cab and went straight to the mall. Gideon and Lhan roamed the mall for almost two hours and visited high end stores but unfortunately the store managers told them that the specific shirt was a limited edition so it was now out of the market. Lhan felt enervated when they couldn't find the exact shirt.

They decided to eat and had a rest but before they could do so Gideon received a phone call from his home leaving Lhan alone at the mall. She stayed for a little bit more and decided to call Dunce when she couldn't find the specific shirt.

"Mr. Ardunce! I am calling because of the long sleeve shirt. I've been to several stores already but I couldn't find any clothes similar to yours. Also, when I already searched for online no stock available. With this, I would like to pay the shirt in some other way. Do you have any suggestions?"

Dunce had been waiting for her call. He suddenly felt a tinge of happiness when he heard the voice from the other end. If she still didn't call her until Friday, he planned to visit her at school.

"Maybe you can sell your body to me." It was just a test on his part as he had no intention of bringing her to bed yet even if he was so interested at her.

"Ahmmm... I don't think that is possible. You have such a big name in business industry so I believe you can think of many ways for me to pay my debts without me resorting to such a low trick that may defame or taint your name." she cleverly answered. Her tone was restrained.

'This girl is really smart!' Dunce thought to himself. He couldn't help but smile happily. 'She is worthy of becoming my wife.'

"If you can't think of any then I may propose that every salary I get from the bar as performer you can get it all. If I am going to sum it all it will take me 5 months to pay the entire amount. Or if you can give me more time, I'll be able to give you full payment in 3 months." Lhan continuously muttered as she laid options to pay her debt.

"Or you can just apply as janitress in my company. Don't worry you will work during your free time. Except of course Sunday. We don't have office at that time. Same number of months."

"Sure!" She just accepted his suggestion casually.

"Really?!" Dunce was amused. It was actually just a joke from him. Though he would like her to stay in his office as it would be fun to see her every day but not as a janitress.

"Yeah, why not? These are my schedules: MWF I go to school at around 10am - 3pm. TTH - 9am to 3pm is school time. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, me and my bandmates perform from 11-12 and 1-2am. In a couple of days my TTH morning class may be lessened so I will have more time to come and work. But I have other freelance job so from there might be time where I can't work at a certain day." Thinking that Ardunce was serious about his offer, she unfolded her schedules.

"My offer is just a joke. Can't you not distinguish it? Your schedule is already full packed. Do you still have time to rest?" Dunce could not help but worry. He knew that she was working but a constant late-night sleep might affect her overall health.

Lhan doesn't know how to respond. She stayed silent.

"Hey! Are you still there?" Dunce called her attention when he didn't hear a response.

"Mr. Dunce! I... sleep all day every Sundays." She just answered out of nowhere.

"Where are you right now?"

"Mall..."

"Which mall?" Dunce asked.

"Mall of Asia."

"Hmm. Wait for me."

"What?!" The dial tone answered her shock. Lhan never expected that a company CEO would come to the mall at working hours just to buy a shirt. he thought that he was so wierd.

•••••

At Frost Company top floor, CEO Office.

"Let's go to Mall of East!" Dunce rose from his swivel chair, grabbed his coat and walked towards the door.

"But you don't like going to Malls." Leif, his assistant slash personal secretary slash driver, ask confusingly as he followed him. Never did his boss set foot in a public and crowded area especially malls. Though he hung out at bars owned by his friend, he usually stayed at a VIP suite.

"Can't I change my mind?" Dunce questioned him as if telling Leif, 'I'm your boss. What I say is what you will follow.'

Leif could only shake his head. 'Did he accidentally took a medicine?' he thought.