True Love Waits

Chapter 63 Take Off Your Shoes

Watching her leave, Carlos wondered, 'I said I was sorry and I would like to make amends for my past mistakes. Why is she still mad?'

Dissatisfied with how things went, Carlos quickened his pace and caught up with Debbie in the hallway. He startled her when he held her by the hand all of a sudden. Forcefully, she tried to wrench her hand free, but he tightly held on, until they were in the elevator. "You haven't done your part yet. Now, I'll hang around to give you company while you do it," he declared.

"Part? What part?" She was confused.

But Carlos didn't answer, as he quietly led her to the ground floor of Dubhe Building. When they came to a shop for men's fancy underwear, Debbie understood what he had meant by her part. She had passed by that shop without going in that morning. Now with Carlos at her side, she didn't have a choice but to enter.

Some shop assistants trotted over to them when they noticed Carlos. "Good afternoon, Mr. Huo," they greeted in unison.

"Welcome, Mr. Huo," added one of them, a lady, apparently in charge of her colleagues.

Carlos nodded at them before he took Debbie further inside. "Go find me something you like. I'll wait here," he urged. Then he turned around, found the nearest empty chair and sat down to wait for Debbie. Almost immediately, a shop assistant beaming a smile served him a cup of tea. Between sips, he kept himself busy, reading a catalog of products.

Lost in a sea of expensive men's underwear, Debbie smiled awkwardly at the shop assistants who were guiding her around. To put herself at ease, she wandered around briefly, pretending to be at home.

A pair of red briefs caught her eyes. The embarrassment on her face was gone. She snickered and went to Carlos. "Will you wear anything I buy?" she inquired.

Carlos raised his head from the catalog. Although Debbie tried to look calm, her eyes betrayed her. To the mischievous look in her eyes, he sighed. "Yes, I will," he agreed.

His affirmative reply almost made her jump with cheer. It took a bit of effort to restrain her emotions as she turned. But before she could take two steps, Carlos added, "Anything but briefs. Also, I hate red." Bummer. His response was like a wet blanket. It was the red briefs that she was considering buying him. With her plan ruined, Debbie pouted sullenly. "OK, I got it," she said.

Then she went back and wandered from section to section until she saw a pair of black boxers. Briefly, she picked it up and looked at Carlos who was quietly seated on the sofa. 'Not good enough for him.' She pursed her lips and put it down.

Next, she picked up a gray pair, looked at the man, and shook her head again. 'Not good enough either.'

On careful observation of how Carlos and Debbie communicated, the shop assistants all wondered who the girl was. One of them was so curious she couldn't help asking Debbie, "What's your relationship with Mr. Huo?"

a friendly smile and lowering her voice almost

to silence. 'If I could ask Mr. Huo, I wouldn't have bothered

a long time of wandering and comparison, finally, Debbie settled on three pairs of boxers which came at a good ten thousand dollars each. Standing at the cashier's desk, she winced at the price. Coming into the shop, she had not expected she'd end up spending such a ridiculous sum on a mere three goddamn

designer had several international accolades to his name. Even so, Debbie wouldn't have spent so much

Carlos with the bag. Without a word, he put down the catalog and stood up, looking pleased. He took the bag from Debbie with one hand and held her hand with the other. Together, they walked off to their car, arm in arm. A peaceful

after Carlos, Debbie asked, "Why did you ask me to buy these for you? How did

to have them delivered to the villa or send my secretaries. Now, since I have a wife, naturally I should leave this kind of

in the mood for his endless witty banter, Debbie didn't say a word in return. Anyway, how was she supposed

commotion in front of a shop. Intuitively, they both stopped and

couple were seen arguing with a cleaning lady, who was in

must have been going on for a while, but what

up with the group. I'll catch up with you later if

approached, their voices became clearer. "I'm very sorry. I didn't do it

standing in front of the young couple

looked at her curtly and demanded, "Who the

doesn't matter who I am. Just tell me what this is about,"

I accidentally dirtied his

shoes are all wet. What if they start peeling? Can you even afford

lady took two steps backward with fear and apologized again. "I'm sorry, son. I didn't see you. I'll...I'll wipe them

you deaf? You soaked my shoes and ruined

get new ones. She should pay for them of course." "How much are your shoes?" Debbie asked with a sneer. "Eight hundred and thirty dollars!" the young man answered proudly with his

lady, expecting to see her scared face. Indeed, the cleaning lady got

the young man's face. "I'll pay for her,"

cleaning lady pulled her sleeve and said, "Miss, you

her and smiled, "It's okay.

her, a paltry eight hundred and thirty dollars was not a problem, but it was a lot for a cleaning lady who made only two or