Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 153 - Return Loop: Good Food, Fine Clothing

Chapter 153: Chapter 153 - Return Loop: Good Food, Fine Clothing

When I stepped out of the shop, the afternoon sun was out. With less overcast skies than the last few days... one could almost forget that the chance of rain was still significant.

A growl in my stomach forced me to realize that I’ve grown hungry again. You’d think a whole chicken would tide me over for longer. I’m starting to worry what it might be like to try and feed both of us a year from now.

> Children can be just as ravenous... <

With the jewelry box I hadn’t intended to buy when I came here in my hands, that teased out a desire to continually spend more money. Buy more things - with my money. I knew exactly where I wanted to go.

"Right. But food first and then maybe more shopping second."

Entering the Moonsilver Diner after a city hike brought back memories of my first overwhelmingly hungry visit. The same scents of food that had drawn me in last time. But no Melissa behind the counter or out on the floor.

Instead, another young woman with short black hair looked up from wiping down a table - and only briefly tilted her head at the box I held.

"Afternoon. Sit anywhere you’d like and I’ll take your order when I can."

I chose a booth near the window and picked up the laminated menu, though I already knew what I wanted. The bacon cheeseburger! The waitress - her name tag read [Deborah] - approached with a notepad and coffee pot.

"Coffee to start?"

"I’d like some water, please. And I’m ready to order if that’s alright."

She waited with her pen poised as I explained that I wanted a cheeseburger with everything including bacon... and regular fries. She scribbled it down without comment, though I caught a slight snort over my resistance against the sweet potato craze.

"Anything else?"

"That should do it for now."

I settled back in the booth and after water was brought to me, pulled out my phone. Staring at the contacts, I eventually tap on Kyrie but back out quickly and decide to handle BK instead. Making money for real has me feeling greedy.

C: [Changed my mind, let’s meet tonight. Send me the location at least a few hours before the meeting time.]

> So we can scope it out. Make sure it’s not a trap. <

The environment here - and sitting down - helped calm some of the residual tension from the end of the pawn shop visit. Here, I was just another customer ordering too much food with no particular backer.

"So why do you keep opening and closing her message tab..."

Shaking my head when the food arrived, I ate with the same enthusiasm as before... but without the desperate edge of someone who didn’t know where their next meal was coming from.

And as I finished the last of the salty fries, I left a generous tip by placing down another hundred and walking out. Much more than the meal cost... but the waitress and her surprised smile when she saw it made the extravagance worth it.

> I can start being frugal tomorrow. Today is our independence day! <

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

Crystalline Spa looked just as impressive on the outside as before. My first visit I felt so cautious - but this time I walked through the entrance with confidence I felt instead of bravado I wore - like the dirty clothing then was an emperor’s robes.

But it still weirds me out that the guards are not carding me - when I actually have one this time! Or why they didn’t ask to look in the box... but the soothing music played in the background of the reception area quickly made me forget.

> Expensive and relaxing scents. Can hardly smell any lingering wolf at all in here. <

I bypassed the spa main desk and headed directly to the boutique section. Mannequins set up and displayed the same sort of understated pieces I remembered from a week ago. Clothes that whispered quality rather than shouting it.

A well-dressed woman I didn’t recognize looked up from arranging a display of scarves. It made me wonder if all the females I met on my original visits are hiding from me. Only the pawn shop owner was the same man...

"Good afternoon. Are you here as part of spa services or shopping separately today?"

"I was actually hoping to find Anise - she helped me select some pieces a while back. Is she out today?"

"Oh, you’re one of her clients! Let me find her for you. She’ll be so pleased."

When she disappeared through a doorway marked [Staff Only], that left me alone to examine the clothes in the area. These people really believe in the safety of their security cameras and societal conformity, don’t they?

A blue silk blouse caught my eye first that was paired along with a white blazer that looked both professional and elegant. Which makes my whole head jerk towards a new section of colorful shorts.

> Yes, it looked like something Kyrie would wear. No, I am not buying it just for that comparison! <

"Citra!"

At the call of my name, I turned to see Anise emerging from the hidden back room. Her face lit up so much and she looked exactly as I remembered - strawberry blonde hair perfectly put together like a braided crown.

Wearing a dark tailored dress in that effortless way - both professional expertise and her own personal style. A woman comfortable and confident... and worth remaining an ally to.

"Anise. It’s good to see you again."

"You look wonderful. How has the city been treating you?"

I found myself smiling back at her enthusiasm. During our first meeting, I’d definitely rested some during the treatments, but I’d been exhausted and overwhelmed more than not. Barely holding myself together through will alone.

Now, I felt like I could actually enjoy the experience of shopping and chatting. Not that I felt any less willful.

"I’m doing fine, I think. I’m here to buy some clothes again - with my own money this time."

The woman’s smile grew even warmer at that sort of announcement. As she spoke back, she gestured to me and allowed me to place my jewelry box down on her counter.

"Wonderful news for the both of us. I remember your measurements - though I’m not afraid to admit I also saved a picture from where I wrote it down. Just in case you showed up as a client again. Glad you did, as I have some ideas that I think you’re going to love."

Part of me knows this is at least 75% all a mercantile method. ’Fawning’ over a customer makes them feel special, makes them buy more. She even basically admitted she had things I might buy!

But I also remember what that day was like... and this woman was one of the highlights. Even if she seems to be friendly, for a human, with that Alpha. Might even tell her I was here again.

"I have to admit, I wasn’t exactly at my best last time. I was... going through something. I’m sorry if I said or did anything rude or strange."

"Ah? No trouble at all. If anything, I may have teased you too much at the end there. So please, if I do that again just let me apologize... and don’t commit fashion suicide on me twice in a row, or it will hurt my heart."

Perhaps I deserve that. Lucky for her, I left the jacket at the motel this afternoon.

> Maybe I’ll put it on over whatever I buy when I get back and send her a picture. <