IN BETWEEN TWO LIVES; THE BARON'S HEIR

CHAPTER SIX

Undeterred by the lingering disdainful glances and the embarassing encounter with the security personnels, Victor and his mother began to explore the lavish offerings of Elysium Elegance.

They navigated through the racks of designer clothing with Victor carefully selecting outfits that caught his eye and showing them to his mother.

Each dress he showed to his mother seemed to transform her into a vision of elegance as she smiled and admired herself in the grand mirrors.

Victor watched as his mother's face lit up with delight. Her eyes sparkled with newfound confidence in each outfit she tried on. It was a heartwarming sight, a moment of pure joy for both of them amidst the sea of judgement.

As he glanced around the boutique while waiting for his mother to put on another dress, Victor noticed a particular attendant who seemed more modest, approachable, and humble than the others.

She was dressed in a tasteful, understated uniform that contrasted with the ostentatious attire of her colleagues.

Victor approached her, determined to find out the prices of the clothing his mother had admired.

With a polite smile he said. "Excuse me, could you please tell me the prices of these dresses? My mother really loves them."

The attendant nodded politely and began to scan the price tags. As she did so, her expression grew slightly sympathetic, and Victor could'nt help but wonder if she was more understanding than the others they had encountered.

Finally, she turned to Victor and gently delivered the news. "I am sorry sir, but these dresses are quite expensive. They are some of our finest creations and designs, and their prices reflect the quality and craftsmanship.

As the attendant carefully examined the price tags, Victor's patience wore thin. He could sense her hesitation, and it irked him that she was not being straightforward about the cost of the dresses.

His desire to make his mother happy battled with his growing frustration.

With a deep breath to quell his annoyance, Victor asked once more. "I appreciate your help, but could you please tell me the price? I need to know."

This time, the tension and frustration were evident in his voice, but he managed to keep his tone polite.

He knew that his mother's happiness was at stake, and he was determined to find out the cost of the dresses.

Just then, the fitting room curtain rustled, and his mother emerged in yet another stunning ensemble, her smile was radiant as she twirled to show off the dress.

However that joy was short lived as she overheard the conversation between Victor and the attendant.

The attendant, sensing the urgency of the situation, finally disclosed the daunting sum. "All together, the dresses your mother has tried on today amount to $450,000.

A shocked silence settled over the small group. Victor's mother's eyes widened in disbelief, her hand instinctively moving to cover her mouth.

She never could have imagined that the clothes she had fallen in love with would come with such a staggering price tag.

Despite the initial shock, Victor knew that he had made a promise to himself to celebrate his mother with his newfound wealth in style.

Without hesitation, he reached for his wallet and retrieved his credit card, determined to keep that promise and make his mother feel like the queen she deserved to be.

The attendant, still slightly flustered by the unexpected price tag and Victor's determination, extended her hand to receive his credit card.

As she reached for it, she couldn't help but notice a few well dressed, affluent customers nearby who had paused their shopping to observe the unfolding scene.

A hint of embarrassment tinged her cheeks, as she wondered if this was some kind of elaborate prank.

It wasn't uncommon for wealthy individuals to play tricks on service staff, and the amount Victor was about to spend seemed surreal.

With cautious skeptism, the attendant inserted the credit card into the machine and held her breath.

She expected the transaction to fail due to insufficient funds, because to her, such a massive purchase was beyond the realm of possibility for the man standing in front of her.

But as seconds passed, her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the screen display "Payment Successful."

It was a moment of shock and disbelief as the realisation sunk in that Victor was indeed making this extraordinary purchase.

The attendant handed the card back to Victor with a somewhat dazed expression, her professionalism was momentarily shaken.

She stammered. "Sir, your payment…it went through. Thank you for your purchase."

Victor nodded with a satisfied smile, having upheld his promise to make his mother feel like a queen.

His mother, still recovering from the initial shock, could'nt believe her eyes either. She clutched Victor's arm for support, her gratitude and amazement was evident.

The attendant helped Victor's mother to package her purchases and with that done, Victor got himself a few shirt and trousers, coupled with two pairs of Jordans.

Victor however rewarded the attendant for her kindness, even though she continued to struggle with the shock that gripped her.

All together Victor spent about $500,000 at Elysium Elegance that day and that purchase was the highest they recorded in nine months.

Soon Victor and his mother left the interior of the boutique, and there was a buzz of whispers and astonished glances from the other shoppers who had witnessed the scene.

The attendant, though initially skeptical, was left in awe and gratitude, for the $2000 Victor had awarded her and for the unexpected turn of events.

Coupled with that was the extraordinary act of love and generosity she had just witnessed.

It was a day that would be talked about in Elysium Elegance for a long time to come. A day that an unassuming customer made the most expensive purchase they had ever recorded in nine months.

However, as Victor and his mother stood outside the grand entrance of Elysium Elegance, Yvonne hesitated.

She turned to Victor, her expression uneasy. "Victor, i'n not sure about this. Are you sure we should be spending so much money in here?"

Her eyes bore into his, searching for reassurance. "I know a lot of places where we could have gotten something cheaper. This place was not meant for us. We sure looked like paupers in the eyes of those people there. By the way how did you get to lay your hands on that much money."

Victor took a deep breath and met his mother's gaze.

He knew he couldn't tell her the truth at this moment. It could wreck her and cause some emotional pain.

Victor took a deep breath, realising that he had to keep the truth of his newfound identity hidden. "Mom, there is something I need to tell you." He began, his voice earnest.

"I didn't want to worry you, but the money I have, it's not from a regular source. I won it in a bet."

Yvonne's eyes widened in surprise, and she held Victor's shoulders, her grip firm. "A bet? Victor, what kind of bet are you talking about? Is it something risky? You need to be honest with me."

Victor looked into his mother's eyes, his gaze steady. "Mom, it was a high-stakes poker game with some friends. I didn't expect to win this much, but I did. Please understand, I didn't want to burden you with this."

Yvonne was taken aback by the revelation, her surprise evident. "Victor, you need to promise me that you'll be careful with this kind of thing. We've been through so much, and I can't bear the thought of us facing any more trouble."

"I promise, Mom," Victor replied, his tone sincere. "I won't do it again. We'll use this money wisely."

As Victor and his mother continued their conversation outside Elysium's Elegance, little did they know that they were being observed by the two security personnel's who had confronted and ridiculed them earlier.

The security officers, still stationed near the boutique's entrance, were taken aback by the sight of Victor and Yvonne carrying shopping bags from the luxurious store.

As Victor and his mother stood outside Elysium Elegance, a glint of satisfaction in their eyes.

Both security personnels exchanged incredulous glances, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Victor and Yvonne held bags from the opulent boutique, clear evidence of their substantial purchases.

It was a sight they hadn't expected to witness after their earlier encounter.

One of the security personnel, the tall and imposing one, couldn't resist commenting with a cynical smirk, "Well, well, look who's been on a shopping spree. Our little Robin Hood here looks like he stole from the rich."

The other security personnel chuckled at the jest.

"Indeed, it's amazing how quickly one can turn their knack for theft into designer clothing. Maybe y has a talent for shoplifting too." The first security personnel continued.

They both chuckled, clearly implying that they believed Victor had stolen the money to make these extravagant purchases.

However, they felt justified in their assumptions since they lacked concrete evidence to strip him of the clothes or publicly embarrass him.

Victor, who had managed to maintain his composure throughout the earlier encounter, felt his patience wearing thin.

The mockery and baseless accusations from the security personnel had crossed a line.

With a measured but stern voice, he addressed them, "You've made your point earlier. We are legitimate customers, and we've paid for everything we bought. Your skepticism and mockery are unwarranted."

Yvonne, too, found her voice, her tone firm and dignified. "We came here to make some purchases as human beings with civil rights, not to be belittled and falsely accused. Your behavior is unacceptable."

The security personnel, however, remained unmoved, and their mocking expressions persisted. They continued to taunt Victor, calling him a thief and suggesting he was a "no-good robber."

Victor's anger flared. His face turned red and his fists clenched. It wasn't long, another security personnel joined their company, however he wondered why both men were laughing.

"Guys, what's up, what is the laughter all about."

"It is just…"

"I would like to propose something to you two." Victor interrupted the first security personnel before he could finish his speech.

All three personnel cast wondering glances at Victor.

Victor brought out a ten hundred dollar bills, before pointing at the two other personal who had not yet insulted him.

"This right here is a thousand dollars and I am going to gift this to the first person amongst the two of you, who gives this man here a dirty slap."

The first security personnel was taken aback by Victor's unexpected proposal. His eyes widened in disbelief as he struggled to comprehend the offer.

He never anticipated that Victor would challenge them in such a way.

Before he could react, the two other security personnel exchanged glances and shared a mischievous smile.

It was clear that they saw an opportunity to claim the reward, and without hesitation, they simultaneously delivered two resounding, dirty slaps to their startled colleague on both sides.

The slaps were swift and unexpected, leaving the first security personnel shocked and disoriented.

He recoiled, his hand instinctively reaching for his reddening cheek. "What was that for?" he demanded, bewildered.

Victor, however, wasted no time in response. He simply dropped the stack of ten one-hundred-dollar bills on the ground, scattering them at their feet.

The two security personnel who had administered the slaps immediately pounced on the money, like hungry dogs fighting for a bone.

As they scrambled to pick up the bills, Victor calmly turned away, taking his mother's arm as they walked away from the scene.

It was a final act of defiance against the judgment and mockery they had endured.

The first security personnel, still in shock from the slaps and the sudden turn of events, watched helplessly as his colleagues collected the reward money.

He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of betrayal, not only by Victor but also by his own companions.

It was a day that the security personnel at Elysium Elegance would never forget, marked by the unexpected and audacious actions of a determined and fearless customer who had defied their prejudice and mockery.