Page 56 of Mayhem and Minnie

She gives me a shy smile.

There. Smart girl.

We browse around the sneaker selection for a while, but Minnie doesn’t know what to choose.

“What do you like?” I ask her eventually.

“I like white. And red.”

“What type of shoe do you like?” I amend with a laugh.

Her brows furrow.

“I just want something comfortable.”

Right at that moment, a sales associate clears her throat as she comes to our side.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” she asks with a sickeningly sweet smile.

Despite the fact that we’re looking at the female section of shoes, she’s not even looking at Minnie or directing the question toward her. Instead, she’s trying to work her wiles on me.

Ah, she probably thinks I’m the one paying, so she needs to be in my good graces.

Alas, I don’t like the way she’s ignoring my little heathen. She’s the customer after all.

“What do you have in size five?” I ask brusquely.

“Size five?” she repeats, a frown pulling at her features. “The smallest most brands carry is a six. You should go to the kids’ section.”

Then she smiles. The same fake-ass smile.

Minnie gawks at her.

I narrow my eyes, my cheek twitching in annoyance.

“What about these?” I pick up the pair of sneakers that seems to be the smallest visually. Looking at the sole, I note they’re a size thirty-five—the European equivalent of five.

“Uhm…” The sales assistant clears her throat.

“Bring us the other pair for this one.”

The woman looks as if she wants to say something else, but she holds her tongue and mutters an I’ll be back.

Minnie raises herself on her toes to peek at the shoe. I realize I’m holding it too high for her to see, so I hand it to her.

“Oh,” she murmurs. “They’re white with red.”

There’s something about the cadence of her voice that makes my breath stop. It’s a combination of wonder and excitement that I don’t think I’ve ever felt for something as mundane as a shoe. But just as that thought crosses my mind, I berate myself.

I was fortunate enough to be born into a wealthy family and even more fortunate to be able to start my business with the inheritance I got when I turned eighteen. I’ve never wanted for anything in my entire life. Not too many people can say that.

Minnie has probably worn hand-me-downs her entire life, especially since she grew up in the system. I doubt she’s bought herself many new things.

Not wanting to mar her happiness, I keep a finger on the price tag so she doesn’t feel bad about it.

“You like them?”

“Of course I do! They’re so pretty! And look, they have a high heel,” she says excitedly as she points to the platform, which by my estimates looks to be about two to three inches tall.

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