Chapter 141

Akira's POV
"No, she is not looking for a job, she already got one." Vida's head snapped to him and so was my head. 
"I have?" She asked surprised and lost. 
"Yes..." Meredith murmured. 
"Are you serious? You give me a job? When? How?" Vida tilted her head to him, as excitement crept onto her face, she wasn't wearing that scowl she had worn some hours ago before he could answer, Roe had pulled up along the curb to a string of boutique, Roe wrenched opening the car door. 
"Here we are," Roe murmured, stepping from the car, while Vida pulled my hand in excitement as we followed him into the two-story boutique, different from the one, Logan's Cousin brought me to, the first time, I arrived at Logan's office, and talking about his female cousin, I don't think I have seen her for a while now and it got me wondering if she is alright. As we walked into the boutique whose upper floor had a balcony that provided a perfect view of the city. It's a sight to behold. 
With Meredith tagging behind us while Roe was at our front, Vida and I were practically in the middle of these two men but for a second, Vida was no longer conscious of her wears, she was carried away with the things she was seeing. 
We entered through a set of glass doors and were immediately welcomed with a soft smile from a slender Brunette carrying a platter with four wine glasses of champagne. My eyes didn't miss the way she strengthened her spine and hiked up her breast before she sauntered towards Roe. 
"Mr. Roe, what a surprise! I haven't seen you for a while since you last came here with your..." The expression on Roe's face was enough to stop her from finishing whatever she had to say. She cleared her throat before she continued, "Anyways, it feels so good, to see you again, you know you have always been our favorite customer and I heard you were coming with your sister." She said tilting her head to me, before she bowed slightly, "I guess she is your sister, wow, she looks more like your mother." She murmured before her gaze fell on Vida. "And who is she?" She asked glaring at Vida. 
"His girlfriend of course," I said pushing Vida slightly to my cousin and Roe was fast to grab her while Meredith growled as Roe's hand went to her waist to prevent her from falling. 
She raised her head, staring at the male that just growled like an animal that was resting lazily on the glass door, her eyes bulging. "Sir Meredith, you are..."
"Yes, surprised to see me here." He asked pushing his body from the door, before he sauntered towards us, and stood behind Vida and Roe, "Shut the store down while we are here and let your employees know no one is allowed in till we are down shopping." The woman who didn't introduce her name to us just nodded and let Vida and me deep into the shop. We passed mannequins with gowns, pants suits, and lingerie, each garment carrying different brand names, that I haven't been able to afford all my life. 
"These are all for you, Miss, these couture are from the most famous house, Dior, Chanel, Elie Saab..." Vida winked at me, smiling wide as she looked at the wear in front of us, "And shoes, we didn't know the type of shoes you like, so you have the liberty of picking from several different pairs in the house."
"C'mon Akira, let's the hunt game begin," Vida said pulling my hand while Roe took up the couch overlooking the dressing room. 
Meredith on the other hand, just had his hand slipped into his pocket while his back rested on the wall yet his gaze was following us every inch we took. 
Vida the fashion-crazy girl, who could match everything but hated to dress up, kept slinging different wears on my shoulder and the available couch in the dressing room before long I had a rack of clothes awaiting me to try in the dressing room a mountain of shoes. 
"You should pick for her as well." Roe's voice suddenly came up, probably he noticed Vida wasn't picking for herself. 
"I don't..."
"You should," it was Meredith who interrupted her. She tilted her head to him, before she could split fire, Roe's voice came up. 
"Go on, I will just step out for a while, I need to make a call and I will leave Meredith in charge."  He said standing from the couch saunter outside as he placed his phone on his ear, I guess he was having an important call. 
"I will just go and try mine, while you go with her, I guess I would be fine with her." I point at the lady helping me. 
"But..." 
"No and you shouldn’t leave the sight of Meredith and you should let the attendant pick for you," I said leaving no room for her to argue. She sighed before she turned and like a blink, a male attendant emerged from one of the corners. "Hello Ma'am, I am Liam, and I will be seeing to your shopping today." I gulped my saliva, while my gaze moved to Meredith, yet another trouble, but he showed no emotions, he was still having that stoic expression with his hand shoved deep into his pocket.
"Vida, but I don't think I need those fancy wears, you know I prefer streetwear," she said while the young male, who had just introduced himself as Liam looked at her, I could understand his stare, considering what she was wearing, "Oh! This is just something someone forces me to wear." She said with a nice smile. 
"And I think whoever made you wear it, did a good job because it indeed looks good on you." He said and Vida looked at him. "Not kidding, it's the fact," he said with a poker face but a friendly voice, and Vida's laughter chimed like a soft melody as she exchanged words with the young man, it was when he chuckled that was when I took a proper look at him, he was handsome, he moved with practiced grace, his tailored suit hugging his form perfectly. 
My gaze shifted to Meredith, he stood near the entrance, hands shoved deep into his pockets, a mixture of irritation and discomfort bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
I wish I could watch them. I murmured inwardly because I knew it wouldn't take long before there would be an Outburst from Meredith.
"Ma, if you are scared of leaving your brother's girlfriend alone with a male, you could watch them throw the camera." The lady beside me said and I smiled nodding to her. 
"Sure this way," she said ushering me into another room where I could fit my dress and watch them. 
I watch as Liam leans slightly toward Vida, holding out a flowing red dress. "This would look stunning on you since you didn't want those provocative wears," he said smoothly, his voice low and confident.
Vida smiled, her cheeks tinged with a hint of color. "You think so?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
I could feel, Meredith felt a twinge in his chest, an uncomfortable tightness he couldn’t shake. He stepped closer, pretending to browse a nearby rack, but his eyes never left the two of them. I guess he hated the way the male gaze lingered on Vida, how effortlessly he seemed to command her attention.
"Do you have this in a smaller size?" Vida asked, holding up a sleek black dress.
"Of course," Liam replied, his tone warm and accommodating. Liam brushed past Meredith on his way to the stockroom, offering a polite nod that only deepened Meredith's uneasiness.
Meredith seized the opportunity. "Vida," he said, stepping into her line of sight. His voice was a little louder than necessary, as though staking his claim.
She looked up, surprised. "What are you doing?"
"Just… looking around," he said, glancing at the empty doorway where Liam had disappeared. 
"You want to pick for your girlfriend?" I almost wanted to chuckle at her words, how could she be so naive not to know that Meredith is into her? His jaw tightened. 
"I don't have a girlfriend," he scoffs.
"Then who are you buying it for?" His gaze moved to her, she gulped her saliva suddenly, before she took a step back. 
"Sorry, I will just get Liam,"
"Isn’t it too early to use his name?"
"What should I call him? Mr. Meredith?" She asked sarcastically, folding her hand under her bosom, as he pushed her way wanting to free herself
"Don't call me, Mr. Meredith, and can you stop flirting in front of me? It's irritating you know." he pulled her hand, jolting her to himself.