“Will do. See you in a few hours.” Johnny hung up.
I sat on a chair in the middle of the mall, making notes. The first thing I noticed was that Santa’s workshop didn’t have elves. That made me think of my first day in the flagship mall and getting knocked over by a tiny little elf and losing my cell phone.
That’s it. I had to have lost it there when I fell. So, who has it? I asked already.
“Apple, are you missing me?”
“I think I am, and I’m feeling jealous you have another cell now.”
“Don’t be jealous. This is a work cell. You are my personal cell.”
“What are you doing today?”
“Working in a different mall. What about you?”
“Still in the same place you left me.”
“Did you go caroling?”
“Not yet. I have to download the lyrics first and internet is slow here.”
“Go over by the offices. Internet is strong over there. Send me a video when you go caroling.”
“And let you hear how bad I sing? I don’t think so.”
“Lol, you caught me. Ttyl”
I hung up smiling and feeling like a kid in a candy shop. I walked the mall some more, looking for good places to put in solar panels. Then I emailed another list of things for Nicole to get ordered. I never really go in malls or buy gifts myself, but I kinda get it now. People walk around together, talking and eating. I was standing outside of a lingerie store, making notes in my cell, when a familiar voice whispered in my ear.
“Well, if it isn’t Asher Hawthorne himself,” the voice said. “And, of course, you’re at a lingerie store.”
“Alexandra, how are you?” I hugged her tight. “I wasn’t in the lingerie store. I’m actually working.”
“Oh, come on now. Who is the lucky girl that gets lingerie hand-picked by Asher Hawthorne?” Alexandra poked me in the stomach. “She must be special. Otherwise, you would’ve had one of your staff buy it.”
“Was I really that rude?” I questioned. “It didn’t feel like that at the time.”
“Sweetheart, that’s just you. You never wanted to take time away from partying for mundane stuff like that.” Alexandra grinned. “Have you had lunch yet?”
“No, would you care to join me?” I asked. “I wanna hear what you’ve been up to.”
“Since when?” She tilted her head, questioning me. “You’ve never wanted to know before.”
“I’m a new man, I guess. Come on, let’s have lunch and catch up.” I took her by the hand and pulled her with me.
She was one of the girls that wasn’t always from money. She was more down to earth, but still had money and enjoyed it. We’d spent many weekends flying all over the world partying, not caring or sometime not even knowing what day of the week it was. We took a table in the back at the one and only restaurant in the mall.
“Where have you been? I sent you messages to come to Cloud Nine and party with me and Sawyer a while back,” I asked waving off the drink menu. “You never responded to anything.”
“Ash, I got married.” She held up her wedding ring hand. “Partying with you guys was fun. I’ll never regret it, but this is way better.”
“How did I not know this? Sorry. First, congratulations.” I fumbled to back up my questions. “Did I not get invited to your wedding or did I miss it?”
“You missed it, dear. You had Nicole send a very nice gift, though.” She smiled. “Something about a mission on an island and you were too tied up.”
“What a jerk. I should have been there. You were my bud for years,” I apologized. “I’m so sorry. I was having a problem drinking far too much for a bit there.”
“Why do you think that happened?” She took my hand. “You’re such a great person, what had you upset enough to drink it away?”