She took a deep breath and softened her tone.


    "I''m heading out to grab those matching mugs and slippers right away. Just give me an address, otherwise, how am I supposed to track you downter?"


    Z, surprisingly quick this time, rattled off an address. It was pretty out there, almost like the back of beyond, outside the city limits.


    ra did a bit of sleuthing online about the ce and found it was surrounded by rundown factories, looking all deserted and bleak.


    Her heart twinged. Had he been working in the shadows all this time and still couldn''t afford a decent ce?


    She kept her thoughts to herself, simply saying she''d swing by that evening.


    It had been ages since she''d hit the shops, so she arranged a mall meet-up with Megan.


    Megan was game, and they met up at the shopping center.


    While wandering through the luxury section, ra''s eyesnded on an eye- wateringly expensive pair of slippers-two grand a pair, and they were a matching


    set.


    Megan, all dolled up for their outing, whistled softly when she saw them.


    "ra, don''t you think that''s a bit steep?"


    ra reached for the slippers, but someone else''s hand swooped in faster, followed by a mocking voice.


    "If you''re broke, don''t even think about these. They''re not for those who''d have to starve for months just to afford a pair."


    ra turned to see Eden standing there.


    Eden was all decked out with a hat, a braid, and dark sunsses, looking every inch the heiress.


    Seeing ra, she sneered, giving the slippers a shake.


    "ra, you barely get any money from home. Who are you trying to impress? And your friend here, she looks like she waits tables somewhere. Even if you can buy this stuff, I wonder where the moneyes from."


    Megan bit her lip, her cheeks ming as people stared.


    ra pulled Megan behind her, keeping her cool as she looked at Eden.


    "Ms. Eden, isn''t that a bit harsh?"


    Eden threw the slippers at ra, hitting her head, making her wince.


    "Too harsh? I haven''t even begun! You troublemaker, you made Quinn cry every day, drove her into depression. And at Ferguson Corporation, you dared to throw documents at me! Running into me today is your unlucky day—I''ve always disliked you."


    Without missing a beat, ra swung her handbag at Eden.


    Blood trickled from Eden''s forehead, and she held her wound, bursting into tears.


    "ra! Just wait! I''ll have Dn fire you! He''ll make you pay! Just wait!"


    Eden hade shopping solo to pick up a gift for Dn, and now she was sobbing her way back to her car, dialing Dn''s number between sobs.


    ra stood firm at the store entrance, then turned to Megan. "Megan, you okay?"


    Megan''s face was pale, and she shook her head. "Maybe we should check out somece else. Ms. Eden wasn''t wrong, this stuff is pretty pricey."


    ra patted her shoulder. "It''s all good. No one says you have to buy to look. Besides, I''m in a good mood since I started dating. I''ll get you a pair too."


    Megan forced a smile, though her eyes showed a hint of doubt.


    ra bought two pairs of matching slippers and spotted a few white shirts she liked.


    She''d felt Z''s build before, guessing he was at least six feet and solidly built. Megan trailed behind, curious about ra''s new guy.


    "ra, maybe you could bring your boyfriend out for dinner sometime? My treat. I''m just curious to see what kind of guy you''ve picked."


    Holding the shirts, ra responded swiftly, "He''s not handsome, and he''s pretty self-conscious about it. If he''s not up for it, I won''t push him. I''ll ask, but he''s probably not keen on going out right now."


    A not-so-handsome guy, a waiter-hard to picture ra with someone like that. Megan swallowed hard, "So, how far have things gone with you two?"


    ra chuckled, paying for her stuff. "Seems like you''re really curious about him. We''ve moved fast, done all the usual couple stuff, and we''re really happy. But he does get riled up easily. Normally he''s gentle, but when he''s mad, he''s a tough one to calm down."


    Seeing the twinkle in her eyes, Megan felt sure ra was seriously dating a waiter.


    She breathed a sigh of relief, cautiously asking, "Does Mr. Dn know?" "Dn?"


    ra was a bit taken aback. How did her rtionship concern Dn? Still, she replied, "Yeah, I told him. He didn''t have much to say about it."


    They ended up with quite a haul: clothes, pants, mugs—ra was juggling several shopping bags.


    She had nned to treat Megan to a meal, but Megan got a call about having to work overtime, so they parted ways.


    ra loaded her haul into her car. By then, it was 7 PM, and she rang up Z.


    "Have you eaten? I''m still at the mall. Want me to bring anything over?"


    "Not hungry, just waiting for you."


    The phone felt hot in her hand, and her face flushed.


    "Z, not mad anymore?"


    He''d stormed off from the spa all huffy, and now he was cool? Men, right? They''re


    like mysteries wrapped in riddles.


    "Wasn''t mad at you."


    "Alright, alright, not mad then. I''lle find you."