"Say, how many family members do you have?"
Arthur suddenly asked Sara who was walking beside him absentmindedly.
"Huh?"
She exclaimed involuntarily because she missed what Arthur said.
"I asked how many family members do you have?"
"Oh. Including me, four. My two little siblings who are in elementary school and my father."
"They are twins? As in, one male and another female?"
"Yes..."
"I see."
Both of them went quiet. Arthur did not ask about her mother. Since she didn’t mention it, it is probably not something she is comfortable sharing.
And not like he was that curious to begin with. He asked to get a general idea and maybe more opportunities to spend.
And since she has little siblings, that seems to be an excellent opportunity.
"You know what, since we are at it, let’s go to some convenience store to buy them some toys and stuff. Let’s go."
Arthur said and started walking towards the nearest convenience store he knew. He looked over his shoulder and he felt Sara wasn’t following him. He stopped, turned to her and gestured what’s wrong. She snapped out of her thoughts and jogged towards him.
"There is a store near my house. The one you’re going to is far away."
"Okay. Lead the way then."
After that, both of them silently started walking again. Arthur was getting himself familiar with the area. Since he will be living here for a while. Until he has enough money to buy a house of course.
The streets were getting increasingly emptier. Even though it was barely nine thirty. It wasn’t that odd considering the neighbourhood they were in was quite infamous. Things and gangs lived around here.
So people tend to hole up in their homes early. Even that doesn’t guarantee any safety.
After a while, they arrived at the convenience store. Sara remembered that there were few things she needed to cook dinner tonight. And also a few stationary items for her siblings. She went to the cheapest ones as usual. But she felt a large hand grab onto her shoulders, stopping her. She snapped her neck back, startled.
She saw Arthur looking at her with a displeased gaze.
"Why are you going towards the cheapest stuff? Are you still worried about money? Then here’s a bit more if that makes you feel better. Buy something good for your siblings."
He said firmly. He let her shoulder go and took out his phone, quickly typed something. A few moments later, her phone buzzed and another $10,000 dollars was transferred. She checked her balance again.
[Balance: $25,497.23]
Combined with her own savings of $2,100 for emergency purposes, she now has over $25,000!
That is almost as much as her yearly income. She didn’t think much about it but now she was getting hit with the reality. Her head was starting to feel dizzy and breaths quickening.
But before she could pass-out from such a surreal sight of her bank account, Arthur grabbed her by both shoulders and violently shook her. Snapping out of her reverie.
"Can you please not disconnect from reality ever so often? I know it feels too easy to be true but get used to it. Maybe think of it as a dream or something. Maybe that will help. But anyway, we are buying nothing cheap."
Arthur said with an annoyed expression. Sara realised she was being a bum from zoning out frequently. She told herself that it was fine and since this man in front of her was rich, and was throwing money at her like water, she would take it without feeling anything.
She clenched her fists in front of her and nodded to herself.
"Yes! You’re right! Let’s go buy all the most expensive groceries."
She said with determination and marched forward like a soldier going to war.
Arthur gazed at her with a tired look. He sighed and followed.
They bought meat, better and high quality ingredients, vegetables, and toys for her siblings.
She was once again about to sell for cheap stuff when Arthur moved the doll house set, removed the control car and many more toys. Sara was about to say anything but the sheer disgust in his face towards her spending made her shut her mouth and look away awkwardly.
After everything was done, the check-in at the counter. The clerk started checking the products but Arthur noticed his gaze directed between him and Sara.
Arthur didn’t say anything until Clark asked them a question.
"Ummm... Miss Sara... who is this?"
He added Sara while finishing the scans and preparing the bill.
Sara was looking at the groceries and toys with sparkling eyes and imagined how happy her siblings will be when they get these. She snapped out of her thoughts and was a bit startled. She turned to Arthur for help.
"... I’m her boyfriend."
He said flatly. His face locked on the Clark. Studying every bit of his movement.
"I‐I see..."
He said in a low voice. Although the Clark tried to hide it, Arthur noticed his jaw clenching hard.
He looked over to Sara and she was back into her own small world and did not notice.
Arthur made Sara pay the bills. Even though he could have paid and gotten a return. He didn’t because he needed to take out his card and swipe it.
And if he did, there is a genuine chance that Sara may notice that his bank card was an ordinary ass bank card. Not some super premium one. He cannot have that.
After paying, they both shared the packs and started to walk back to wherever Sara was taking him.
"Say Miss Anastasia, do you know that Clark?"
"Ah? No? No. I don’t."
"I see. Then how does he know your name?"
"Aaaa... because I told him?"
"Yes. And I’m asking why."
"We-well, he asked me?"
"I see."
After that Arthur went quiet. Sara turned to look at Arthur who was seriously contemplating some with a focused look. She shrugged as what this rich man thought was beyond her.
Arthur on the other hand was thinking about the Clarik’s reaction to him calling himself Sara’s boyfriend. That guy clearly likes Sara. And now that she has a ’boyfriend’, the clarks reaction can be two types, either he becomes some obsessive fool and lets go of his Affection.
"Miss Anastasia, are you two close?"
He asked again suddenly.
"Mmm. Not really. I mean, I know his name and he knows mine. And he has always been kind to me. So... other than that, there is nothing between us."
"I see. I would advise you to stay away from that guy from now on. He might prove to be dangerous. I don’t know if you noticed, but he seems to like you. And now that you have a ’boyfriend’, his unresolved emotions may take unexpected turns... I’m not saying it will. But it is better to be cautious."
Arthur warned Sara of the stuff he noticed. Sara frowned and thought for a second before nodding. She indeed hadn’t noticed but she trusted Arthur’s judgment. And since he was basically the one who is going to take care of her family now, she will heed to his advice since she isn’t so unruly to bite the hand that feeds her.