Chapter Six

Tyler only wanted to solidify his curiosity and move back to the side of the countered, but Raul and Charlotte had already caught sight of him. "Hi," he muttered to the shocked couple, even if they tried to disguise their surprise with a scornful smile.

"Loser" Raul muttered. Tyler ambled closer to them with a smile. Tyler seldom smiles, he's that guy who's always sad an introverted, his smile left Raul's heart blaring with questions.

"What is a loser like you doing in this luxury store?" Charlotte said, stepping forward. When Tyler saw Raul, a thought fled into his mind. Charlotte had nothing to do with Raul - the quarterback. After all, he caught her shagging one of the teammates, not Raul.

"I came to shop," Tyler said - teeth tightened.

Raul and Charlotte exchanged glances and they laughed

"Really!" Raul mumbled amidst laughter. "Everyone knows you're a dirty broke ass. This place ain't for people like you. Get the hell out of here"

Tyler stood speechless. He stared at Raul and Charlotte.

"You're degrading our image. We can't be shopping with a broke idiot like you in here. You need to get out" Charlotte yelled.

Her voice made the salesperson turn to see the ongoing scene. The salesperson approached the scene "...ma'am is everything okay?"

"Everything is not. This guy's presence is making us uncomfortable. Throw him out of here" Raul said, shooting Tyler a glare.

"Not like he can afford a pin here" Charlotte whimpered, kissing her tooth loudly.

"Sir, I would appreciate it if you leave. You're creating a scene here" the salesperson said to Tyler.

Tyler didn't utter a word, instead, another chuckle fell off his lips. He turned to Charlotte " I can buy you that purse it looks great on you" Tyler said.

Silence.

Suddenly everyone laughed hysterically as if Tyler had said the most stupid thing of the century.

"You?" Raul snarled. He held a pillar as he staggered backward - laughing.

"This guy is such a clown..... Dude you've got nothing to your name. You're a nobody you can't afford shit in here" Raul said.

"I'm not that guy you use to know. I've got money now...I'm...."

"Hahaha," Charlotte's sudden laughter interrupted Tyler. "....you've got what? She grinned. She stepped into Tyler's space, examining how messy he looked. "Take a damn look at yourself, you look like a piece of shit, and you think you can fool us. Tyler it is over between us. Don't think you can get me back by stalking me. I will file a restraining order against you" Charlotte threatened.

"You know him?" The salesperson said.

"Yeah" Charlotte muttered, shooting Tyler a glare "He's my ex"

"Now you listen to me," Raul said. He stepped closer to Tyler, his breathing hitting the fluffy skin on Tyler's nose. "Stay away from my girlfriend. If you don't, I will chop off your balls and feed them to my dogs. Don't push me. Bastard". Raul nudged Tyler in the chest like he was ready for a physical altercation.

Tyler stepped back, turning to the salesperson. "....how much does it cost?" He asked, pointing to the purse in Charlotte's hands.

Charlotte creased her eyebrows, she hemmed her hands across her chest in outright awe.

"This guy is crazy" Raul muttered. He turned to the salesperson "Do you guys have CCTV cameras here?"

"Yes, sir.

"I think you should go through the footage. This guy must have stolen something"

"I didn't steal anything," Tyler said, his eyes fixated on the purse. "How much is the purse?" He added, biting his lip.

The salesperson remained mute for a few seconds. She stared across the store and back to Tyler. For a moment she thought he was trying to pull a fast one in her, but the serious loom on Tyler's face rang volumes.

Raul's face shrunk into a grimace when the salesperson took the purse from Charlotte. "It costs a hundred and fifty thousand dollars," the salesperson said, stretching the bag to Tyler's face.

"Hey, what do you me a? How could you disrespect my girl like that?" Raul yelled, ambling close to the salesperson, his eyes seething with rage.

"I mean no disrespect, sir. I just want to give this dumb ass a benefit of the doubt, even if I know he can't afford it" the salesperson said.

A satisfactory smile curled on Raul's face. He moved closer to Tyler. "I don't know what stupid game you're playing, but trust me, you will regret it. Charlotte is mine. No amount of stunts and lies and change that" Raul whispered into Tyler's ears. He turned to the salesperson "You'd better call security. They'd be handy because I'm sure this guy is about to steal"

Tyler let out a smile. "Pack the purse, I will pay for it"

He pulled out a card from his pocket. Silence invaded everyone's lips at the sight of the card. "Here," he said, stretching the card to the salesperson.

Raul and Charlotte exchanged glances" That must be fake" Charlotte muttered. Raul's lips pouted in a chuckle and he nodded scornfully.

"I think this is a fake debit card, and it will be declined"

"I think so too!" the salesperson retorted. "a hundred and fifty thousand dollars isn't some change a shabby-looking blockhead can have on a debit card" she added.

Raul kneaded his hands together, staring at Tyler - dazed at what his next move will be. First, it was mere words, but now a damn debit credit. "Hey, this is what you'd do. If this debit card gets declined, you will have to throw him out"

"Yes" everyone chorused in unison.

The salesperson swiped Tyler's debit card on the terminal. At that moment, Raul and Charlotte had their eyes stuck on their card like they were seeing a suspenseful Hollywood blockbuster. Suddenly a 'ding' sound invaded their ears. The payment was successful. Their mouths - bared in shock.

"Wow," the salesperson exclaimed. She packed the purse with a huge smile on her face and handed it to Charlotte.