The mall was chaos incarnate. Escalators groaned under the weight of weekend shoppers, and the smell of pretzel carts and perfume made my head spin. I tugged at my bag strap and groaned.
"Amelia, come on! You're lagging again," Beth called, already weaving through the crowd like a pro.
"I'm conserving my energy," I muttered. "For what? Walking through this human obstacle course?"
Beth laughed. "You'll survive. Now, the dress. The interview. Focus!"
We darted into the first boutique, and my eyes immediately went wide. Racks of dresses shimmered under soft lighting, and mannequins smiled like they knew secrets I didn't. Beth picked up a sleek navy dress, twirling in front of the mirror.
"This is it," she said, beaming. "Perfect fit. Confident. Sharp."
"You look like a boss," I said, smiling genuinely. "No one will dare mess with you."
Beth grinned. "And you'll be my cheerleader, right?"
I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, my phone buzzed. A notification from a fashion magazine popped up—a feature on Steel Corporation's CEO.
My stomach flipped as I looked at the photo of Xavier. Sharp suit, intense gaze, that look that could make someone confess secrets without saying a word.
"Hmm… interesting," I murmured, trying to shake the feeling. "Focus, Amelia. Focus on reality, not magazine fantasy."
Beth noticed my distraction. "Daydreaming about some corporate guy?" she teased, nudging me.
I flushed. "Shut up. I'm not."
Just then, a familiar voice called from behind. "I think you two are lost."
I turned. Kale was leaning against a railing, a playful smirk tugging at his lips, holding two coffee cups like he owned the place.
My stomach tightened—not in the same way as Xavier's picture, but… something else.
"Kale! You scared me," Beth said, taking the coffee. "Thanks, but how did you even find us here?"
"I have my ways," he said lightly, his gaze lingering just a moment too long on me. My eyes flicked away quickly. Couldn't… notice… that.
Beth skipped ahead, leaving me standing awkwardly beside him. "I, uh… I wasn't expecting—" I started, but he cut me off gently.
"You don't have to say anything. Just… thought you might need a pick-me-up for all this walking." He handed me the coffee. His fingers brushed mine, brief and fleeting, but enough to make my pulse race.
I nodded, murmuring a thanks, feeling strangely flustered. Why did this feel… different? I had assumed Kale liked Beth. Why was he acting like… this?
Beth returned, oblivious to the tension. "Well, thank you, mystery caffeine savior!" she said cheerfully, linking arms with me.
Kale's smirk softened into a smile. "Anytime."
As we left the boutique with bags in hand, I couldn't shake the thought of him. Not the flashy, charming Kale I thought I knew—something quieter, more personal. And then, of course, there was Xavier. That photo, that stare… impossible to forget.
By the time we left the mall, I was exhausted, my wallet lighter, and my head full of conflicting thoughts.
But I was determined. Job hunt first. Daydreams… later.