The Villain's Wife

Chuo Dori, Ginza Japan

"You know this is my first time coming to Japan and shopping like this," Lily said. She turned to look at the sea of people walking along the one kilometer street of Chuo Dori. Because of the influx of foreigners and locals shopping during the weekends, authorities had decided to just close the street during the weekends to allow pedestrians walk around freely.

Massive department stores and boutiques lined along the streets of Ginza. Both high-end and fast fashion brands could be found. This was the reason why this place is known as the best area to shop for both Japanese and international brands.

"I thought you love shopping? If you have not  shopped like this before… then how do you usually shop?" he asked, a bit curious about his wife's peculiar ways. He adjusted the paper bags in his left hand while his right was intertwined with Lily's as they continued to walk along one side of the street.

"I usually shop with a goal in mind so I can go in and out of the store quickly. I don't  window shop and walk around just for the fun of it," Lily explained. She remembered that most of the time she would just  go inside one store, buy her stuff and then head out. She really didn't have that much time to shop so this was truly her first time walking down the street with a sea of strangers.

"Well… you are a pretty busy woman after all. This is only understandable."

"Look!" Lily almost jumped as she pointed at a Bulgari store in one of the buildings just across the street. Then she pull Zhuo Jingren over and hastily crossed the street towards the store. "I heard II Ristorante is really good but I haven't tried it yet. Maybe we could have dinner there after we buy some jewelry and bags too… I think I also need some new perfumes…"

Zhuo Jingren could only shake his head helplessly as he listened to Lily mumbling excitedly as they walked towards the building. He eyed the building's impressive structure and recalled that this place should be the biggest store and the head office of Bulgari in Japan. If his memory served him right, this was also the biggest Bulgari store in the world.

The Ginza Bulgari tower was a ten storey building which showcases their impressive bestsellers, from purses to perfumes to handcrafted jewelry. It also had a popular restaurant which Lily mentioned a while ago and an impressive rooftop with an Italian style garden. This entire building screamed luxury and while not many people could afford to shop in this place, most foreigners wouldn't miss the chance to go inside and take a peek at its grandiose interior.

"Good afternoon, welcome to Bulgari Japan. How may I assist you today?" a bubbly female sales attendant greeted and gave them a bow the moment they entered the store. The attendant's gaze lingered on Zhuo Jingren for a few seconds before she gave Lily a brilliant smile. It wasn't really rare for them to see a good-looking couple in their shop every now and then.

Lily only responded with a nod as she roamed her eyes to take in the roman style interior of the first floor. The room had an Italian wood parquet flooring that contrasted with the marble walls. Around the first floor were many glass box displays of  jewelry and watches. Coupled with the LED lights in each box, it made the the jewelry sparkle when one take a closer look at them.

With a small smile on her face, Lily walked towards the glass box that featured some jewelry art pieces made of silver. "Eighteen hundreds silver?" she asked. Lily knew a little about antique and old designer jewelry only because of Fernando's obsession with them and he would go on and on about them in front of Lily.

"Yes Madam. This piece is from the late eighteen hundred," Natasha, the attendant answered. Natasha was a tall blond woman who donned a purple dress that fits snugly to her body. She had a scarf wrapped around her neck which reminded Lily of a flight attendant. She spoke in perfect English and had an amiable  smile plastered on her face.

"Beautiful." Lily nodded as she stared at the other pieces. Then her eyes landed on the next box that contained some watches that were set with diamond stones. The way the small sparkling diamonds glitter reminded Lily of the small sparkling stones that she used to collect near the orphanage when she was younger.

"Do you have couple watches?" Zhuo Jingren asked, making the attendant and Lily stare at him. A tinge of amusement instantly flashed in Lily's eyes, too quick for anyone to notice. Couple watches huh…

"Of course. Our couple watches consist of a wrist watch for the woman and a pocket watch for the man. I can assure you that everything that we have here are just perfect and beautiful," Natasha answered as she led them to another display box. "Would you like something with gold strap? Leather? Perhaps something with lots of jewels? We have quartz and rose gold and of course lots of watches with diamonds. And we all know that diamonds are always a great way to impress a lady." Natasha smiled at Zhuo Jingren before she picked one watch.

"This is a part of our timeless collections, it's a watch that looks like a bracelet. Just look at this brilliantly cut diamonds and gold case..."

"I want the most expensive ones," Zhuo Jingren interrupted. "The serpent collection should be here somewhere? Do you have the custom made pocket watch that comes with those?"

Natasha's eyes instantly widened at Zhuo Jingren's words and her mouth dropped in disbelief before she blinked her eyes at the couple as if she had misheard.. She looked at the couple's casual dress code; Zhuo Jingren was wearing a casual pair of Chinos and shirt while Lily was wearing a simple dress. Did she just hear him say Serpent collection? "I… I'm sorry. I think I misheard you. Did you say serpent collection?" her voice came a little louder this time. Not because she wanted to attract anyone's attention but because of the price of the collection that Zhuo Jingren wanted.

"Yes. Do we need to talk to the manager in order to see the collection? Would you mind calling him for me?" Zhuo Jingren said as his lips lifted into a smile.

"I…. Yes. I mean… No I don't mind. I will call her," Natasha said before she hurriedly left them.

"Do you really have to give the poor woman a shock like that?" Lily elbowed him, a smile was on her face.

"I am hungry," he answered.

"…" Lily only stared at him. What kind of excuse is this? Is this his way of telling her to hurry so he could eat?