At the mall.


    Just as Ynda Sherwin arrived at the entrance, arm in arm with Jerrold Lonsdale, she spotted Juniper up ahead.


    "Jerrold, look," Ynda eximed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Isn''t that the old man who''s sponsoring her?"


    Though the man''s back was to them, his full head of white hair made it clear he was much older. Tsk. She must be truly desperate to stoop so low.


    Jerrold remained silent, adjusting his gold-rimmed sses as he stared intently at Juniper.


    "This mall is incredibly expensive. How could she possibly afford to shop here?” When Jerrold didn''t respond, Ynda continued her rant. “I knew it. She must havended a sugar daddy to be unting this kind of money."


    Just because she could dance didn''t mean she had any money. If she did, she wouldn''t be living in that rundown neighborhood, let alone hooking up with some rich old man.


    "Let''s go." As Juniper entered the mall, Jerrold averted his gaze and quickened his pace to follow.


    "Okay!" Ynda trotted to keep up, a malicious smile ying on her lips. Finally, a chance to get back at Juniper. She was going to make that bitch pay.


    ...


    The clothing boutiques were on the second floor.


    Juniper was dressed simply in a white t-shirt and ck cargo pants, her smooth, long hair falling loosely over her shoulders under a in ck cap. She had a casual, rxed air about her.


    "Juniper, everything here looks so expensive, doesn''t it?" Saskia whispered, trailing timidly behind her and gazing around the opulent disys with wide eyes.


    "Not really. The clothes are nice," Juniper replied, paying no mind to the prices. She stopped in front of a trendy designer store. "J, why don''t you go take a look?"


    "Huh?"


    J, who had never set foot in such avish mall before, felt her eyes ache from the sheer glitter of it all. She picked up a small t-shirt and peeked at the price tag.


    How much? Seven hundred and eighty dors?


    "Do you like it?" Juniper asked.


    "Not really," J said, shaking her head vigorously. "Juniper, let''s look at some other stores."


    “Alright.” Believing she genuinely disliked it, Juniper didn''t press the issue.


    Unfortunately, Ynda witnessed the entire exchange.


    "Doesn''t like it?" she sneered to herself. "More like can''t afford it." It seemed her sugar daddy wasn''t as generous as she''d thought.


    When she saw Juniper walk into an even more expensive boutique, Ynda''s expression darkened. While Jerrold was in the restroom, she hurried after them.


    “This one..." J furtively checked another price tag, and her jaw nearly hit the floor.


    A thousand dors for a single piece of clothing?! It was terrifying.


    “Juniper, I don''t really—"


    "Yes, you do,” Juniper cut her off, seeing right through her hesitation. She turned to the sales associate. "Could you please find this in her size?"


    The brand belonged to one of her former apprentices. It was known for its strong design aesthetic and wearability, perfect for a younger crowd. She hadn''t realized the brand had be so sessful ithad a storefront in a major mall like this. And to think, her apprentice was always calling herining about creative blocks and needing her help.


    “Hmph. Just looking for an excuse to ck off,” Juniper thought wryly.


    The sales associate turned, her gaze sweeping over Saskia and J with disdain.


    What were they wearing? Their entire outfits probably cost less than twenty dorsbined. Did they think this was some kind of flea market where you could pick up a shirt for ten bucks?!


    "This piece?" the associate asked, barely ncing at them as she picked at her nails. "We don''t have it in her size," she said dismissively.


    "You didn''t even look. How would you know?" Juniper turned, her eyes fixed on the woman''s face, her tone icy.


    "Tsk."


    The associate''s annoyance was palpable, but she forced a


    condescending smile. "Miss, this is a high-end designer brand. This top is one thousand dors. With the camisole underneath, ites twenty-eight hundred. If you''re sure you want it, then I''ll go look."


    “No, no, we don''t want it, thank you!” Saskia blurted out, horrified by the price. She tugged on Juniper''s arm, trying to pull her away. Good heavens, that wasn''t twenty- eight dors. There was no need for something so extravagant.


    "How will we know if it fits if we don''t


    try it on?" Juniper pushed back the brim of her cap with a long finger, revealing a delicate, fair face and eyes cold as frost. Her voice was sharp with displeasures this how Jennie taught you to treat customers?”