Gift shop

"Real friends are the ones that walk in when the rest of the world walks out."-Walter Winchell.

"Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly yet sadly on the heart."

-Washington Irving.

"The real test of friendship is can you literally do nothing with the other person? Can you enjoy those moments of life that are utterly simple?"

-Eugene Kennedy.

Hi guys, trust you all are doing good.

I will be dedicating this chapter to Sweetjamie32 asamaoh dammie201 favvyweezy PerryOpe Tejiri2002 Wattpad oa_judith Jkaloko

This book hit 16k reads yesterday, I'm super duper excited. You guys make me happy without trying so hard.

What do you think should be the song suggestions to this chapter?

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A week has passed by. It's a day to my parents' anniversary, yet I'm still unable to find the perfect gifts for them. Mike and Eric will be here any time soon to help out. While Ian and Amelia went on a date.

So many activities have been going on in this house. Mom has visited the spa thrice this week. Dad has tested multiple suits this week. Granny has been busy gisting all week with Mrs Bailey as they helped decorate and prepare for the anniversary. Nonna sponsored their trip to Italy for another honeymoon as soon as they conclude the anniversary.

A Sophia Castello from Italy has been called to handle all food preparations since she is one of the best chefs Italy can boast of. The decorations and designs will be handled by a team of Indian decorators who claim to be one of the best in the world. Ulysses Klaw, one of the best event planners in New York is handling the entire planning of the party.

School has been fine the previous week with Jess avoiding me as always. Nate has withdrawn to her shell. I can't tell if it is due to shame or something but it is good to be free from the psychotic queen bee and live like a normal student once again.

Loud voices began arguing in the compound and I knew that my best friends were around.

"Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary." Mike's loud voice reberavated as he kissed my mom's hands.

"Thank you very much, Mike. How are your parents dear?" Mom asked

"Very well ma'am."

"You look ever stunning and beautiful just like the billboard displays you. Mrs Gray." Eric smiled as he hugged my mom.

"And you are the ever-charming young man, just like your father." Mom laughed.

"He really is a chip off the old block isn't he?" Dad chipped in.

"I sure am. Congrats once again on your anniversary. I hope there will be lots of food available?" Eric grinned while my mom laughed and staggered.

"Definitely. Now if you don't mind, we need to be on our way. Have fun guys." Mom waved them off and entered her pink Lamborghini.

"Now that you both are done. Why don't you bring your asses right up." I hollered from the window.

"Isn't that the voice of the tomboy?" Mike asked.

"I don't think so. Sounds like a goat bleating." Eric laughed.

"I'm right here idiots. And you will pay for calling me a goat." I screamed again from the window.

"Oh! There she is." Eric pointed at my window while I shook my head at their stupidity.

"Now that you have your senses back. Why don't you come upstairs immediately."

As soon as the boys entered my room, I pulled their ears while they groaned in pain.

"Ow!" Eric yelled.

"Let go! tomboy," Mike screamed.

"What was that for?" They chorused.

"That was for being plain stupid and referring to me as a goat."

"Oh!" They nodded their head in agreement. Mike walked towards my sofa and sat on it while Eric jumped on my king-sized bed.

"So, back to why we are here today. My parents anniversary is tomorrow and I can't seem to figure out what to give to them." I collapsed on the bed and waited for their response.

"Give me to your mom. She will definitely appreciate me." Eric wiggled his brows with a weird smile on his face.

"Sorry, she doesn't accept cheap gifts." I wiggled my brows too and gave a sheepish smile.

"Why don't you book them a spa appointment?" Mike cracked his knuckles and for a moment he looked serious.

"As brilliant as that suggestion is, I hate to break it to you that mom has been to the spa thrice this week. What good will one more appointment do to her?"

The room remained silent as everyone began pondering what best present to gift to billionaire parents.

"Your bed is so comfortable and huge, perks of being a billionaire child. Let's just wrap this up and let me sleep."Eric yawned and purred like a cat on my bed.

"You will be laying six feet under the ground if you don't stand up this minute." I threatened and brought out a belt. Eric jumped from the bed and sat on Mike on the couch.

"Mmm! You are so warm." Eric snuggled closer to Mike.

"Get the hell away from me idiot." Mike pushed him away.

"Guys, time is tickling. What do I get for my parents?"

"Isn't there a gift shop around? We should be able to find something for- ow." Mike squealed in anger and glared at a smiling Eric.

"Leave me the hell alone Eric." He hollered and tried to distance himself from him.

"I'm not gonna stop poking you until you give me some attention." Eric grinned while I facepalmed.

"How did I manage to be friends with you again?" Mike scratched his head in thought.

"You fell in love with my personality on the first day you saw me."

"Ew! Just stay away from me, idiot." Mike warned as he poked Eric's forehead.

"That reminds me guys, there is a huge gift shop nearby. It is only three streets away." I snapped my finger.

"Good, then we are closer to our goals. Let go, guys." Eric said energetically as he headed downstairs.

My hair, though a tangled mane, looked like a rat nest. I picked up a black face cap and covered my hair that looked like a disaster.

"Wouldn't you comb that disaster you call a hair?" Mike asked.

"I will do that later. The face cap makes me look presentable."

"One of the huge differences between you and Jess. All the same, let go." He said and led the way.

I jumped the stairs in two's till I hit the floor and head out of the house with Mike and Eric's loud voice disrupting the neighbourhood.

"May I know where you are heading to miss?" Our chief security officer asked.

"Don't have to, I'm not going far." I smiled.

He chuckled. "When Mrs Abigail asks of you, where do I tell her you have gone?"

"Few streets away, I needed to get something."

"Why don't you send a maid or guard." He asked with creased forehead showing different horizontal lines as they all met at different angles.

"Because I want to run this errand myself. It is personal. Besides what harm will a cool evening walk with the natural breeze hitting my skin do?"

"What about the Air conditioner in the house, you can increase it to the level of air you want."

"Do not piss me off, am warning you." My voice rose high as anger finally overwhelmed me.

"I'm sorry ma'am, am only doing my job." He cowered and pleaded with his head bowed.

"It's fine, just open up."

I watched him scamper and hurriedly typed in the lock combination before opening the door.

The sun sank low in the sky as it displayed its natural warm and earthly sunset glow that cascaded down on us. The light of the day drained away, giving way to the velvety dark of the night. The air was damp and cool as it smelled faintly of cars exhaust fumes. Goosebumps were on my arms from the evening chill and I instantly regretted not bringing a scarf or jacket to cover my arms since I'm only clad in a tank top and sweat pants.

As we walked towards the gift shops, I stared behind my shoulders repeatedly as I felt eyes burrowing my back. I quickened my pace and the guys struggled to catch up with me.

"Are you okay?" Mike asked as he rested his arm on my shoulders.

"Sure, I just felt like we were been watched."

"But no one is around, we are the only ones walking around in this estate." Eric countered as he stared around in confusion.

"It's fine. That is the gift shop there." I nudged my head in the direction as we neared our destination.

The gift shop is huge and filled with a lot of people. A statue of Santa Claus dancing to Christmas songs, wiggling his bum and decorated in Christmas themed colours fascinated little kids as they dragged their parents towards it. A small cute girl with pigtails hair cried loudly when her mother took her to the statue.

A bell tinged when we opened the door. The inside is cool with pink and white as the interior colour. A shelf contained customized gift cards, business cards and greeting cards. Other gifts items occupied different shelves as we began roaming around looking for what best to shop.

A short girl with pale skin and striking gorgeous green eyes walked towards us with a bright smile plastered on her face.

"Hello, I'm Amber, how can I be of help to you?"

"Hi, am Anna, and this is Eric and Mike. We are here to get gifts for my parents anniversary."

Her smile grew bigger. "Love is meant to be celebrated. Come with me while I show you one of the best gifts to present to your parents." She bowed and led us to another room. The room is smaller and stuffier but it is still cool with white and pink as the major colour.

A lot of kids toys decorated the shelf. She finally left us towards a section that has a placard. Celebration of love is boldly inscribed on it.

"So, what do you have in mind to give them?" Amber asked. her green eyes glowed in the dull room with no sunlight to illuminate it.

"I was thinking, make up set for mom, and the latest designer suit for dad."

"I don't think your parents will appreciate that since those are common material things they can afford themselves," Amber said as her eyes scanned the room.

"I'll be right back. You can scan the shelf for whatever interests you." She nodded and left.

"Anna, will you come with me to the cinema next weekend. I got a ticket for two and I don't have a partner." Mike probed, scratching his neck.

"I'll be heading to the gym. Why don't you ask Eric?"

"Gym? Let me guess." He tapped his chin and stared into space. "You found a new dude?"

"Something like that."

"Omg! So what do you plan to do with Ralph?" Eric asked wide-eyed.

"I don't know, to be honest. I like both of them." I shrugged my shoulders and walked towards a shelf while they both followed me like lost puppies.

"So you are in a love triangle?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, something like that." I picked a DKNY golden delicious million-dollar fragrance bottled perfume and tried to sniff it.

"What if things get out of control? You know I can cry with you,.laugh with you. But if you jump off a cliff, I will only tell you to flip." Eric grinned.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"Let me guess, most probably." He wiggled his brow while I facepalmed.

"So Eric, will you go with me to the cinema next weekend?" Mike tapped his back.

"Why don't you go on your knee and ask as if you want to propose." He countered.

"What, are you stupid, I'm not proposing it is just a friendly outing."

"Sorry. I'm having a headache next weekend!" Eric snapped.

"Fine!" Mike bent low on one knee and rephrased. "Eric, will you go out with me next weekend?"

"Aww!" Amber clapped as she walked in on them.

"Awn! So sweet." Eric sniffled. "Thanks, but no." He shrugged his shoulders.

Before anyone could spell Jack Robinson. Mike chased Eric and they began running around like Tom and Jerry.

"So, you can gift them a hamper. We have specially made ones for couples. Wine set for two, they can use it to toast at their honeymoon. Then a mug with a customized love quote that says I hate nothing about you. That should do the magic." Amber grinned.

"I think that is a brilliant idea," I said excitedly.

I bought huge panda teddy bears for mom and an expensive perfume set for them too. I hope they appreciate my gifts.

I retired for bed tiredly and stared at the canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness, I roll on my sides searching the room like a lost girl looking for my star of direction.

Restlessness clings to my shoulders even though my fatigued body demands the closure of my droopy eyes. The excitement of the next day served as caffeine to my system.

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I woke up early in the morning, as my mood matches the beautiful event of today. Not only do I look happy, but even the maids smiled and danced happily as they worked eagerly.

Mom's room is filled up with her friends and the best of the best makeup artists and hairstylists in New York as they designed her in their respective definition of Cinderella and perfection.

Dad room is filled with his male friends and childhood friends as they drank alcohol and discussed business deal while dad dressed up.

It looks like they are celebrating their wedding again. The day seemed simple and pure yet excitement seeped furiously into the pores of everyone present. The joy of the day brought soft happiness, a sense that is akin to gratitude, awe, and love.

My parents' pictures graced everywhere on the internet with different lovely captions as people extended their greetings and congratulatory messages to the powerful billionaire family in New York. I wasn't spared as well as my phone buzzed every second with different tags from different celebrities, friends, well-wishers and family.

I dressed in a matching blue gown mom chose for us as we looked more like sisters than mother and daughter.

I picked my phone to put it on silence mood when I got Luke's congratulatory message which he never failed to include that he can't wait to see me in some few hours

I went with nonna Abigail on her latest Ferrari. She is also clad in a beautiful floral Italian print gown that was tailored smartly and stopped right below her knee.

Billboards on the road displayed pictures of my parents. As the whole world celebrated with us. We got to the event centre within half an hour and as soon as the driver got down to open the car, flashes of camera blinded us and paparazzi crowded us with their microphone and camera as they tried to interview us. Bodyguards protected us and guarded us inside the hall.

The hall is huge and filled to the brim with flowing gowns and polished shoes as they spun around the ballroom in waltz.

Beautiful gold and blue balloons adorned every corner of the hall as wealthy folks chatted away with their plus one, flutes of champagne in their manicured hands like a perfected skill.

A speech boomed over the crowd, strident timbre of the voice, a cacophony of applause and cheering, whooping, hollering, clapping, palpable excitement buzzed through the charged illuminated air. Infectious grins, strangers shaking hands, celebrities taking pictures with their fans, patting one another on the back, spontaneous outpouring of emotions. It is such a wonderful day.

My parents later came in appearing stunning, as mom posed in front of the camera in several outfits. Her face depicted pure joy and happiness. Twenty years anniversary is no child play.

Mom beckoned on me to come take pictures with her. Her name up artists fluttered around her butterflies as she kept retouching the make up every minute.

I sighted Luke, he looked ravishing and great as he appeared in a turquoise coloured tuxedo while he gave me his wrapped present to give to my parents.

Mom and dad loved my gifts as they toasted to a happy night and urged the guests to enjoy the party.

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I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing. Expect another update tomorrow.