**
In as much as Aria would have loved to protest all the way to wherever the heck he was taking her at that point.
She found herself enjoying the unexpected ride much to her own dismay._maybe it was because of the peace and quiet stretching between them as they drove in silent to an unknown destination.
Frank was careful not to upset her as he kept throwing little glances at her direction. There was something about her in that moment that intrigues his mind and brings confusion to his heart.
One minute, she was protesting about going anywhere with him and the next minute, she has settled in just comfortably and enjoying the ride._one could think she was truly enjoying his company and not secretly wishing for him to go blind so she could no longer be bothered by him.
But oh well_not all wishes get granted.
At least God made sure of that aspect for cruel thoughts.
Her slender legs were entangled with one another underneath her seat while she continued to stare out the window towards the moving scene.
He wonders what could be running through her mind. Her brows were hitched in concentration with her succulent lip forming a rather thin line.
If only he could hear her thought in that moment and hear what she truly thinks of him. Hell_why does he even care about her thought.
Not that he cares what anyone thought of him but like his mother used to say_better to be in the company of a pretty lady than travel the world alone. And that was why he had decided to take Aria in her place when she couldn't make it even if she hates him.
Aria was still the perfect choice. She wasn't clingy or overbearing as older girls would have given his statue and personality.
Hell, it's even safe to say she hate his very presence too but that doesn't bother him, at least not if he could still get her to do whatever he wanted. But then again, he wonders for how long.
He took a quick glance at her and back on the road before smiling to himself. If only she knew where he was taking her, she'd do more than just look out the window. She'd probably jump out of it too.
Thirty more minutes and he pulled over in front of a shopping mall and she could only wonder why.
"Why are we here?" Her tone, sounding quite irritated.
Frank shot her a lopsided smile and a wink. "How about we go in and find out hmm?".
He unbuckled his seat belt and got down while she took another minute to retrieve her phone from her hand bag after she heard the beep sound going off on her phone repeatedly indicating she has received a new message.
It was her friend Lizzy.
She totally forgot about giving Lizzy the feedback from her interview. How could she even remember in the mist of all the chaos going on in her life at the moment.
She quickly typed out a reply and sent before looking around only to find Frank leaning against the car and watching her with an irritating frown on his face.
"What?" Her expression mirroring his.
Pushing himself off the car, he lend her his hand. "Can we at least go inside the shopping mall now?"
"Why?"
"Because that's why we are here. To go inside the mall so come on"
He began to walk away while she stared after him. Aria only sighed in annoyance when she realized it would be better to follow suite rather than just wait around in the car.
She got down and hurried after him while murmuring incoherent word in frustration.
Could that day get any worst than being stuck with him?
**
Aria met people at the entrance going in and out with shopping bags in trolleys_rolling up and down. She also noticed, Frank was waiting for her up ahead when he realized she was tagging along as well.
The mall had several other section as it was extremely huge with lot and lot of items, each differentiated into male, female and kids and it would have been typical if Frank had just walked right into the male section as expected but no. He had to do the unthinkable.
Aria thought she was imagining things when he walked into the female clothing section where a female salesgirl who was putting on an orange and black uniform had welcome them with a polite smile.
"Welcome ma'am, sir?" Her name tag says Esther. She was averagely tall with a dark complexion and really wide gap tooth that would show off whenever she smiles.
She couldn't be more than twenty!
"Thank you Esther. You work here correct?" Frank had asked looking at her name tag.
"Yes sir and I can help you and your wife to access only the best fabrics around here" she had replied cheerfully causing Aria to choke literally on nothing.
"We are not married" Aria had corrected glancing at Frank who has nothing but smiles on his face.
The salesgirl's face morphed from confused to being very sorry at her assumption. "I thought you two were married. Am so sorry" she apologized sincerely.
"It's okay. Don't worry about it" Aria had told her and putting her at ease. The salesgirl actually looked like she had committed a crime or something.
"Thank you ma"
"I told you we are a match made in heaven" Frank had mused behind Aria and earning himself a scoffed as well.
Frank could still feel her eyes staring dagger at him even when he turned to access a piece of blouse that caught his attention.
He took hold of the blouse and felt its softness between his palm before turning to the sale girl who seem to be looking at every of his move.
"This is a beautiful piece" He told her while caressing it still.
Esther who seemed overly satisfied with his assessment, gave a small nod with a smile. "We have only the best here sir"
"Good!" Frank gave a nod before turning towards another clothing section when he spotted an Irish flowing chiffon gown hanging on the racket.
"How do you like this one Miss Davis?"
"Me?" Aria had replied with a shocked expression.
"Yes you._I mean won't it look absolutely stunning on you?"
"Yes it would but..."
"...no but._we will take it then" he said catching her off guard before turning back at the sale girl who was waiting anxiously by the corner.
Aria was a little confused and annoyed at that point. Was he buying a dress for her? And even if he was which was utterly abnormal. She wasn't going to allow it.
She couldn't quite understand his motive unless he was doing it for himself. I mean, who would want to be seen with a poorly dressed lady hanging by his arm in the company of dignitaries.
Nah!
One thing was for sure in her mind. Aria stopped being a push over a month ago and that's why putting an end to his little drama seem pretty appropriate before it got out of hand.
"Wait!_did you bring me here for this?" Aria had asked, pointing at the piece of clothing in his possession.
"Yes!_why else would I drag you out here and even bother to pick a dress if it's not for you"
Aria took a deep breath still trying to gather her thought. "And why are you doing all these if I may ask"
Frank let go of the blouse and took a step towards her with both his hands buried deep into his trouser pocket. "Let see, what do you suggest I do if I was inviting you to prom as my date?"
"This isn't prom and am not going as your date"
"Yes but you are still coming with me to the book launch"
Aria had to rub at her temple a few times to ease the tension building up around there. Why in the world was he bent on frustrating her but she wasn't going to make it easy for him either.
"I only accepted to go to the book launch because you refused to give me options and no one made mentioned of buying me a dress either"
"I'm not buying you a dress as you so put it. Am just doing what courtesy demands of me and if you don't like it then pick another one because we don't have the day and trust me, am not going to force you either"
"Then let leave" Aria had said before turning on her heels.
"Alright fine. Do as you wish but we are taking the dress" Frank had deadpan.
He reached over and took the dress and handed it to Esther of course who seem totally pleased for the purchase but Aria had a different thing in mind as she took a step back and hurdled in their way.
"Are you seriously going to do this?"
"As serious as a heart attack!. You know me_I don't just waste my time for nothing"
With a deep sigh and the slumping of shoulders in defeat. Aria had given in but she was hoping to get things done her own way.
"Alright fine but am paying for it" She had said and leaving no room for argument.
"Okay then. I won't take that from you as long as we are taking the dress I picked because I honestly think it will look gorgeous on you" He said with a wink at her and Aria couldn't help but smiled a little.
After spending a couple more minutes debating on which shoes color will match with the dress and who was paying and who wasn't. They finally arrived at a conclusion on splitting the bill.
He later dropped Aria back at the office where she has left her car earlier in the parking lot.
"Thanks for the uhm_items" Aria had said with a smile.
Frank was surprised at her honesty causing him to reply with a smile of his own. "Thank you too for not clawing my eyes out back at the mall. I really thought you were going to do it when i kept insisting to pay for the items"
Frank actually meant it to be a joke but it earned him an eye roll either way.
His voice held her back when she turned to leave. "Hold on a minute let me retrieve your file from the office"
It took only a few minutes before he returned with her brown envelope and handed it to her.
After placing it safely at the back seat. She turned to him with a raised brow.
"What if I change my mind about going with you now that I have my credentials back?"
"That's not like you Aria so I will be seeing you on Saturday 5pm. I will come pick you so be ready"
With that last statement, he turned around and walked back into the building leaving Aria to smile to herself.
"We will just have to see about that now_won't we?"
Aria had spoken more to herself before driving away.