Free Web NovelChapter 121: Independent (1)
The next day, Scarlet took Alana to the hotel as promised, showing her around how it all operated with all the different employees. Detailing what she did to keep everything in order. Now the two were on a break for Scarlet to spoil Alana.
"I have a newfound respect for you, Scarlet. I understand perfectly why you are so busy and that was only one business. How do you take care of it all?" Alana wondered as found it hard to remember everything about the hotel.
"I am just used to it. My parents prepared me for it well before I took after my father," Scarlet replied.
"It has made me realise that running a business might not be for me. I am years behind in understanding how it all works. I was prepared for a life of being pampered and whatever comes with the man that I marry," Alana said, stuck at a dead end.
Now Alana didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life.
"I wouldn’t recommend that you start a business right now, but it would be good for you to work around in one. You can work for me but before then, there is much for you to learn before I hire you. Family names don’t mean much with who works for me. You must be able to get the work done," said Scarlet.
"I will give it my best," Alana said, willing to try. "I can be your helper. Father would be so upset if he knew that I left the palace to work. I think that my mother would be a little bit proud of me. I will repay you for what you buy today."
"You don’t need to. I won’t miss the money I spend today," Scarlet answered. She had no one else to use the money on and rather than let it sit to collect dust, she would use it on herself and Alana. "Study hard and I will consider that your payment."
"Very well. We might create a bit of a stir once they see us together. Are you fine with being in the paper tomorrow?" Alana asked, smiling while Scarlet sighed.
"I am always in it so this will not be any different. It should be known by now that you are not in the palace. I don’t know what story they might give as a reason. He’s a little too quiet," Scarlet said, wary of what Luke was planning.
The king was up to something. Scarlet was still suspicious of the invitation which Ian also received. Alana was yet to receive one so Scarlet knew there would have been trouble awaiting her if she accepted it.
"He’s not going to attack you. He goes for the people around you. It is why I no longer have a maid that I like around me. You should warn Ian about Luke. Right now, it is safe to believe that Ian might be the way for Luke to upset you," said Alana.
Scarlet thought it was possible. Luke wouldn’t pick a fight with her so he would do it with Ian. Maybe look to get Ian from her side or did the fool plan to invite Jack to the palace to place her in an awkward situation? A repeat of the ball when Beth fell before her.
"We have arrived."
Scarlet stopped thinking of Luke thanks to Alana’s announcement. She looked out the automobile window at the shop many women visited because of the unique styles.
Dawson opened the door for the two and offered his hand to Alana.
"Dawson, since when am I not your priority?" Scarlet questioned, watching as he helped Alana out first. She had noticed a weird interaction between the two as Alana failed many times to thank him for lifting her trunk out of the palace.
"She was closest to the door," Dawson replied.
"If you say so," Scarlet said, accepting his hand to get out. "Nervous?" Scarlet inquired as Alana wasn’t used to being out of the palace. All that the royals needed was taken to the palace.
Alana took a deep breath. "I can handle it. I am used to the stares."
"Just in case," Scarlet said, linking arms with Alana. "I shall be right beside you."
"Thank you," Alana whispered. She was used to the stares when the palace had guests but walking around the town was a different experience. She felt a bit more exposed.
Dawson stood to the right to try to block Alana from the eyes of those who noticed that the princess was present.
Alana’s nervousness went away when they entered the shop which wasn’t full of many women. Just a few that she recognised.
"Where should we start? What do you need?" Scarlet asked, looking around for what she thought would suit Alana. ’This is lovely," she said, taking Alana toward a yellow dress on display. "It suits Castro royalty."
"Why can’t I have that one? Do you think that I cannot afford it?"
Scarlet stopped looking at the dress after hearing a familiar voice. Why of all days did she have to be near Beth?
Alana’s attention went to the loud conversation and saw the woman she recognised to be in the scandalous affair with Jack. "Should we leave?"
"Why would we leave when we have bought nothing?" Scarlet replied, turning her attention back to the dress.
While Lockwood was a large town, it wasn’t large enough for Scarlet to go on forever without seeing Beth again. It was only the places she owned that Scarlet didn’t need to worry about seeing Beth and when she was in town, Scarlet didn’t feel the need to run.
"Lady Collins, it is good to see you again. What can I help you with?" Asked Elle, one of the workers.
"I would like this one," Scarlet pointed to the yellow dress. "It needs to be altered for the princess so you will need to take her measurements. What else is new?" ƒгeewebnovёl.com
Elle clapped her hands, excited as she knew she was going to have a good day with Scarlet here to spend money. "You are in luck as we have new designs from the madam. Most will suit you and the princess."
"Bring all of them," said Scarlet.
"Certainly. Please take a seat while I gather what we have," Elle replied. She would need to have the other young women working to join her in showing Scarlet.
Not too far away from Scarlet and Alana, Beth noticed the women moving around fast as though someone important had come.
"What are they doing?" Beth questioned the woman she considered to be a fool. ’They should have moved like that when I came in."
"I do not know-"
Beth pushed the dress she wanted into the woman’s arms. "You don’t seem to know anything. I shall find out myself. And ask if the price can be lowered for the future wife of Jack Humphrey."
’I shouldn’t have spent what he gave me so fast,’ Beth thought.
Just when she was on the last of the money Jack gave her to spend for the last few days, Beth found a dress that she loved but she was short on the money she needed. The only options were to have the price lowered as a special customer or to send back something she had bought earlier today but that would be embarrassing.
Beth walked around the shop, looking for who was present to cause such a commotion. She needed friends who matched her status. "I should- Why is she here?"
