Page 26 of Lordes

“I didn’t read your card. But I peeked inside the wrapping paper. These are flowers, roses. Now I need to know what’s in the box.”

I peeked into the paper and there were two dozen yellow roses in a glass vase. There was a card. I carefully removed it and opened the envelope. I read it aloud.

Bria, thank you for the best weekend I’ve had in ages. I can’t wait to see you again. Hopefully that will be as soon as possible. Lord Donovan

“And you thought you would never hear from that man again.” My sister smirked.

“I told her the same thing.” Brett shared. “I’m like girl, you got to be more confident.

“So yeah he did contact me.” I was so happy. I’d just seen this man a few hours ago. But I still thought of him longed for him and wanted him. He made me feel things I have never felt before.

“Look inside the bag.” My excited coworker chimed.

I took a peek inside the gift bag. The back was pretty big and when I looked inside there was a box. I reached in and removed it.

Brett jumped up and down like a high school cheerleader. “Louis V! Louis V!”

Well the box didn’t say Louis Vuitton but come on. “There’s no way.”

“Where there is a will there’s away.” Brett declared.

“I can’t wait to see this. Did that mean you really buy you something from Louis Vuitton?” My sister asked what I was thinking.

“Labria, open it.” Brett clapped his hands like he was at a pep rally.

I move the huge orange box to a bigger surface, right on the counter where we rang up our customers. I untied the purple ribbon that was tied into a bow. Slowly lifting the box I handed the lid over to Brett. I opened a tissue paper and there was a signature Louis Vuitton monogram handbag. I lifted the bag from the box watched my sister’s mouth hang open. Brett’s face was in his phone. What he was doing I didn’t know.

“Chick, did the man you just met a few days ago buy you a goddam purse. Okay, hold up. Does he have money like that?”

“Yeah I think so. He was spending lots of money.”

“Sister, sister. You just met this man.” She said that earlier. Was it too early to receive expensive gifts? I knew the answer to my question. But the handbag was so pretty, so soft, so big and so lovely.

“Labria, this bag costs three thousand dollars.”

I looked over at Brett in disbelief. “How do you know that?”

Brett shoved his cell phone screen in my face and pointed to the identical handbag I was holding in my hand. I read the price and he was right. He only rounded up by ninety dollars. With tax this bag was over three thousand dollars.

I inhaled and exhaled. I could feel my sister’s eyes on me. I didn’t know Lord well but I did know returning the purse would be a major insult to him. He wasn’t looking for praise. He did what he wanted, when he wanted. I was used to men who only did things for you in order to get something in return. Lord’s nature was generous and thoughtful. Or that’s how it came across.

“Are you going to give the purse back?”

“No.” Brett blurted before I could.

“I can’t give it back. He would be insulted and it’s not the first thing he bought me. I didn’t give him back the other things so why would I give him back the expensive thing. I don’t know.”

“This is a bit much and sorry. This is scary. It’s controlling. He’s trying to buy you.”

“I don’t know that.” I said because I didn’t know what was going on. I just knew I liked this man with or without the gifts.

“He wants something from you?”

“What, my bookstore discount? I’m not rich. I already slept with him. If he was trying to get that, he got it.”

“That’s so very true.” Brett agreed.

“This doesn’t feel right.” Khia protested.

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