[One Day Before His Flight to Los Angeles]
Jack walked through the mall with a large blue slushy in his hand, moving past crowded stores without paying much attention to anything around him. He had spent most of the afternoon sleeping in his room, and his flight to Los Angeles was scheduled for the following day. He woke up around 5 PM and decided to take a walk outside.
As he passed a jewellery store, he slowed down near the window and looked at the displays inside. Diamond bracelets, necklaces, custom watches, and rings rested beneath bright lights, arranged carefully behind the glass.
Jack stood there for a few seconds while holding his drink.
'Let's buy a gift for my girl,' he thought as he looked toward the entrance.
He stepped inside and moved toward the display. A saleswoman near the counter noticed him immediately. Her eyes widened for the smallest moment when she recognized him, though she quickly kept her expression professional.
"Good afternoon, sir," she said as she approached him. "How can I help you today?"
Jack looked through the glass case before answering. "I'm looking for a woman's bracelet. Something simple and elegant."
"Of course, sir," the saleswoman replied as she unlocked the case. "Do you have a preference for gold, white gold, or platinum?"
"White gold," Jack said after a moment. "Maybe diamonds too, though nothing too flashy."
The saleswoman nodded and brought out several trays, placing them carefully on the counter. Jack studied each bracelet in silence, picking up a few before setting them back down.
"This one is white gold with round-cut diamonds," she said, pointing toward a slim bracelet near the center. "It has a clean design, so it stands out without looking overwhelming."
Jack picked it up and turned it slightly beneath the lights. The diamonds caught the reflection from the display case, bright enough to look special without being too much.
After almost fifteen minutes of browsing...
"This one," he said, picking up the bracelet with leafy designs and diamonds. "I'll take this one."
The saleswoman smiled and placed the bracelet on a small velvet pad before preparing the box. She stayed quiet while she wrapped it, though Jack could tell she was trying very hard not to look too excited.
As she placed the black velvet box inside a cream-colored gift bag, she finally looked up at him.
"I hope this isn't inappropriate, sir," she said carefully, "but I was at your Harry Potter event earlier this week."
Jack looked at her with surprise.
"Really?" he asked.
She nodded. "I got there late, bad traffic... and the line was already too long. I didn't get to meet you during the signing, but I stayed for the announcement."
Jack's expression softened. "I'm sorry you didn't get through the line."
"It's okay," she said with a small smile. "The event was still incredible. I've been a fan of the books since the first one came out. I own all the first edition hard copies."
"Thank you," Jack said quietly. "That means a lot."
The saleswoman handed him the bag with both hands. "I hope the person receiving this likes it, sir."
Jack accepted the bag and took out his card.
"I think she will," he said with a faint smile.
He left the store after paying. He took another slurp from his slushy and continued through the mall.
He was already looking forward to seeing Haley's reaction.
...
[Next Evening] [California] [Preston Boutique]
Haley stood near the mirror with a high-profile model, carefully adjusting the silver party gown that had been sitting in the boutique for months. The price was high, and the dress looked really good. But for some reason, no one bought it. So, basically, it was catching dust until that model walked in and stopped before that display. Haley made up her mind to sell that dress today at any cost.
The model looked at herself in the mirror with uncertainty while Haley stood beside her, studying the fit of the gown.
"It looks amazing on you," Haley said as she adjusted the fabric near the waist. "The silver works with your skin tone, and the cut makes you look taller and gorgeous."
The model looked down at the dress again. "It's beautiful, but I don't know if it's too much for a party."
Haley smiled gently as she moved around her. "You're going to a high-profile event, and everyone there is going to wear something safe. Black dresses, simple gowns, the same looks people always choose because they don't want attention or just have bad taste in fashion."
She looked at the model through the mirror.
"This dress gets attention without looking desperate for it. You'll walk in, and people will remember you."
The model studied her reflection again, and the uncertainty in her face slowly began to disappear.
Haley noticed it immediately.
"You don't need a heavy necklace with it," Haley continued as she reached for a pair of silver earrings from the display case. "Keep the hair simple, wear these, and let the dress do the rest."
The model took the earrings from her and held them near her face. "You really think it works?"
Haley nodded with confidence. "I know it works. You have the right look for it, and this dress was made for somebody who knows how to carry herself."
Outside the boutique, Jack had been about to walk through the front door with the gift bag hidden behind his back. He had returned from New York one day earlier than planned because he wanted to surprise Haley. He had missed her, and he wanted to see her before she expected him home.
Then he saw her through the large front doors.
He stopped outside when he noticed she was busy with a client.
Jack watched quietly as Haley continued speaking with the model, completely focused on her work. She looked confident, professional, and completely in control of the conversation.
The model turned toward the mirror again and smiled.
Haley whispered, "Imagine you walking through the front door where everyone is in their usual formal wear... Who do you think the cameras will focus on? The paparazzi will think, 'Finally, someone beautiful who isn't wearing the same boring formal gown.' And then, all the attention will be on you..."
"You think so?" The model asked with a little smile, already imagining the party and everyone's eyes on her.
Haley nodded, "They won't be able to take their eyes off you."
"Alright," The model said. "I'll take it."
..
//Haley's confession//
Haley sat back in her office chair with a proud smile.
"That silver gown had been sitting in the boutique for almost eight months. Nobody wanted it. People kept saying it was too shiny, too dramatic, and it was really expensive. Honestly, I started thinking it was cursed."
She crossed one leg over the other.
"But then a model walked in, tried it on, and suddenly I remembered something my dad taught me. You don't sell people what they're looking at. You sell them the version of themselves they want everyone else to see."
Haley smiled wider.
"So I didn't sell her a dress. I sold her the idea that she'd walk into that party and every single person would immediately regret wearing black."
She gave a small nod.
"And it worked. We made a huge profit, and I'll get a huge commission and a pat on the back from my boss. Thanks, Dad."
//Haley's confession End//
..
Jack entered the boutique a few moments after the model left, keeping the gift bag low by his side as he looked around for Haley. 'Where did she go?' He wondered. She was there a moment ago.
After looking around for a while, he found Haley near the lingerie section, standing beside a display of silk robes and carefully arranging several sets by color. Her attention stayed fixed on the rack as she adjusted a strap, stepped back, and studied the arrangement with the same focused expression she had worn while selling the silver gown.
Jack paused for a second and watched her. 'Beautiful as ever.'
Her hair fell neatly over one shoulder, and her classic office outfit made her look more confident than ever. She had grown into this part of herself over the last few years, and seeing it up close always made something warm settle in his chest.
Then he stepped closer.
"Ma'am, I'm trying to buy some sexy transparent lingerie for my girlfriend during our private evening tonight. Can you help me find some new designs?"
Haley froze so suddenly that one of the hangers slipped from her hand.
She turned around with wide eyes, ready to give some poor customer a professional answer, and then her expression shifted the second she saw him standing there with a crooked smile.
She raised an eyebrow and decided to play along. "Sure, I can help. Are you looking for casual or premium?"
"Premium," Jack said as he played along.
"Please follow me," Haley walked past him.