Love for sale - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

The next day Jennie heard a knock on the door but instead of the person she was expecting to see, three people came in with a food trolley and the other things that she need... expensive wine, gourmet food, warm baths. Everything.
Unfortunately, none of it could fill the void inside her without Lisa by her side. Her heart was as empty as the days before she met this cruel yet caring woman. What is this feeling? What is happening to her?
She wanted to ask where Lisa was to all those people in there but she didn't want to embarrass herself. Shouldn't she be the one to know which part of the earth she's in now?
Afternoon came and a new group of people knock on her door.
"Good afternoon, Miss Jennie." the man who greeted her looked more feminine than her. "I'm Charlie and this is my team of experts." he introduced them one by one.
A woman could only dream of the things they offered her. It didn't took long before the whole room was filled with luxury clothes and jewelries. Someone even offered her a foot rub while she decided what kind of shoes she wanted to wear.
"These came from Tiffany's in New York." Charlie stated with a smile while presenting her a teardrop shaped necklace which is adorned by small pieces of diamonds.
"Charlie." she said ignoring the necklace which he was offering to her. "Tell me something about, Lisa."
He looked at the other people he came with and gave a nod. They took the box with jewelries before excusing themselves and went out of the room quietly.
He let a few moments passed before facing her and started talking.
"Ms. Manoban's family owns the Galleria chain of department store. That building beside this one and eleven others." he started.
She knew what Galleria Department Store is. All of it's branches nationwide cater to people with money to burn. You can find all of the expensive things like shoes, clothes, toys and home furnitures inside. It is home to high end fashion luxury brands like Chanel, Dior, YSL, Celine, Christian Louboutin, Hermes, Prada, Armani, Neil Lane, Cartier and many others.
"They are also into real estate and construction so you could only imagine how wealthy her family is." he fixed the way he sits before continuing. "Ms. Manoban is the steady hand that holds the whole conglomerate together. Without her, me and the others working under her wouldn't exist."
"What else?"
"She has a younger sister, Somi." he added.
She avoided his gaze. "Yes, I know Somi."
"Their mother Mrs. Caroline Manoban, is a jetsetter." he continues. "In almost three years of me working as a stylish in Galleria I only saw her once. A lot of people say that she is a bitter and resentful woman."
"D-did you know why?"
"If inside gossip were to be believed..." he says and literally stops midsentence for a thrill. "..her husband fell madly in love with another beautiful woman. It consumed her."
She nodded softly. "How is Lisa as a person?" she took a sip from her tea. "Was she kind to all of you? Is she a snob?"
He smiled. "She's kind and sometimes snob. She is good at what she does. Other than that I've no idea. She rarely exposes her emotions to her people. Who knows you might know her better than I do."
"How about women? D-did she had a lot of girlfriends?"
He nodded abruptly. "Ms. Manoban is every woman's dream." Charlie simply stated like that includes everything she wants to know.
Silence.
"Is there anything else you want to know?" he asks after.
"No." she shook her head. "T-that's all." Charlie looks like he's just trying to be formal with the way he speaks to her. He looks like a lovely character despite his serious facade.
He stood and was about to leave. "Dial 3 if you need me."
"Charlie." she called him.
He turns. "Yes?"
"Aren't you going to ask me what am I to her life?"
He smiled. "If only I was allowed to ask questions in my job, Ms. Kim." he says before opening the door. "Why, darling, you intrigue me!" he continued before leaving.
A smiled formed on her lips too and finally the ice wall between melted.
More days has passed and still she haven't heard anything from that man. He's purposely ignoring her! She knew she had to do something at that point.
"Charlie, I need Lisa's number."
Charlie went to Lisa's house after she called him.
"Over my dead and semi-gorgeous body." he held his head high and jokingly said. She's glad that he already warmed up to her.
"Let me borrow your phone." she was in the act of pulling his phone from his jeans back pocket when he let out a high pitched scream like a little kid, hugging his body like she was going to touch him somewhere private. She laughs.
"Ms. Manoban is going to murder me, mutilate me, chop my head off if--"
"If you won't lend it to me, I'll tell her that you're not taking care of me." she threatens him.
"Oh no, please don't." he responded and handed his phone to her.
She took it and gave him a peck on his cheek. "Thanks." she said and stared at the phone screen. "What's her name here?"
"Hubby." he answered shyly. It's funny because Charlie confessed to her the other day that he's a straight and certified gay, but Lisa is an exception and that they are about to be married if she didn't showed up.
Both of them laugh loudly.
Meanwhile, in Lisa's location...
"Who's this?" she ask as she answer the call. Her voice sounded tired and irritated.
"Lisa, where are you?" says the woman on the other line quickly.
"Jennie?"
"It's good to know that you still remember my name." the kitten responded with an angry tone. "I've been here for a week and you never once even bother to see me nor call me!"
A smile curved into her lips. Jennie sounded so much like a nagging wife. "Honey, I was busy and --"
"This is not what I signed up for, Lalisa Manoban." Jennie reminded her. "I-If you're still not going to come back here today, I'll leave and just go-"
"Who says I'm not coming home?"
"W-where even are you?" Jennie sounds like she's sulking.
"Somewhere over the rainbow." Lisa teased. She's in Jeju-si for an annual conference. "I'll see you in an hour." she ends the call and turns to her secretary. "Siwoo, tell them to ready the chopper."
"Yeh?" the secretary ask astounded. "Hwejangnim, b-but--"
"It's urgent." she cut him off. "I need to be home in an hour."
"Hey, kid! I already told you that you can't sell your flowers here." the man wearing a suit holding a radio on one hand scolded the young boy. The man belongs to the security detail of the condominium complex.
"Ajussi, don't be such a spoilsport." the young boy responded while trying to hide an old looking trolley bag with flowers behind his back incase the security guard decides to grab it from him and toss it. "Would you rather I'll stop selling flowers and just pickpocket like the other kids then?"
Before the security guard could even respond Lisa who had witnessed the whole thing suddenly shows up.
"Hwejangnim..." the guard muttered with a pale expression. He bowed his head and started apologizing. "Joesonghamnida, Hwejangnim--"
"No, it's okay." Lisa faced the young merchant. "Hey, kid give me a dozen of these red roses you are selling." The guard bowed his head before silently taking a few steps back. "Make it quick." she says and check on her wristwatch. "I'm in a hurry."
"Aigoo~" the boy exclaimed like an old man while putting the flowers on top of the folding chair. "Who are these flowers for, Hwejangnim?"
She smiled. "For my grumpy wife."
"Is your wife having mood swings that she's acting crazily?" the boy said with a grin on his face while wrapping the flowers with a glossy paper.
"How did you know?"
"You were looking so nervous." he says while observing her. "You don't look like the type to panic instantly."
She laughs and scratch the back of her head. "Is that so?"
"Aigoo~~" he shook his head while clicking his tongue. "They're really our weakness. So what is the problem?"
"She threaten to leave if I didn't come home." She complain. "Right this moment."
"Maybe she just misses you that much." The boy pick up the bundle of flowers and tied a ribbon around them. "We all are just a simple human being, Hwejangnim. There are women who gets the screws on their head loosen up sometimes but just give them the affection, double the service and they will give us love in return."
Lisa frown at what the young boy was telling her. The young seller looks like he's just about eleven or twelve years old but the way he speaks and move was like he's already an adult.
"Don't be surprised why I know a lot of stuffs regarding relationships." he says like he read what was on Lisa's mind. "I have customers like you almost everyday."
The young boy handed her the bouquet and slightly blew on them like he saw some dirt from the flowers.
"Don't you worry, Hwejangnim, our flowers were tested and proven already." the boy added. "These flowers can tamed even the tigers."
"Really? Thank you. Here." she says and handed him a 50,000 won note. The boy took it and started looking inside his wallet for change. Without waiting Lisa quickly ran towards the building.
"Here's your-- Oh? Jamsimanyo, Hwejangnim!" the boy yelled when he saw that his customer is already away from him. "Your change!"
"Keep the change!" she yelled back.
Lisa was still panting from running when she opens the door to her apartment. She saw how the woman sitting on the couch got startled and turns her face towards the front door to see who came.
Jennie was the first one to smile. She scurried back to her feet and bolted to where Lisa was standing. The moment she reach her place she immediately wrapped her arms around her, to hug her. The type of hug like she love her so much. "Are these flowers for me?"
"Is there any other woman who lives in my house?" Lisa said as she peck her lips with her arms wrapped around her waist.
"Did you miss me?" Jennie ask cutely.
Lisa was about to answer but stops herself. "I'd rather not say it." She says with a smile. "It might boost your ego." she pulled her in for another kiss.
Later, they found themselves inside a jacuzzi with rose petals floating on the water. Lisa's arms were wrapped around Jennie who was leaning her back on her chest, savoring the pleasure that the warm water does on their bodies. It was a heavenly feeling.
"Finally." Jennie sighed. "I'm in my favorite place in the whole world."
"In a bathtub?"
She shook her head and a smile painted on her lips. "In your arms."
The next day, both were inside the kitchen early in the morning. Lisa was currently cooking poached eggs which Jennie had requested.
"Lisa, I have a wish." she started while sitting on a stool chair facing her.
"You have one of my credit cards, right?" Lisa asks absentmindedly as she pours a little amount of vinegar in the boiling water. Then she press a button to reduce the heat before picking up one of the small bowls containing the already cracked open eggs and pours the egg into the water.
"The credit card can't buy it."
"Were you planning to purchase the Eiffel Tower?" Lisa says as she covers the pan before pressing the off button. "They won't really gonna give it to you."
"It's not a material thing."
"Oh." Lisa stops from spreading smashed avocado on the sourdough bread. "Why didn't I think of that."
"You can give it to me, I'm not asking for much."
"Let's hear it then."
"Never abandon me like that for long again." Jennie was pertaining to that when she left her alone for almost a week.
Her eyes became elusive when she saw how Lisa frown while staring at her. "I-if it's only okay with you." she said defensively.
"I didn't abandon you." Lisa denied. "There was an annual conference in Jeju-si that I have to attend that-"
"Did your phone also attended the conference that you never even thought of calling me to ask if I'm doing fine?" she couldn't help but to snap at the tall woman.
Lisa rolled her eyes. "Oh, Lord we're having a fight again." she murmured.
"Are you going to do it or not?"
"Okay, fine."
Jennie smiled. "Good."
After placing everything on the plate, he push it towards her. He also pick one of the yellow tulip from the vase near the counter and put it on the side of her plate.
"Waah~" Jennie exclaimed like a child. "Mashigetta~"
"If you get fat I will abandon you." she joked while wiping her hands on the kitchen towel.
"Ha-ha-ha." she said in mock laughter.
While she was eating, Lisa planted her arms on the table and leans her face near Jennie. A playful smile was drawn in her lips while watching her.
"Wae?" Jennie ask with a frown with a ghost of a smile.
"Let's talk about my side of the bargain."
Jennie took the golden credit card on the table and flashes it infront of Lisa's face. "Here. Buy whatever your hearts desire. Buy a yacht if you want."
Lisa shook her head. "It's not a material thing."
"I knew it. You aren't the type of person who will give something for free." Jennie said in feigned annoyance. "Let's hear it then?"
"It's something you haven't done to me before." Lisa says then wink.
Jennie squinted her eyes at her. "Ugh.. what is it?"
Lisa leans forward until her mouth was closer to Jennie's ear, she whispered something which made the latter's eyes grew big.
"Is that even possible?"
Lisa eyebrows started bobbing up and down. A smirk was plastered all over her face again.