CHAPTER 7

He hung up and my thoughts started playing games with me. He's your sister's ex - what could he want? He got the big sister - is he after the younger one now? On hell no! He would never. I would never. ~ He showed up in half an hour and I met him outside. "Get in." I looked at his car as if I was worthy of even getting into it. "Where are we going?" "It's a surprise." Okay, so my sister's ex-boyfriend was giving me a surprise. Completely normal. "I don't think so." "Zen. Get in the car." He was being persistent. I got in. He wasn't a stranger or anything so if anything bad was to happen to me, all the money he possessed wouldn't be enough to save him. He drove down town and thirty minutes later, we pulled up to a building with a gate outside. He got out the car and I followed him. He used a key, opened the gate, unlocked the other door and walked in. I followed behind in amazement. This place would make the perfect boutique. Wait? Is he.....is he doing what I think he's doing? Oh HELL YEAH!!!!! "Well, I'm a man of my words," he said as he handed me the keys. "It's all yours." "Evan? Really? All mine?" I looked around with a big smile on my face. The place was huge. "How much is this monthly rent gonna cost?" I knew rents in the city were always high. "Free actually. I purchased this place for you. Now it's up to you to keep it going." "Thank you. Thank you so much." We hugged at that moment. He looked out for me as a little sister. Just like Jasmine did for me all those years ago. My smile faded when I remembered her instantly. Evan had really been trying to get her back but she made it clear she wasn't coming back. "Have you heard from Jasmine?" "I did. We spoke yesterday. I'm flying over there to spend Christmas with Jevan then I have to get back before mom and dad's anniversary." He had it so busy. "I think she'll come back soon Evan. Just keep the faith and don't give up." "Thanks Zenia." We hugged one last time before he left. I stayed behind to start with the cleaning and the early preparations. ______________End Of Flashback "Good morning boss!" A voice startled me from behind. "Good morning Ashley." Ashley was my boutique's assistant and my best friend. She and I attended the same college and had the same passion of going into fashion as well. When I got the boutique, she was the first person and the only person I called to come work with me. She had mad sowing skills and captivating designs that would make princesses melt and gasps with awe. "What's good?" I asked casually. "It's all good. What's good with you?" she returned. "Girl, I have...... " I paused. I didn't have a hangover or a headache anymore. "I had a hangover and a headache," I completed. "Your sister's engagement had you being crazy?" We shared a laugh as I turned on the computers and the security system. I arranged the clothing lines I wanted to have published in the magazines today. I really needed this. It would boost my clothing and wow more customers who were highly interested in fashion. Both males and females. "Girl, Fusion and Luxx are coming in today," I said as I referred to the representatives as the names of their magazines. "Yeah you told me," Ashley responded as she joined me. "What pieces are we going to display and show?" "I think we should showcase our summer collection." "BITCH YES!!" she squealed and ran to the back. The summer collection was one of our best collections yet and we worked really hard on those pieces. Summer was just one week away so we needed that magazine exposure now, if we were going to sell out that collection successfully. Ashley came back with a handful of clothes. I undressed six mannequins and redressed each in a summer collection outfit. Ashley would model the others. She was a very great model and I loved seeing her do her thing. She was always cheerful and never gloomy. I always wondered how someone could be so happy. I never once saw Ashley in a bad mood nor a frown on her face. The boutique's phone rang. I answered it while Ashley got herself ready with Makeup, hairstyles and what not. "Good morning, thank you for calling ZENIA'S, how can I help?" I spoke professionally. "Good morning, I'm calling from Luxx magazine. We'll be sending a representative to you in two hours." "Thank you and we're looking forward to it." "You're welcome. Have a nice day." "You too." ~ "ASHLEY. WE HAVE TWO HOURS!!" I called once the phone was back on the hook. "I'LL BE READY!!" She called back. __________Exactly Two Hours Later A stunning woman, dressed in a black suit with red bottom heels came into the boutique. "Good morning. I'm looking for a Miss. Zenia Blackman." She had an accent. She sounded Russian. "Good morning. I'm Miss. Zenia Blackman," I answered as I went over and offered her a seat.