"Jess, my dear!"

An Asian woman with a bob haircut in her thirties, but with the body of someone in her twenties, welcomed her as soon as she stepped into one of her favorite stores on Rodeo Avenue.

She pulled her behind a thick Victorian curtain that revealed a private room for all the exclusive customers of the famous boutique.

The room looked nothing like a clothing store. It looks like a salon of the Victorian era where women had attendants who catered to their needs.

Jess was led to a small sofa and a woman dressed in a black dress placed a glass of pink champagne to the table next to her chair.

"What's the occasion?" Florence surveyed her looks while she slumped on the chair. She grimaced in disapproval at her outfit.

"I was at school," she explained the clothes she was wearing.

"I see. You are still playing the life of a commoner." she clapped her hands and two women emerged from one of the walls pushing inside the room a clothing rack full of beautiful clothes.

Jess loves this store because she can get any piece of clothing from the latest collection from any couturier without being seen in their stores. Florence's clients are women who would rather get the latest piece of a collection delivered to their homes and not do the actual shopping.

Most women love shopping for beautiful things, but there are some groups of women who don't want the tedious task of shopping or rather the idea that they have to fall in line like everybody else for something they want.

And that's where Florence entered.

Florence provides everything they need and desire without them having to lift a finger. Florence, have them sit down in a chair, sipping a glass of champagne and nibbling on some cheese you can't find in the market.

Meanwhile, a display of haute couture specifically curated for every client of Florence, pieces of jewelry, the latest collection of shoes and bags, and even men -- parade in front of them.

Yes, men! Women attend events and some dress looks better with a handsome-looking gentleman on the side. In those instances, service can be provided.

Jess is not one of those customers. She is a patron of Florence only for two reasons; she does not want to be seen shopping, and she enjoys her company.

"I will have dinner with a man who seethes my blood and my lust, however, I don't want him to have me, but I want him to fall for me."

"Perfect!" She clapped her hands and held her perfectly manicured pinkie in the air. "I have the right dress for the occasion."

"Then, I'll be in your care," she said, sipping the champagne as Florence gave orders to her assistant on what she required.

"I'll have you begging on the floor tonight, Tiefenbacher," she whispered under her breath, smirking with malice.

"Would you like to have someone help you with it?" she asked for the second time to make sure that Jess doesn't anybody to help her get ready.

"No, I'll be fine. The dress that you pick is enough. I don't need some professional to do my hair and make up."

As they said goodbye, they kissed each other cheeks, well, the air actually while they turned their cheek to each other in a pretense of a kiss.

You don't kiss someone's cheek, for you don't want to ruin their makeup that has been applied professionally. It doesn't look like they are wearing makeup, but they do.

"Let me know what happened on your date."

"I will." she waved from the window of her car. She thanked the store assistant that put her dress in the backseat of her car before she pulled out of the parking lot.

--

"Why do you keep on looking at your watch?" he asked with curiosity. Noah is someone who always has a detached expression on his face, but today, he looks agitated. He couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing. If you have nothing else to say, I'll go ahead," he told him as he stood up from the chair. Signaling Antonion to settle their bill.

"Come on, it's not every day that we meet," he hugged Noah's waist, begging him to spend more with him.

Noah pushed Stefan's head away from him. "Let go! You…"

"No! Take me with you," he tightened his grip on Noah's waist.

The situation had already caught the attention of the other customers of the restaurant. Noah looked at his stupid cousin and glanced at his watch again. He would like to go home, take a shower and change clothes for his date with Jess.

'Can he consider it as a date?' He was thinking while pushing Stefan which is now like an octopus clinging on him.

"Damn it, Stefan, I don't have time for your silly games!" he smacked his head hard enough for him to let go.

"You use your hands on me just like my father." he pouted at him like a child.

He wondered how his twenty-three-year-old cousin could act like a spoiled brat towards him worst than his own daughter. And yet, he couldn't get truly mad at him whenever he acted like this since he knew how he was abused by his father when he was a kid.

As far as he could remember, Stefan, followed him like an abandoned puppy. This young man worshipped him as if he was some kind of a hero, even when he wasn't all that proud of himself.

He watched him with adulation all his life. To the point that all their relatives called Stefan his first child. Because of this, he felt a certain responsibility to watch over him.

Now, despite being an adult, he still behaved like an irritating kid with him, particularly when he wanted something.

He made the mistake of making him curious. For he has an obnoxious tendency of wanting to know everything about his life. When it comes to something involving him, he is worse than a clingy girlfriend.

"I've got a date, so stop this nonsense before I lose my patience."

"Oh, you are dating now! I would like to meet her." he turned to Antonio and threw his car's key. "Bring home my car I'm going with Noah."

Noah watched Stefan with exasperation who already made himself comfortable inside his car. He looked at his watch again, he really didn't have the time for this.

Jess would kill him if he's late for their date!