Chapter Twenty-Six – Thief.
Outside, Damien was getting a call from his mother.
She was reporting an insult Debby gave her, where she asked a question and the girl yelled back at her.
Damien’s hand stayed on his hips as his mother narrated, he was resting on his car, facing the mall to keep watch on Arya.
He knew his mother typically exaggerated her reports but since she added Junior as a witness, he was sure it happened.
“Mom, I’m sorry about this and I promise to talk with her. But I also hope Junior didn’t snap at her.” He asked, calmly.
“Why do you care if he did? Should he watch me get insulted by that girl! Whatever he did yielded no result as she didn’t answer the door when he knocked!” Mrs. Wade ranted.
Damien sighed, rubbing his temples. Couldn’t the universe just make a day all round beautiful for him?
“Mom, it’s not like that. Debby gets irrational when she’s mad, like storming out of the house and the likes. She was kidnapped earlier today so I’m…”
“Kidnapped? The girl was kidnapped?” his mom, asked, interrupting.
He continued. “Yeah, she was marked at the summit. Then was taken as soon she left the university so I’m being careful with her. You know, she’s an international guest here.”
“Ah, I get it now. It must have messed up her mood. Maybe that’s why she’s bitter. Poor child.” Mrs. Wade sighed.
Damien nodded, very willing to use the kidnap case to milk pity from his mother towards Debby. “Yes, yes. That’s why she was in a bad mood but I’d still talk to her, don’t worry.”
“No biggie. I’d talk to Junior too. And wherever you went with your other half, do get me something when you come back, okay?” she asked.
Damien smiled. “Sure, mom. See you later?”
“Yeah, yeah.” she hung up. Damien exhaled, dropping the phone down from his ears. His smile faded, annoyed at the fact that Debby’s sudden behavior was affecting his mother.
While he was in his thoughts, a small looking woman sneaked into the mall, holding a big bag. She grinned as Damien hadn’t taken notice of her and strutted proudly inside the mall.
Arya left the collection room with ten pretty dresses, all with similar designs. They were all in her hands as she was heading to the dressing room to try them all.
She nearly slipped, not seeing her way due to the clothes stacked so the sales assistant took them from her.
Arya smiled nervously, thanking her. As she followed behind the lady, her eyes darted towards the other customers in the room.
She hadn’t really noticed them because she was in her own world, but now, she saw majority of women were with men.
She picked interest in a lady that was alone, and moving suspiciously. A huge black bag was under her arm.
The lady looked left and right before picking a pair of shoes and diving it into her bag. It was so quick that Arya blinked twice to be sure what just happened.
The lady strutted forward like nothing had happened and headed towards the dress rack. Arya frowned, leaving the sales assistant and her dresses and following the strange lady.
Was she stealing from a mall openly? She should know anyone could have caught her.
“Um… Mrs. Arya?” the sales assistant called Arya back.
She turned, faking a smile. “Yes?”
“Are you trying to pick some shoes to go with? I’d advise light colored heels, preferably wedges.” The assistant smiled.
Arya nodded quickly. “Sure, I’d go pick now. Thanks for the suggestion.” Her fake smile faded when she looked away.
Damien who was watching his wife from outside, noticed her reaction. He slowly walked back into the building, observing her.
Arya sneaked up on the lady, attempting to drag her bag and noticed the way the woman shoved her aside. “Miss, did you keep something that isn’t yours in here?”
The lady pushed her back, “What are you saying?” she whispered, looking around if someone saw them.
She tried to walk away but Arya walked before her. “I asked you a question, miss. Do you want me to make a scene here?”
“Make a scene and I’d kill you. What do you think I took? Nothing. Go away!” The lady hissed, attempting to leave.
Arya dragged her arm, holding it firmly and glaring at her. “Open that bag then. If you took nothing then open the bag. Or else, I’d make a scene here.”
The lady saw Arya was adamant, she smirked, throwing the bag on Arya and backing away. “Check for yourself then.”
On impulse, Arya grabbed the bag so what’s inside won’t fall and get affected but then there was a shout.
“Oh my gosh! This girl stole something! This girl stole a shoe!” it was the lady. Everyone ran to her and their jaws dropped seeing Arya with a pair of shoe.
Arya quickly replaced it on the rack. “That’s not true. I didn’t take it, you did.” She pointed at the lady.
“What? How dare you accuse me when it’s in your hands!” the lady charged at Arya, pushing her to the shoe rack that tumbled over.
Other customers began taking pictures and videos. Arya’s head felt heavy, flashes of her father yelling and hitting came to her mind.
She felt so small, so vulnerable, even if she knew she was innocent. The sales assistant ran to the scene, at the same time Damien walked in.
Arya, feeling pressured and an awful headache, ran behind him, muttering. “I didn’t take it. I swear, I didn’t take it.”
Damien held her in his arms, signaling the sales assistant to handle the situation.
The sales assistant, with a plastered smile on her face, picked up the fallen shoes. “I’m sorry, the Mrs. here was just trying to pick a shoe. She didn’t steal it.” She told the strange lady.
The strange lady, hiding a smirk, hissed, attempting to walk away. “Well, she certainly shouldn’t have acted like she did then say I did it.”
Arya clung into Damien, feeling bitter that the thief was walking away free. Her husband following her eyesight, noticed the anger emanating from Arya’s eyes.
“Excuse me, Miss.” He called the lady leaving. “I want you to wait here, I’d like to be sure you aren’t the actual thief.”
The customers gasped at his audacity. The lady folded her arms. “What an insult, and who are you to say that?”
The sales assistant came in front of Damien. “He is the owner of this mall, miss. Please, wait till our CCTVs are checked and you are vindicated.”
She ushered the stunned woman to a chair to wait.
Arya was stunned as well, and she raised her head to look at Damien. He rubbed her head tenderly, whispering calmly to her, “Don’t worry, that mean miss will be punished, okay?”
She took her head down, nodding like a child.