CHAPTER 003

It had been two weeks and Rieka had not seen any of the Fullams and none of them deemed it fit to check up on her via phone.

Rieka was seen as a good-for-nothing being in her family.

One fateful afternoon, Rieka and Noah visited a shopping mall.

"Welcome!!!"

Entering into the mall, the receptionist said politely. "We are glad you stopped by to patronize us."

Noah shook his head instantly and smiled. "It's nice to be here too."

Rieka smiled, looking around the store, it was filled with luxurious items and she did not know what exactly to pick that would be within the money she had.

Now, a familiar voice spoke and Rieka's expression changed. Turning around, she saw Kendra and Ussy, her fiance.

Kendra was her cousin.

Ussy was from the Swelvys family. They controlled the affairs of business in Top Notch Group. They were known worldwide for their wealth and influence.

Kendra was stunned when she saw a bag in a cabinet, that looked classic and attractive.

"Please get me this bag."

The sales girl walking behind said politely. "This bag was introduced during the Hermes' 50th anniversary celebration. It is a limited collection and this is the only one we have left. It is worth eighty thousand dollars

"Huh?"

Kendra was shocked. Looking at the bag in front of her, she was mesmerized. "E-Eighty what?"

"Eighty thousand dollars. The bag is worth it."

Turning to Kendra, he said. "We'll get this some other time. I like it too but it's far above my budget.

Ussy can't dare spend Eighty thousand dollars.

He pursed his lips as she murmured. "But you can afford it, you are wealthy."

"Well, you have to wait till I get my pay for the month or take permission from my family to use from the business profit."

Holding onto Ussy's hand, Kendra said soberly, "A-Alright."

On the other end, Rieka was still walking around the shop to figure out what to buy.

Waiting at the reception, Noah sat down with his legs crossed over the other.

Demonstrating with his hands, he called one of the cashiers, Cynthia, who received payment for the goods purchased. "I walked in here with my wife." She nodded in affirmation. "Take, deduct the payment for all the goods from here and make sure she doesn't know who made the payment. Lastly, include the Hermes bag you have left." He handed her a black card and wrote the passcode on a small paper.

She widened her eyes immediately as she held the card.

"The black card?"

She couldn't believe Noah had a black card, he looked so simple and humble, unlike the famous rich kids who flaunt their wealth at every little opportunity. The card only belongs to wealthy first-class citizens.

She knew he wasn't one she could dare disobey. She gave a bow and left hurriedly.

At this time, Ussy and Kendra stumbled on Rieka. "What are you doing here?"

"Hi Kendra, I just stopped by to get something."

"What?" Kendra giggled. "There are other smaller stores you could patronize. Everything in this store is expensive and not for your level."

Rieka returned to Noah and said. "I didn't see anything to buy."

"Why don't I help you choose what to buy?" Cynthia offered, ignoring her position as a cashier.

"Rieka, go ahead. She has offered to give you a helping hand." Noah said.

She reluctantly followed after Cynthia.

Kendra and Ussy now pretended to be searching for what to buy but followed Rieka everywhere she turned.

"Please, Miss you can wait at the reception while I do the shopping on your behalf."

Rieka couldn't explain the special attention she got from Cynthia.

"I can come along…"

"I insist, just wait at the reception. By the way, you've walked around and didn't find what suits you. I promise to select beautiful things for you."

“Hmm!"

Rieka was speechless

Cynthia didn't bother to ask what her budget was, yet she wanted to select things on her behalf. Slowly she returned to the reception.

Within the twinkle of an eye, Cynthia returned with her shopping basket filled to the brim.

Cynthia noticed that Rieka was shocked when she saw the basket and thought she needed to add more things. Immediately, she said, "Is it small? Let me add one more thing" How about the Hermes bag left?"

"No! It's okay. Hermes bag?" Before Rieka could complete her statement, Cynthia picked up the bag and added it to her selected items.

What was happening?

Cynthia was so fast. Within a split second, she had packaged all the items and handed them to Rieka. Rieka collected it, although in a shocked state.

Before she could speak, Cynthia interrupted. "Don't worry about the payment, that has been settled."

"By who?" Kendra questioned angrily. "She can't afford all of this, there must be a mix-up somewhere."

"Miss, please you can't interfere in other customers' affairs. I am certain there was no mix-up."

Kendra and Ussy couldn't afford the Hermes bag but Rieka now has the bag with many other luxurious and expensive things.

Kendra couldn't control her anger, she grabbed Rieka's hand and pulled her closely. Sternly, she said, “Who was the man I saw you talking to at the reception?”

Rieka pulled her hands from her grab. “Really? That man is the same person who gave the highest bid to have me.”

“Who was the unknown person that paid for your goods?” Kendra gently asked.

“I have no idea, I also need to find out.”

“You liar!” Kendra spilled. “Tell me the truth before you get caught and thrown into jail.”

Kendra turned her attention to Ussy. “You, aren't you ashamed you could not buy me the bag? How could she obtain favor in the sight of a strange person to the extent the person bought all those for her.”

Removing his eyeglasses, Ussy stared at Kendra.

He was finding it difficult to believe she just said that.

How dare she? He always gave her surprise gifts and spent a lot on her. Today was just one of those days, that his allowance couldn't afford her taste.

With anger, Kendra walked to Noah.

“Hey, who is Rieka to you? She was supposed to be a bondwoman, that's why you bidding for her. How then is she free and enjoying luxury from an unknown person?”

“You fool…” Ussy added. “You don't look like one who had the money to bid. You are walking for your boss. Just look at what you are wearing, it's on the low-budget side.

“What's all this rubbish about?” Rieka snapped in anger.

Noah who had given them rap attention, now spoke calmly. “Well, I owe you no explanation. If you want to get any information about Rieka, go to her directly. By the way, I have no idea about who you are.’

Ussy held Noah's shirt at the chest. “You idiot, you are not worth telling us what to do. Since when did your say matter?”

Noah forcefully pushed Ussy away making him stumble. Ussy felt embarrassed, he stood up and raised his hands at Noah, preparing to hit Noah.

Noah held Ussy's raised hand and turned it to his back, making Ussy wince in pain. Sternly, he spoke, “No one dares to raise a hand at me.

“Enough, let me go!”

“Please, let me go!”

Finally, Noah let go of him.

“Enough, this doesn't portray a good image for our store.” One of the sales girls pleaded.

Rieka hissed, she had had enough of the rubbish Kendra said, what Ussy did, and walked away.

Rieka had no savings that she could fall back to after leaving the house.

“What brought about the sudden turnaround in Rieka's life?”

“How could Rieka get such a huge surprise from an unknown person?”

"Can I get to know the person who paid my bills so I can appreciate it in person?" Rieka said calmly.

"That's not necessary, I'll pass your appreciation across."

While Noah stepped forward to help carry the goods, Cynthia slowly handed the card back to him with no one noticing.

While Noah held the goods, Rieka was wondering. She felt all that happened was just a drama.

“Dear Noah, I didn't understand all that happened at the store. I didn't even get the opportunity to appreciate the stranger who was behind the kind gesture. Do you think accepting the goods without knowing who paid is bad? Just the Hermes bag is worth a lot!”

“There's nothing bad in accepting a good act done voluntarily.” Noah smiled.

“Knowing the stranger would have made more sense to me.” Rieka sighed and wrapped her hands around his arms.

“Noah, you don't look jealous that my goods were paid for by a strange person. I received such treatment because of you, right?”