Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Agatha went to the mall to meet Sebastian. They can see each other at night in the review center. However, Agatha wanted to meet him right away to talk about her dad’s case.

While waiting for Sebastian, Agatha felt bored, and she strolled around the mall.

She went to the department store and then looked for some clothes that she wanted to give as gifts to the children in the orphanage. She didn't buy it yet, but she already checked the prices and calculated how much she needs.

"I'll buy those after my payday," she promised.

After visiting the children’s section, she went to look for her own T-shirt. She was simply checking each shirt, touching them to see if it was worth buying. She felt someone is following her, and it is one of the salesladies, who probably think she'll steal a piece.

She never experienced this when she was still rich.

"Wait a minute."

Agatha looked back at the saleslady who was staring at her with hostility.

"Are you calling me?" Agatha pointed at herself.

"Miss," the saleslady called her in a dry voice. She approached Agatha with a dress in her hand. "I'm afraid to say this but you need to pay for this."

"Huh? F-For what?"

The saleslady pointed to the ripped part of the dress she was holding before. Agatha recognized the dress because she had checked it before. But it was the first time she saw the ripped part on the clothing!

"I saw you touched this a while ago. This is a very expensive dress, so you should take the responsibility, Miss."

Agatha snorted before she glared at her. "Excuse me? Are you saying that I should pay for that? But I wasn't the one who ripped it. I swear."

The saleslady sighed.

"I'm really sorry, Ma'am. But you were the only one who roamed around this dress. The last time I checked this, it was still okay."

"Woah," Agatha huffed. "How can you accuse me without proper evidence? I did touch it, but it wasn’t me. If it was really my fault, then I will pay you. But it’s not the case.”

It didn’t take that long before the crowd started to flock around them.

"Miss, calm down. We can settle this in a gentle way."

"But you're accusing me. I already told you that it wasn't me. How many times should I say this?"

'And I also can't afford to pay for that expensive dress,' Agatha continued inwardly.

Even if she has the money to pay, she won't dare accept the accusation just because she looks penniless. She promised she’d fight for her rights until the end, and without paying of course.

"Miss, I know that you're sad about this," the saleslady said. "But this is an inevitable accident when someone should take responsibility. We can't settle this if you keep on lying."

"BUT I AM NOT LYING. You can call your manager if you want."

"Then, follow me and let's go to..."

"How much is it?" someone from the crowd asked.

In the middle of the spectators, a man stepped up. Agatha, the saleslady, and the people looked at the man with a broad shoulder, a small face, blonde hair, sharp jaws, and brown eyes.

Agatha had no idea who he was. But the saleslady recognized the man.

"How much is the dress?" he asked.

The saleslady's face turned very pale.

"I'll pay for all of the dresses in the display, including the ripped dress on your hand. So how much is it?" the silly billionaire inquired.

“NO,” Agatha declined.

Everyone looked at Agatha, including the rich man.

“Mister, you don’t need to pay it. If you do, how can I clear my name? I decline your help.”

The man’s mouth opened and closed several times, as if he wanted to argue, but he changed his mind.

Grinning, he looked at the saleslady.

“Miss. This woman said that wasn’t her mistake that the dress was ripped. What about checking the CCTV?” he suggested.

The saleslady could feel the keen edge of his voice which made her shoulder stiffen.

“All right, S-Sir. I will check the CCTV.”

They checked the CCTV. And when they did, they found out that the person who accidentally ripped the dress wasn’t Agatha but a little kid who was roaming around the department store. The mother of the kid didn’t notice that her son accidentally ripped an expensive dress.

And because the kid was so small, even the saleslady didn’t see him. And that’s why she accused Agatha.

“I’m really sorry, Miss!” the saleslady begged for Agatha’s forgiveness. “Please forgive me!”

Agatha was mad. She doesn’t want to forgive the lady. However, she was merciless enough to give her a second chance. However…

“This is something that you can’t fix with a simple apology,” the mysterious man, who helped Agatha, said.

Agatha looked at the man. The way he speaks shows he has authority over the saleslady.

‘Is he a manager?’

No.

Agatha knew a manager would never buy everything in the shop.

“I am sorry, President,” the saleslady cried.

‘President?!’ Agatha shouted in her head.

“You accused an innocent customer and you demanded her to pay. That’s not a good ethic. Give your resignation letter this afternoon.”

“S-Sir! Please!”

The man pulled Agatha away from the shop and from the crowd.

Agatha was speechless as she followed the man.

She only saw this kind of situation in movies or in novels she had read before!

The weirdest part is that after settling everything, the man brought Agatha to an ice cream shop and bought ice cream for her.

Agatha stared at the scream, and then to the man sitting across from her seat.

‘Why did he buy an ice cream for me?’

“Miss Agatha,” the man spoke. “Have some ice cream. It will cool your head.”

Although the shop prepared the ice cream, Agatha would not eat something from a stranger.

“Are you the owner of the department store?” she asked.

The man smiled.

“Let me introduce myself. I am Mr. Lawrence Lozeno. The owner of…”

Before he could complete his words, Agatha butted in.

“The owner of this mall.”

Lawrence pointed at her as he nodded his head.

“Exactly. How did you know?”

“Everyone knows your name,” Agatha said. Her face looks unbothered, but deep inside, she was really shocked.

The young mall owner chuckled at the way Agatha recognized him apathetically.

“I thought you would get shocked,” Lawrence said, sighing.

“I was. REALLY SURPRISED,” Agatha said. She cleared her throat and asked another question, “Mr. Lozeno. I am so thankful for your help. But there’s something I couldn’t put in a puzzle.”

“Then, ask me anything. I will try my best to answer you, Miss.”

“Why did you offer to pay the dress when the saleslady accused me?”

Lawrence answered her right away. “Because you don’t have money to pay for it.”

‘Is he mocking me?!’ Agatha shouted internally.

“That’s really confusing, Sir,” Agatha uttered. “If I really ripped the dress, it’s odd that you, the owner of the mall, should pay for it.”

“Why not? You will be my wife in the future. So, my money is all yours.”

Agatha’s jaw dropped.

Is this how super-rich people confess to someone they fell for at first sight?

If it is, then the world must be crazy.

‘I met a psycho. The owner of this mall is a psycho,’ Agatha chanted these words before she stood up.

“I am sorry, Sir. Thank you again, but I need to go now. My friend is waiting for me. Bye.”

She hurriedly left the shop without eating the ice cream.

Lawrence, a bachelor, followed Agatha with his gaze until she completely disappeared.

He looked back at the untouched ice cream.

“I am not joking though,” he uttered before letting a small giggle.