Almighty Elvis Mark

Chapter 12

Elvis sighed in frustration as the shop owner raked him from his head to his feet. He knew exactly what the shop owner was thinking and the more time he spent looking back at him, the more he became angry.

"Please leave, I don't haggle prices here." The shop owner finally said.

"What are you talking about?" Elvis asked, pretending to be unaware of what he was driving at.

"Since you are dumb, I will explain to you just once." He paused then continued. "In this shop, all clothings and accessories are of fixed prices. We don't haggle prices for whatever reasons." The man replied.

"I wasn't trying to haggle prices with you."

"Then…"

"I want you to package everything I have selected and then I will pay for each item." He explained.

Throwing his head backwards, the shop owner burst into an annoying laughter causing a lone tear to escape from Elvis eyes.

When the customers enquired on why the shop owner was laughing, he was quick to tell them and they began to make jest of him.

"Everyone stop it. I hate when you guys look down on someone." A random customer said, hushing them.

"We aren't looking down on him. Everyone here knows he can't even afford a vest of $100." Another shot back.

Gulping, Elvis tried to talk but he was rudely interrupted by the shop owner.

"Mister, are you on an errand?" He asked and immediately all attention was on Elvis.

"No, I came…" he was still speaking when the second customer said.

"Please leave and don't cause any trouble. If I were in your shoes, I would have gone to the thrift shop to get what I need. A vest there can be sold for $20." He rapped, shooing him away while the others laughed.

"I…" he tried to talk again but he was interrupted.

"Just leave. You don't need to explain yourself." The man said. He continued pushing him until he was out of the shop and then he shut the door against him.

With his eyes burning with tears, Elvis turned around only to see the customers pointing their fingers at him as they laughed aloud.

"I will teach some humans a lesson they will never forget in a hurry. This is a promise." He said under his breath, wiping his eyes with the back of his palm.

After a few minutes of staring at the shop owner who was replacing all the clothes he had chosen back on the stand, he turned to leave.

He had barely taken three steps when he felt the hand of someone on his shoulder. Turning around swiftly, his eyes met with that of the customer who came to his defense earlier.

"I'm sorry for what happened back there." He apologized, panting from the short race he had engaged in.

"It's nothing." Elvis replied, flashing a smile. Whereas, deep down, he was trying his best not to burst into tears.

"Don't listen to what people say about you and please, don't hold grudges, it's disastrous." He said and Elvis nodded in response.

His eyes were heavy with tears begging to be released. He knew the moment he opened his mouth to speak, he would end up breaking down before the stranger.

"Good." The man said, patting his back. When he took his hand off, he dug it into his pocket then brought out some money.

Immediately, the tears vanished from Elvis' eyes and so he could speak without the fear of breaking down. Shaking his head fervently, he said,

"No… please you don't have to spend your hard earned money on me, I'm fine."

"I just want to help." The man said, still trying to give him the money.

"Sir please don't, I can handle myself. Thank you."

"I insist."

"You don't have to." Elvis replied as he began to scurry away hurriedly. He made sure he couldn't see the man anywhere around him before he stopped running.

Panting heavily, he flagged down a cab to take him to the shopping mall so he could get some clothes. The clothes at the shopping mall were going to be more expensive than the ones at the shop.

He had decided to buy from the shop since the mall was going to be crowded but now, he had no choice but to visit the mall.

"The mall." He said amidst pants.

"Hop in." The driver said merrily.

"I will pay whatever amount when I get to my destination." He rapped. He didn't want the driver to think he doesn't have the money to pay.

"As it should be." Came the driver's response as he sent the engine running.

Looking out of the window, Elvis allowed the cool breeze to blast his face, carrying his hair about as he allowed his mind to wander to the Cator Family.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't know when they arrived at his destination.

"Mister, $10." The driver said in a sing-song voice, jolting him from his revive. After paying for his fare, with the same singing voice, the driver said, "Thank you."

This time around, Elvis couldn't not resist the urge to ask the driver the cause of his excitement. Leaning close, he rested his weight against the car and with a little smile said, "Mind to share the good news."

"Of course. My daughter just became a lawyer. It's a dream come true for both of us." He said, wiping the corner of his eyes.

"Congratulations." Elvis found himself saying. He was gradually getting infected with the joy the man was bubbling with.

"Thank you so much. Have a nice day." The driver said after which he drove off. With a smile, he walked towards the shopping mall to do his shopping.

Just as he was about to start shopping for clothes in the men's section, a staff member walked up to him. "Sir, are you purchasing…" Knowing fully well what was to follow, he cast him a glare sending the rest of his words back into his throat.

"I'm sorry sir." The staff apologized then scurried off. After picking a few more clothes, he stopped as he began to clench his fists in anger as he glared at the wall.

Several seconds later, he began to fist pump the air. He only stopped when he noticed he had company.

"Sorry." He apologized then resumed shopping.

At the end, the sales representative packaged everything for him in two large paper bags and he paid with his card, shocking those who had been monitoring him with their eyes.

Smirking, he grabbed the paper bags then began to struggle with it to the exit. Just as he was about to flag down a cab to take him home, the staff from earlier appeared before him.

"Save it." He said even before he could start running his mouth.

"Please pardon my manners. I was scared you were just like others who end up stressing us without even buying a tie." He rapped.

"That's why you should never judge a book by its cover." Elvis replied as he flagged down a taxi.

Before the taxi left, with a bow, the staff said with a loud voice, "Visit us soon."

On getting home, instead of heading straight to his room, he crashed on the sofa in the living room.

"What a day." He mumbled, yawning tiredly as he loosened his tie. He was about to turn on the TV and then lie on the couch when his phone began to buzz in his pocket.

With a large scowl on his face, he managed to pull it out as he made his way to the kitchen. His expression changed when he discovered Ms. Precious was the caller.

"Hello sir." She greeted me. She was still at the office but was already rounding off so she could call it a day.

"How did your day go?" He asked, tossing a biscuit into his mouth as he walked around the kitchen in search of what to eat.

"It went well." She replied.

"Still at work?"

"Yeah but I am already rounding off. I will be out before the next twenty minutes."

"Cool." He replied. Since he had nothing else to say, he went mute.

"Sir…"

"I'm listening."

"The winner of project 9 '4 nomination has been found." She announced, as she tossed her laptop into her bag.

"Okay… and who turns out to be the lucky guy?" He asked, tapping a spoon against the counter.

"Dustin's company. He won the other nominees with an unbelievably large margin." She reeled.

"Dustin's company?" He mumbled.

Why his company — he said in his head, creasing his brow in anger.

"Yeah. According to plan, we are supposed to announce the winner by tonight so we can officially round off everything concerning the nomination by noon tomorrow."

"Don't wrap it off yet." He yelled. "Sorry, I didn't mean to use that tone on you." He apologized.

"Okaaay." She was stressed. "When should I do it then?"