Chapter 11: SHOPPING!!!!
When the SUV pulled into the underground VIP entrance of the city’s grandest shopping complex, my jaw nearly dropped. The mall was a sprawling palace of polished marble, glass, and gold leaf, housing every ultra-luxury brand imaginable.
Yet despite its size, the corridors felt strangely quiet and spacious. Mom had clearly arranged for extra privacy so I wouldn’t have to deal with crowds or unwanted attention.
Still, as the three of us walked through the main atrium, we drew plenty of eyes from the few high-society shoppers and boutique staff nearby. It wasn’t hard to see why. Mom looked like an ageless queen, while Val walked a step behind us like a deadly, impossibly gorgeous Valkyrie.
Then there was me. I’d never been the guy who turned heads in a room, but years of consistent training had given me a broad, athletic frame, good posture, and cleaner features. Walking between two stunning women in a fitted shirt that showed off my shoulders, I figured I didn’t look too bad either.
"Right! First stop, menswear," Mom announced, grabbing my wrist and pulling me straight into a massive multi-story designer boutique. "I want to see you in everything, Seth. We are completely rebuilding your wardrobe!"
Before I could even process what was happening, three tailors and sales assistants hurried over, bowing politely to Mom before swarming me with measuring tapes, silk shirts, tailored jackets, linen trousers, and designer coats.
"Wait, Mom, isn’t this a bit much?" I asked, holding a dark navy velvet jacket against my chest while a staff member checked the sleeve length. "I don’t need fifty different outfits. A couple of T-shirts and a pair of jeans are enough."
"Nonsense!" Mom declared, gesturing toward a display of handcrafted leather shoes. "You’re my son, Seth. You spent far too long wearing worn-out clothes that didn’t do you justice. Try on this gray cashmere sweater. Oh, and those dark trousers too!"
For the next hour, I was subjected to a relentless dress-up marathon. Every time I stepped out of the fitting room, Mom’s eyes lit up, and she’d clap her hands together softly.
"Magnificent! That color suits your eyes so well," she’d tell the head clerk. "We’ll take it."
"Mom, I’ve only had it on for ten seconds-"
"And that velvet blazer from earlier? Pack that as well. In fact, pack the entire summer collection in his size," she said, completely ignoring my protest.
I stood there holding a price tag with enough zeroes to buy my old apartment building, feeling completely helpless. Yet every time I saw the pure joy in Mom’s eyes as she handed another stack of clothes to the store manager, a deep warmth settled in my chest.
She wasn’t showing off. She was trying to make up for every year she’d been forced to spend away from me. It was raw, unconditional maternal love, and as overwhelming as it was, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse her.
[She’s going to buy the whole store, Seth,] Paige giggled. [If you don’t redirect her soon, she might accidentally buy the factory that made the buttons.]
’Right. Time for a tactical retreat.’
I cleared my throat and stepped out of the fitting room, glancing from Mom to Val. She stood quietly near the entrance with her hands clasped behind her back, maintaining her usual vigilance.
"Mom,’ I said gently, leaning down slightly. "You’ve bought enough clothes for me to open my own department store. But you haven’t picked out a single thing for yourself yet. And neither has Val."
Mom blinked, momentarily pulled out of her shopping frenzy. "Oh, darling, today’s about you! I don’t need—"
"I insist," I interrupted with a soft smile, taking her hands. "I’d feel a lot better if we made this a family trip. You deserve to treat yourself too, and Val’s been standing guard this whole time. She should get something nice as well."
Val’s eyes widened slightly, her composure slipping for just a fraction of a second. "Oh, no, Young Master. That isn’t necessary. I’m on duty, and my standard attire is more than sufficient—"
"It’s a gift from me," I said with a grin. "Consider it a bonus for putting up with me at the gym earlier."
Mom instantly seized on the idea, her eyes sparkling. "Seth is absolutely right! Valerie, you’re coming with us to the women’s haute couture section right now. No arguments."
Val opened her mouth to object, but one look at Mom’s unyielding enthusiasm, and my amused grin, made her let out a quiet, defeated sigh. "Understood, Lady Alice."
We moved to the boutique’s upper floor, which was dedicated entirely to high-fashion gowns and elegant casual wear. Mom immediately went to work, browsing through racks of silk and lace, while I settled onto a plush velvet sofa with a cup of espresso the store manager had thoughtfully brought over.
Mom picked out a deep emerald dress that made her look every bit the queen she already was and bought it without a second thought. Then the real spectacle began, as she and the lead stylist practically herded Val into the dressing room with an armful of gowns.
A few minutes later, the velvet curtain slid open, and I nearly choked on my coffee.
Val stepped out wearing a sweeping, backless crimson dress woven from heavy silk. The deep red fabric contrasted beautifully with her pale skin and blonde hair, hugging her athletic frame without hiding the strength beneath it. She looked like a high-class assassin attending a royal gala, beautiful, elegant, and utterly lethal.
"Seth?" Mom asked, beaming as she gestured toward Val. "What do you think?"
"You... look incredible, Val," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck as warmth crept into my ears. "Seriously. That color was made for you."
Val’s cheeks colored ever so slightly as she shifted her weight on her heels. But instead of admiring herself in the mirror, she tested the fabric around her thighs with a small frown.
"It’s... nice," Val murmured, lifting one leg slightly to test her range of motion, only for the dress to stop her almost immediately. "But the mobility is terrible. If an assailant attacks from the flank, I wouldn’t even be able to throw a low kick without tearing the seam. And there’s nowhere to conceal a sidearm."