Chapter Seven

Charlotte's heart missed a beat when the 'ding' sound resounded in her ears. She locked eyes with Tyler and her lips formed an inaudible 'wow' She tried to speak but the shock concealed in her lungs made her beam with a smile.

"There you go ma'am" the salesperson's voice jolted Charlotte out of her realm of thoughts. Her line of sight met with the package her supposed quarterback boyfriend could not afford "The purse is yours now" the salesperson added.

Charlotte's spine bubbled with adrenaline moments ago, but the salesperson's voice doubled the adrenaline rush. Because she has to make a tough decision. Her supposed well-to-do quarterback boyfriend couldn't afford to buy her a purse. And now - Tyler her ex, the same guy she cheated on, the same guy she called a broke ass bought her an expensive purse. At first, it seemed like a huge punch on Raul's face, but when Charlotte stretched her hands to accept the package from the salesperson, Raul's face shrunk into a scowl. Charlotte ignored the don't-take-it stare on his face, she collected the package from the salesperson. Raul stomped his feet on the floor loudly, with rage clenching his throat.

She turned to Tyler. The irked stare on his face made her hesitate for a moment, but she stepped up to him. "Tyler" she smiled. "Thank you so much for this...I me...."

Tyler shot her a glare and she halted the sentence. Tyler must have been a simp in the last couple of months, but the mysterious look on his face could scare a pride of lions away.

Tyler skimmed his eyes around the vicinity, and his gaze settled on Raul. "Have a nice time shopping" he walked past Raul, brushing his shoulder. Tyler walked back to the counter - where he was before the couple's voice sped into his ears.

Raul heaved a sigh, and he swallowed the chunk of saliva in his throat. If Ice had a human version, it'll be Raul. He froze the moment the terminal beeped. He never thought Tyler can afford anything that expensive. Oftentimes, Raul throws money around to show off, but a whopping one hundred and fifty thousand dollars will take him over three years to make. Tyler just spent someone's three years' salary on a purse and walked away like nothing happened.

For a moment, he thought Tyler's actions were in a quest to get under his skin and spite him for taking his woman. Sweat trickled down his face, eyes blinking at an accelerated pace.

"Did you just take that?" He half yelled. Charlotte's smile faded, and she turned to meet a feral stare on Raul's face.

"Take what?" Charlotte retorted.

"The damn purse!" Raul yelled. "Don't you think that's disrespectful to me? I'm your man and I think you should ask my permission before accepting gifts from strangers in public"

Charlotte scoffed, clutching the package in her hands. She held on to it like an ant will cling to a piece of sweet. "My man?" She exclaimed.

Raul peered at her I'm disbelief, giving her an I-don't-get-you kind of frown.

"Raul I don't want to get into an argument with you out here," she said. She walked away, leaving Raul to sink into the chaos of her denying him right to his face. Charlotte walked to the other side of the counter. A smile formed on her lips when she caught a glance at Tyler.

"Hey," she muttered ambling close to him. Tyler rolled his eyes when he saw her. He ignored her beacon, turning his attention back to the purse he was checking out on the rack.

"Come on," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "you're so rich now... $150k is a lot. Thank you so much anyway" Tyler stared in disbelief, not because he doesn't know what to DA, but because he doesn't know which emotion to express first.

A line from his recent Will Donald journal skimmed into his mind. "Everyone is like ants - glued to anywhere they can find sweets"

"Tell me.....how did you make that much money?... Won a jackpot?" Charlotte mumbled as she drew invisible lines on Tyler's chest with her finger. "I miss you Tyler"

Tyler shoved her fingers off his chest. Shocked at Tyler's sudden action, Charlotte rolled her eyes in disappointment.

"Ugh... What if I never had money? Huh?" Tyler said. He leaned back for a moment "Charlotte for the records, we are done. You called it quits... You shouldn't be missing a broke ass like me" Tyler said, taking her down memory lane. He tried to walk away but Charlotte gripped him by the arm.

"Don't walk away please"

Tyler let out a sharp breath, staring at her.

"That's him over there" a familiar voice interrupted from behind.

Tyler turned to see three people walking toward them. Raul, the salesperson, and a man wearing a black suit. Tyler and Charlotte exchanged glances as they stared at the approaching trio.

"That's him," Raul said, pointing to Tyler. "I saw him stealing something a few minutes ago"

Tyler's heart pulsed faster.

Charlotte stared at Raul in disbelief.

"Sir" the man in a black suit stepped forward. "I'm the manager here. Just as you heard, this man saw you stealing. We don't condone any form of theft here... We have to search you to ensure you don't have anything that belongs to us on you"

"What?" Tyler questioned. He frowned at Raul and then at the salesperson. You must be joking" Tyler scoffed.

"You're the joker here" the salesperson retorted.

"Really? You guys want to embarrass me... Ugh... This is crazy...."

"Sir, you have to comply, else I'll have to get you arrested," the manager said.

Tyler hunched his head for a split second. "Fine"

"I'd do that myself," the manager said. He moved closer to Tyler. He dipped his hands into Tyler's pocket. He creased his eyebrows when his fingers poked something. He pulled out his hand and a hairpin fell off.