WEB OF SCANDAL

The sun wasn't happy, either that or Flavia close to having a heat stroke. It was a cloudless sky that Saturday afternoon, and only the burning planet was in sight, glaring down at her like it was holding a grudge with her. It had to be that, because every other person walked about freely, like it was a cool weather. The street was very busy, and dirty. It had rained heavily the previous night, that plus the construction work going on somewhere downtown affected the street.

There was heavy traffic, people were swearing at each other, sometimes in a language she couldn't understand. Flavia stuck to the side of the road. This was the reason she hadn't stepped out with her car, she didn't see the need if it was only going to hold her in traffic. Besides, it's been a while since she took a walk, she wanted to, but the day wasn't favoring the expectancy she had held when she stepped out earlier.

She had a fight with her father that morning. It was one of the usual every weekend arguments, except this time it gotten more serious. It had put her in a really bad mood, and to smile again, the only thing she could do was to spend her Father's money on something she loved the most, new clothes.

"Move!"

She stepped to the side quickly, nearly falling into a puddle before her, but she was fast enough to hold onto the pole beside her, which was the only thing that stopped her from falling face flat into the dirty street water. Flavia hissed as she glared at the man who was running away like his life depended on it. She noticed a gold chain in his hands, the way it shone under the bright sunlight, Flavia suspected it to be real gold, unless why would he even risk it. The man chasing him, kept shouting at the people ahead to stop the man but she doubt that anyone would do that. The thief was rough and anyone who attempted to stop him, would probably be pushed violently to the floor.

When they had disappear to another street, Flavia continued with what she was doing before—window shopping. Few minutes later, she was already considering heading back home when something caught her attention. Her eyes lit up when she saw a dress she really liked. She let out a little squeal, holding tight to her purse, she hurried into the house.

"Good afternoon," the girl who stood by the door greeted, but Flavia was too much in a hurry to respond especially when she sighted a teenage girl who was with her friends pointing to the dress.

"This," she said to the shop girl. "I want this."

Flavia didn't just want that, she wanted everything she could get. She looked around the store, pleased with what she was seeing. Ever since she was banned from stepping her feet inside her previous shopping center all because she shared an opinion which the owner found offensive, she had been looking for a new place to claim as her area. The next few hours was her testing outfits, she would abandon some and take the rest with her.

"Hi," she greeted the woman at the desk excitedly, before placing the items on the row. The woman took one good look at the items Flavia had bought, then looked back to the young woman. It was obvious she was wondering how the little woman planned to pay for all that she had just taken.

"Cash or card?"

"Card," Flavia answered, handing her the credit card. "Please, make it quick. I have somewhere else to be." Flavia sighed, looking at her watch, then back at the woman. She studied the woman for a while, noticing the look of disdain on her face. Flavia didn't care much. It wouldn't be the first time people would judge her from her appearance. Although they knew nothing about her, they conclude she was just a spoilt brat.

"Declined," the woman said, looking back at Flavia. There was a mocking glint in her eyes, her lips were pursed like she was about to burst out laughing, especially from the shocked look on Flavia's face.

"That's impossible. Try again." The woman didn't do as Flavia had said. "I said, try again," she repeated, her voice hard this time to show the woman she wasn't there for jokes.

"Fine. I will." This time she paid attention to this action. Watching as the woman slid the card into the machine. Flavia held her breathe, praying it worked, she couldn't bare to carry the stress of the embarrassment that would follow if it didn't.

A beep came from the machine, Flavia looked back at the woman, her eyes filled to the brim with hope, but they vanished as soon as the woman opened her big mouth. "Declined."

"Hold on. Let me make a call."

"Okay, I'll be waiting."

Flavia eyed her before she hurried away, lucky that her hair was down so they would hide her ears which she was sure had turned cherry. Her father was always giving ultimatums after every little fight of theirs, but he never actually went through with it, so after he had threatened her earlier during the argument over the phone that morning, Flavia had called it a bluff.

He picked up the second his phone began to ring, like he had been holding on to it all day, expectant of her calls. "Hello, who am I speaking to?" He asked, like he didn't have her number saved already.

"Don't. Cut the crap, Father."

"Oh, so now you remember that I'm your father?"

"Why did you cut me off? I arrived at the mall now to get some things which I need to pay for, so you can't be doing this to me."

He laughed. "Since you're a big girl like you said earlier, maybe you should start earning your own money and paying for the things you buy yourself."

"Father-" she was interrupted by a beep. Flavia paused in disbelief. "Dad?" She let out a cuss.

Flavia couldn't believe this was happening. She so wanted to prove to the woman that she could afford to pay for the items. She turned around slowly, and walked back to the cashier.

"Uh...sorry for the delay." It was a young lady at the desk now, the malicious woman was gone.

"So, here's the thing. I would have to-"

"Miss, your boyfriend has paid for your items," she announced with a large smile, showing off her braces. She was a lot more nicer than the woman who had been there previously.

Flavia chuckled nervously, pretty sure the young woman was mistaking her for someone else. "I don't have a boyfriend, what are you talking about?" The lady only pointed behind Flavia. Flavia followed her pointed finger.

A man stood close to the entrance of the store. The first thing Flavia noticed about him was his height, his was tall, really tall. It was either that, or she was just short. He had long black hair, which he had tied up in a ponytail. He was putting on a black tailored suit, she glanced at his outfit and nodded in approval. Rich. But she couldn't get a look at his face, still,l he had a well-defined structure, and veins. Not too much that it was disturbing, just enough that you knew he would have a strong grip, especially when he wrapped them around your-

"Miss?" Flavia blinked twice, turning to face the cashier lady again.

"He's the one who paid?" Flavia spoke out loud, not even directing her question to the girl. She was already walking over to the man, to thank him and really curious to know why a total stranger would pay for her. She didn't have much friends and hardly knew anyone in Italy, except the few she was close to. Still, they were all stingy and wouldn't bring a penny out to pay for her.

He was speaking on his phone, and like he could sense Flavia walking to him, he began walking away.

"Excuse me!" Flavia called. She was about to burst into a run just to meet up with him, his long legs were no match for hers. But the same woman, the first cashier who told her, her card had been declined stepped in the way. "Urrgh!" Flavia let out a grunt. "What do you want?"

"What do I want? Are you trying to leave here when you haven't paid?"

Flavia eyed the woman, from her old wig which looked more like a bush, to the clown makeup she had on, down to the her feet which were squeezed in a shoe obviously too small for her, her feet looked like they were throbbing, begging for air. She looked back at her. "You know, you sound like such a bitter person."

"At least-"

"Shut up," Flavia interrupted, really annoyed now because the man she was trying to meet up with had left the boutique. "And yes, I've paid. You could go confirm if you want. My clothings are still there, so why are you even bothered." Since the woman still stood in her spot, Flavia had to walk around her.

She ran out of the store, looking both ways. The traffic had cleared now, and surprisingly there were clouds in the sky again. Flavia looked around, just to see someone that might be the man, but there was no sign of him. "Great."

She turned to walk back into the store, but stumbled into a man.

"Looking for someone?"