Eddie Wilder
8 horas atrĂĄs
Evie moved through the corridors of Bal Harbour Shops. Four shopping bags already hung from her forearms, each one emblazoned with luxury logos, Gucci, Prada, Saint Laurent, Fendi. Sheâd spent over $6,000 and felt absolutely no guilt about it.
After the debrief concluded, sheâd driven back to her apartment in silence, her mind churning through everything Grant and Lexi had said. Sheâd walked through the door, dropped her keys on the kitchen counter, and sat on the couch, pulling her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. The afternoon stretched ahead with no scheduled appointments, no shifts at Elysium, no operational requirements, just empty hours that would allow her thoughts to spiral.
The restlessness built until she couldnât sit still anymore. Sheâd changed out of her yoga clothes, grabbed her purse, and left the apartment, driving to Bal Harbour Shops.
She needed movement, distraction, something to occupy her hands and quiet her mind.
A woman with a toddler moved aside as Evie approached, unconsciously yielding space in the way people did for those who radiated wealth and confidence. Evie hadnât noticed this phenomenon when sheâd first started coming here. Now she recognized it as one of wealthâs invisible privileges, the subtle deference, the presumption of belonging.
She paused outside Valentino, adjusting her sunglasses before entering. A sales associate looked up from folding a cashmere sweater and immediately smiled in recognition.
âMs. Blake! Lovely to see you again.â
âHello, Sophia,â Evie replied, allowing a small smile. âHow are you?â
âWonderful, thank you.â Sophia approached, her gaze taking in Evieâs outfit, the tailored white pants, silk blouse, and gold jewelry that marked her as someone who belonged among these price tags. âWe just received our new collection yesterday. Several pieces made me think of you.â
âShow me,â Evie said, setting her bags down by a velvet upholstered bench...