IN BETWEEN TWO LIVES; THE BARON'S HEIR

CHAPTER SEVEN

A few days later, after an early morning lecture, Victor found himself at home, contemplating the sorry state of his current phone.

The touchscreen had been acting up for weeks, making it increasingly frustrating to use. As he scrolled through his options, he realized that it was time for an upgrade.

With determination in his eyes, Victor decided to venture out and buy a new phone.

He put on some modest clothing, not wanting to attract unnecessary attention, despite the newfound wealth he had.

Stepping out of his house, Victor felt a sense of purpose. He had successfully navigated the world of luxury shopping at Elysium Elegance, but now he was on a more practical mission.

He pulled out his current phone, its touchpad issues still evident. As he tried to order an Uber to head to the nearest electronics store, the unresponsive screen added to his frustration.

He tapped and swiped repeatedly, but the phone refused to cooperate.

Victor sighed, realizing he might need to hail a taxi the old-fashioned way. He raised his hand and attempted to flag down a passing cab, hoping to make his way to the electronics store and finally replace his troublesome phone.

Little did he know that even in this mundane errand, life had a way of presenting challenges and surprises.

Victor's attempts to hail a passing cab proved fruitless, as most of them were occupied or simply ignored his signalling.

Frustration gnawed at him as he contemplated the non-functional phone in his hand.

Refusing to give up, he decided to try ordering an Uber once more. This time, he tapped the screen with even more determination, willing it to respond.

After several agonizing minutes, the screen finally registered his request, and he saw a nearby driver accepting the ride.

Relief washed over him as he watched the Uber icon approach on the map. He had taken a small step towards resolving his phone issue.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity but was probably only a few minutes, a sleek car pulled up in front of him. The driver rolled down the window and greeted Victor with a friendly smile.

"Good morning! Are you Victor?" the driver asked.

Victor nodded, relieved that his Uber had arrived. "Yes, that's me."

With a courteous nod, the driver unlocked the doors, and Victor climbed into the comfortable back seat of the car.

He was greeted by the refreshing blast of air conditioning, a welcome relief from the heat outside.

As the car smoothly glided through the city streets, Victor couldn't help but appreciate the convenience of ride-sharing apps.

He felt a sense of gratitude for the technology that made transportation so accessible.

After a short journey that took him to the nearest electronics store, Victor stepped out of the Uber.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills to pay for the ride. Since the distance wasn't too far, he decided that a generous tip was in order.

Approaching the driver's window, Victor handed over the cash. "Thank you for the ride. Keep the change," he said with a warm smile.

The driver's eyes widened in surprise and appreciation. "Thank you so much, Victor. I really appreciate it. Have a great day!"

With that, Victor bid farewell to the friendly Uber driver and entered the electronics store.

He was now one step closer to resolving his phone issue, and with his newfound wealth, he could afford to pick out a top-of-the-line device that would serve him well in the days to come.

As Victor entered the electronics store, he was immediately greeted by rows of shiny smartphones on display, each more enticing than the last. It was clear that he had plenty of options for his phone upgrade.

But as he browsed through the latest models, his attention was suddenly drawn to three strikingly beautiful and curvy young ladies standing near the counter where different phones were displayed.

Their presence was impossible to ignore, and Victor felt an almost magnetic pull towards them.

Driven by his instincts, Victor decided to take a chance and introduce himself. After all, he had recently experienced a boost in confidence from his shopping spree at Elysium Elegance.

With a charming smile, Victor approached the trio of ladies and said, "Hello there, I couldn't help but notice how stunning you all look. My name is Victor, and I stood over somewhere over there before I got to notice you all. I must say that you all are extremely beautiful. Can I know your names?"

For a brief moment, the store seemed to fade into the background as Victor found himself captivated by their beauty and graceful figures.

However, his excitement blinded him to the fact that he was still holding his old, battered phone with a terribly broken screen, a stark contrast to the sleek devices on display.

As Victor eagerly awaited their response, two of the ladies exchanged scornful looks, their expressions filled with disdain.

They clearly weren't impressed by his approach, and their body language conveyed a sense of arrogance.

One of them, with an air of superiority, replied, "Oh, how sweet of you to approach us, Victor. But I'm afraid we're here to shop for phones, not to entertain random strangers. Maybe you should focus on finding a phone that suits your... needs."

Her dismissive tone stung, and Victor suddenly became aware of his broken phone, which he had hoped to conceal. He felt a pang of embarrassment but tried to maintain his composure.

Victor's attempt at conversation had taken an unexpected turn. The second lady, her expression a mix of disdain and amusement, decided to add her own commentary.

She glanced at Victor's clothing and roughly arranged dreadlocked hair and sneered, "And what do we have here? A fashion icon in the making, I see. Your clothing and hairstyle are... quite unique, Victor. Are you auditioning for a role in a low-budget movie?"

Her mocking tone cut through the air, and Victor couldn't help but feel a bit hurt by her words.

His confidence wavered as he realized that his modest clothing and dreadlocks had become the subject of ridicule.

To make matters worse, the first lady took a glance at Victor's broken phone and chimed in, "Oh, and don't forget that charming accessory you have there. It's quite the statement piece, I must say. Are you trying to set a new trend?"

Victor's embarrassment deepened, and he struggled to find a response. He had come to the store with the intention of getting a better phone, but now he felt like the center of unwarranted attention and mockery.

Amidst the insults and laughter, the third lady remained silent, her gaze fixed on Victor.

She could see the discomfort and embarrassment he was experiencing. Her heart was filled with pity, and she decided to intervene.

"Hey, guys, let's take it easy," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "We don't know Victor's story, and it's not fair to make fun of someone based on their appearance or belongings."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and the first two ladies exchanged glances, realizing that their comments had crossed a line. They nodded reluctantly, their expressions softening.

The third lady turned to Victor and offered a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry about my friends, Victor. Sometimes they can be a bit too... blunt. Let's all remember that kindness goes a long way."

Victor, grateful for her compassion and intervention, managed a faint smile. "Thank you," he said quietly.

"However my name is Sophia and it is a pleasure to meet you." She extended her hand towards Victor.

"Victor." He smiled shyly before shaking her hand. He marveled at her beauty while relishing the softness and tenderness of her skin.

"It is a pleasure to meet you." She smiled sweetly at him.

"You too." Victor replied, although shyly.

However despite the third lady's attempt to diffuse the situation and show compassion, the first two ladies continued to look at Victor with scornful expressions, as if relishing in his discomfort.

Their laughter and mockery persisted, and it seemed they had no intention of letting up.

The first lady, with a sneer, leaned closer to her friend and whispered loud enough for Victor to hear, "I bet he's here to purchase a cheap dumb phone slightly higher than the one he has in hand."

The second lady burst into mocking laughter, joining in on the insult. "I can bet a million dollars on that," she jeered, her laughter sharp and cutting.

Victor, though still trying to maintain his composure, felt the sting of their words. It was a challenging moment for him, as he had hoped for a simple and respectful interaction.