“Is there any way I can get this in my size?” I asked an attendant.
“Definitely. I’ll take that for you. You can make your way to the change rooms,” she said. I turned to Niall and tried to look apologetic.
“Will you be okay waiting?” I asked. He shrugged, looking totally nonplussed.
“Take your time.”
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“I don’t mind.”
I trudged over to the change rooms and closed the door. Perfect. He was patient and accommodating when I wanted him to be impatient and irritable. I never thought the day would come when I complained that a man was behaving gentlemanly towards me. The shop attendant came and handed me the dress. I felt sorry for wasting her time but the situation was dire.
“Excuse me,” I said, before she left. “The man I walked in with? Could you send him in here?” She said it was no problem. I looked around the room and sat down on the little bench. Shortly, I heard activity outside, then a knock on the door.
“Everything alright, Eddy?”
I shot up. “Everything’s fine. I just wanted to ask, could you get us some coffees while I’m here? We can meet when I’m done.”
“Oh, sure. No problem.”
He left. I waited a few minutes, and then I rushed out, apologizing to the attendant that I wasn’t going to get the dress after all. I practically ran out of the mall, down the road to the shop where I sold the watch. I was panting when I walked in. The pawnbroker was the fastest way I could think of at the time to get quick cash. Nothing was for free; what a time to remember that lesson. I walked over to the counter, to the man who served me before. He greeted me and I had to remember my manners, returning it before I got right to business.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes. I was here not that long ago. I sold you a watch. That was a mistake however and I’m here to see whether I can get it back. I have all the cash, ten thousand pounds.” I handed the man the ticket. He looked it over.
“Ah, the Patek piece,” he said.
“Yes. I have all the money. Can I buy it back?”
The man disappeared briefly and brought back the watch. He smiled, holding it in his hands like it was much heavier than it was.
“This piece is worth far more than ten thousand, love.”
“You gave me ten thousand for it.”
“I’ll need thirty throusand to give it back to you.”
My jaw dropped. “That’s ridiculous. You valued it and you gave me ten thousand.”
The man shrugged. “I can't lose money on this. Either you buy it for thirty, or you leave.”
“This is robbery,” I said.
“Madam!”
“No. This is unacceptable. You tricked me. You stole my watch.”
He raised a hand, looking over my shoulder. I turned and saw a security guard walking towards us.
“You buy the watch for my price or you can leave,” he said again.
I stood, dejected on the pavement. How did he get away with running a business like that? He was the one who valued the watch, how did he… it didn’t matter. I didn’t have thirty thousand pounds. My brains and my guts churned as I walked back into the mall. Niall was standing outside the boutique with two coffees when I came back. I shot him an apologetic smile.
“Hey. Where did you go?” he asked.
“Sorry. I just went to the restroom.” I took one of the coffees from him.