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 a whisper, said, "Why don't

for Debbie. The shop assistant was reduced to silence. 'If I could ask Mr. Huo, I wouldn't have bothered you,

each. Standing at the cashier's desk, she winced at the

that the designer had several international accolades to his name. Even so, Debbie wouldn't have spent so much on them if Carlos hadn't

she came to 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

you ask me to buy these for you? How did

secretaries. Now, since I have a wife, naturally I

witty banter, Debbie didn't say a word in return. Anyway, how

were about to enter the elevator, they noticed a commotion in front of a shop. Intuitively, they both stopped and turned

seen arguing with a cleaning lady, who was in

going on for a while, but what irritated Debbie was that no one had cared enough to

group. I'll catch up with you later if you don't mind." She let go of his hand, and headed towards the

sorry. I didn't do it

in front of the young couple with her hands in the pockets of

her curtly and demanded, "Who the

I am. Just tell me what this is about," she replied

dirtied his

if they start peeling? Can you even afford the compensation?" the

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

young man snorted contemptuously, "Wipe? Are you deaf? You soaked my shoes

shoes are ruined, I have to get new ones. She should pay for them of course." "How much are your

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

Debbie was amused by the stupid look on the young

pulled her sleeve and said, "Miss, you don't

to look at her and

the card Carlos had given her, a paltry eight hundred and thirty dollars was not a problem, but it was a lot for