Chapter: The Shopping Disaster
The next weekend started peacefully.
At least...
That was what Kiefer thought.
He was sitting in his office, reviewing reports, when suddenly his phone rang.
It was Rose.
Kiefer immediately became suspicious.
He answered.
"Hello?"
"Kiefer!"
"Why do you sound excited?"
"Because today is a very important day."
Kiefer sighed.
"What happened?"
"We are going shopping."
Silence.
"No."
Rose became shocked.
"What do you mean no?"
"I mean no."
"But everyone is going."
"Everyone?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
Rose smiled.
"Kiefer..."
"Who?"
"Lily."
"Okay."
"Jay."
Kiefer stopped.
A few seconds of silence passed.
Rose noticed.
"Interesting."
"What?"
"You didn't say no immediately."
Kiefer cleared his throat.
"That doesn't mean anything."
Rose laughed.
"Sure."
An hour later...
Kiefer arrived at the shopping mall.
He already regretted his decision.
The mall was crowded.
Music was playing.
People were everywhere.
Rose was already excited.
"Finally!"
Lily smiled.
"You look like you are preparing for a battle."
Kiefer looked around.
"I am surrounded by chaos."
Rose pointed at him.
"You say that every time."
"Because every time it is true."
Jay laughed.
Kiefer looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You were laughing at me."
"A little."
For some reason, Kiefer didn't mind.
The first store was clothing.
Rose immediately started picking clothes.
"Try this."
Kiefer looked at the shirt.
"No."
"Why?"
"It has too many colors."
"It's fashion."
"It's dangerous."
Lily laughed.
"Rose, he dresses like he is going to a business meeting even on vacation."
Rose nodded.
"Exactly why we need to fix him."
Kiefer looked worried.
"Fix me?"
Jay smiled.
"I think they are serious."
"They are always serious when they are causing trouble."
After thirty minutes...
Kiefer was holding five shopping bags.
He looked at Rose.
"Why am I carrying these?"
Rose smiled.
"Because you are strong."
"I am the CEO of a company, not a shopping assistant."
Lily laughed.
"Today you are both."
Then came the most dangerous part.
The women's clothing store.
Kiefer stopped at the entrance.
"No."
Rose turned around.
"What?"
"I am not entering."
"Why?"
"I know what happens inside."
Jay laughed.
"What happens?"
"Hours."
Rose crossed her arms.
"One hour."
Kiefer looked at Lily.
"She always says one hour."
Lily nodded.
"She is never correct."
Inside the store...
Rose and Lily started choosing clothes.
Jay was looking at some dresses.
Kiefer stood there silently.
A few employees passing by recognized him.
They were shocked.
"Is that Mr. Waston?"
"The CEO?"
"Shopping?"
They couldn't believe it.
The man who managed the world's biggest company was standing in a clothing store holding bags.
After some time, Jay came out wearing a different outfit.
Rose smiled.
"Perfect."
Lily nodded.
"It suits you."
Jay looked at Kiefer.
"What do you think?"
Kiefer looked surprised.
He was not expecting the question.
"It's..."
Everyone waited.
Rose whispered:
"Say something good."
Kiefer smiled.
"It looks great."
Jay smiled.
"Thank you."
And somehow...
That simple smile made Kiefer forget that he hated shopping.
But then...
Rose disappeared.
Everyone became suspicious.
"Kiefer," Lily said.
"Yes?"
"Where is Rose?"
Kiefer looked around.
"I don't know."
A few seconds later...
Rose appeared.
With more bags.
Everyone froze.
Kiefer stared.
"How many did you buy?"
Rose smiled.
"Not important."
"Rose."
"Okay... maybe a lot."
Lily looked at the bags.
"This is not shopping anymore."
"What is it?"
"A disaster."
Jay laughed.
Kiefer tried to stay serious.
But he failed.
He started laughing too.
At the end of the day...
They left the mall exhausted.
Rose was happy.
Lily was carrying a few bags.
Jay was smiling.
And Kiefer...
The man who once avoided anything unrelated to work...
Was walking through a shopping mall laughing with them.
Rose looked at him.
"You know..."
"What?"
"You actually enjoyed today."
Kiefer shook his head.
"I did not."
Jay smiled.
"You are smiling."
Kiefer immediately stopped.
"I am not."
Everyone laughed.
And as they walked away...
Kiefer realized something.
Maybe shopping was not the problem.
Maybe the problem was that he never had the right people to do it with.
With Rose, Lily, and Jay...
Even a disaster could become a memory.