"Welcome to our shop, my lady."
Alex's voice dripped like honey, smooth and playful, as he strutted out from behind the counter and made his way toward the elf.
His smile was polished to perfection, a little too confident, and when he bowed, it was with the flourish of a man who thought he was God's gift to womankind.
"Always a pleasure to see such a beautiful face first thing in the morning."
The elf stiffened, her long ears twitching as though they weren't sure if they should run or listen. She fumbled with her bag, cheeks warming, and returned a small awkward smile.
Behind the counter, Lily slapped her palm against her face. Her shoulders slumped.
'He is going to ruin this.'
"J-Just call me Casandra," the elf stammered, tucking a loose strand of silver hair behind her ear.
Alex's grin.
'Mm… a shy, innocent woman wrapped around a killer body. Like finding whipped cream on a steak—deliciously wrong, but worth every bite.'
"How could I just call you by your name, my lady. That would be an insult to such dazzling beauty."
"Aww… stop it. You're making me blush," Casandra chuckled, her voice shaky, her cheeks already burning as red as her lipstick.
"So what is such a beauty looking for today"
"I… uh…" Casandra's emerald eyes darted around the shop like she was searching for an escape hatch. "Do you have… jewelleries… that I can wear for… you know… special occasions."
Her fingers twisted around her handbag strap, her words breaking apart like porcelain. She wouldn't even meet his gaze, too flustered to look at him directly.
Alex knew instantly. She wasn't avoiding his eyes because she disliked him. She was avoiding them because she was shy, squirming the same way customers in adult shops asked for candles when everyone knew they were there for something with batteries.
"Jewelleries, hmm. For what occasion, may I ask." he teased, tilting his head with a grin that suggested he already knew the answer.
Casandra's voice dropped to a whisper, her words tumbling out.
"It… it's for… uh… work."
She puffed a tiny stream of air from her lips, cheeks now a shade redder than wine, eyes sliding away like she wanted to hide under the shelves.
Alex chuckled under his breath.
'Man, she is a cutie. Watching her is like watching a cat knock stuff over on purpose, then pretending it was an accident. Adorable and criminal at the same time.'
"Ah, man, we do have jewelleries for work related stuff. But if you were looking for, perhaps, a date, you know what I mean, we had some truly sinful pieces. Necklaces that scream take me home and earrings that whisper lean closer. Not that you need any of that to be a beauty."
Cassandra's cheeks caught fire again, her lips parting like she wanted to say something but couldn't.
Alex grinned wider.
"But… hmmm… since you aren't looking for a date, I suppose you can have the plain boring ones. The ones that say I am married to my job and allergic to fun."
He strolled over to the left wall with the swagger of a man who thought even the dust in the shop bowed to him. Trinkets and chains glittered under the lantern light.
Lily was clutching her apron behind the counter, muttering under her breath.
'What is he even doing. Just sell the poor elf what she came for, why is he turning this into a circus. And he said I am a bad shopkeeper. Hmpff.'
Alex ignored Lily's invisible daggers and plucked a set of the dullest silver earrings he could find.
Then, like he was orchestrating some grand seduction, he guided Cassandra to sit on a stool before a tall mirror.
His hands brushed her shoulder with a deliberate slowness, as though checking if her skin would burn under his touch.
"These ones make you look more professional. They tell the world you are focused, that you do not care for style, only for work. A bossy elf lady with no time for fun. Of course, if you wear this on a date, there will never be a second one."
The words hit like a whip. Cassandra's shoulders jolted, a tiny tremor running through her body. Her eyes flicked at him in the mirror, wide and red-tinted, betraying exactly what she was hoping for.
Alex almost burst out laughing, the urge to backflip right there clawing at him.
'She wants more than earrings, oh this elf is starving for the game.'
Meanwhile Lily just buried her face in her palms.
'This guy is going to ruin us all. He is going to make that poor elf run away.'
"I… I see… c-could you show me some stylish ones…"
"Nope. Can't give you stylish ones. That'll make you look unprofessional. Imagine walking into your workplace with jewellery that screams I want to be worshipped. They'd eat you alive. And I don't want a dazzling beauty like you getting mocked because of shiny metal."
Cassandra's lips quivered. "B-but…"
"Unless, of course… you're not talking about work. Unless you're going for a date. In that case… I can show you the secret compartment. The pieces so dangerous they make plain women look like goddesses, and goddesses look like sin itself."
He said the last part as a whisper.
Cassandra's entire body stiffened, her chest rising and falling faster. Her knees pressed together, her hands fumbling with her bag as though she needed to hold something or she might fall apart.
Her face collapsed into her palms, crimson red. Her shoulders trembled like a kettle about to whistle. Finally, the words tumbled out, muffled and shameful.
"I-it's for a date… I lied…"
Alex's grin stretched wider, a predator who had just watched the rabbit dig its own grave.
"Knew it. I could smell it the moment you walked in. Don't worry, sweetheart. You came to the right shop. I'll make sure your date never looks at another woman again."
Lily, meanwhile, nearly bit her tongue clean off.
'What the fuck! What the fuck!'