Eli's eyes landed on the green emerald pendant that sat in a corner of the magnificent Bijou Royale.
Today was his wife's birthday and also their two year wedding anniversary.
"Please can I know how much that emerald necklace is?" Eli asked nicely as he pointed at that one necklace he was certain his wife was going to love.
"Not to be rude Sir, but that necklace isn't something you can afford and I advise you to go for something cheaper." The attendee responded, her voice filled with contempt and disgust as she looked at the man in front of her.
What was he thinking, that this was some sort of thrift shop he could walk into and pick anything he wanted. She wasn't even sure he could afford thrift with the way he looked.
Eli bent to look at his outfit, wondering if he really looked that bad, he had spent hours looking for a cloth that wouldn't give his poor background away, he couldn't believe that she was able to tell by merely glancing at him.
"Can I at least know the price?" He continued, not willing to give up.
Naturally he wouldn't have dreamt of coming to this place or ask for that necklace, but he had spent years saving for this day and really wanted this for his wife, he had not been able to celebrate his wife properly the previous year and had gotten her something cheap, despite having said she didn't mind, he knew she was lying and swore to make it up to her every year forward even if meant working triple and save more before this day.
"You can go ask the cashier over there, I am sure she would be willing to tell you the price." The attendee finally answered before scoffing and walking away.
"All these poor people looking for where to get charity." Eli heard her whisper under her breath.
"Excuse me Miss."
The cashier lifted her head from the document she was reading, a bright smile on her face, the smile immediately fell, when she saw the man in front of her, what could he possibly want.
"How may I help you?" ….Her voice thick with disgust.
"I was wondering the price of that Emerald necklace." Eli responded immediately, pointing to the necklace, not minding the look she was giving him.
"It's not something you can afford sir, and not only that necklace, but everything in this store." The cashier responded before bending over her documents, completely ignoring the man in front of her.
"Can I know the price, I just might be able to afford it."
"Fine — 500,000 million dollars." The cashier responded, lifting her head in anger. The price was obviously a lie and she had exaggerated it by 100%, but she couldn't wait to get rid of this man that just wouldn't leave her alone.
Eli became downcast immediately, even if he saved for 5 years straight without doing anything with his money, there was no way he could afford it.
He looked at the necklace again, not wanting to believe that the price was that high, he sighed again, deciding that it just might be high end and this people weren't lying to him.
"Is there any low end emerald necklace I could get for 5000 dollars or even mid range." He asked further. He knew his wife had always wanted one and even if he might not be able to get the high end one, he was hoping to at least get something cheaper.
"This is the Bijou Royale, and we only sell high quality jewelleries. I will have to ask you to leave now or I will call the security to escort you out." The cashier spoke, getting increasingly impatient at this man that was disturbing her.
Just as Eli was about to ask for another necklace, even if it wasn't emerald, the manager of the store came out, sighted him and became disgusted by the man's tattered appearance.
"Who let this man in?" The manager asked in a loud voice drawing attention to Eli immediately, she turned to face the cashier, when she didn't get the response she was satisfied with.
"Why is this man speaking to you, can't you see he is tainting the elegance of this store."
"Or is he someone you know?" The manager asked the already fuming cashier.
The cashier couldn't stop herself from gagging at the mere thought of this horrid looking man being someone related to her.
"No..no.. Ma" she said in between angry pauses.
"Security!!!, please throw this man out, and do it now."
She had just gotten a call that an important customer was coming to the store and she couldn't risk chasing the important customer away by the appearance of this man.
Eli looked like he was about to say something, but was stopped by strong hands picking him up and throwing him out of the Bijou Royale, luckingly he wasn't someone important, so the people in the store couldn't be bothered by him else he didn't know what he was going to tell his wife if something of this sort got out.
He stood up slowly, dusting the tiny specks of dust that clung to his cloth. This was his best cloth and what he planned on wearing for his wife's celebration and wedding anniversary.
"Get out of the way." Someone said, pushing him back to the ground as they rushed to enter the Bijou Royale. Several men followed behind the man that had just entered, stepping on him– ignoring the fact that he was human. By the time they had finished their procession and Eli finally had a chance to get up, he had sustained some injuries.
Groaning to himself, he checked the injuries he had just sustained, luckily it was something he could hide under his clothes. Without much time left and the agreed time for his anniversary dinner getting close by, Eli rushed to the next jewelry store, picked the cheapest looking yet beautiful jewelry, pays for it and heads to his in-laws house, which he lived in with his wife
"I am home!!" – babe, Elara Celeste Thorne." Eli called from the doorway, his heart rate increasing at every passing moment of not hearing her respond.
"Who is making such loud noises this mid afternoon – and please refrain from adding your horrid surname to my daughter's name. Mrs Selva Moreau, Elara's Mom and Eli's Mom in law said, her eyes sweeping over Eli with disgust.
She was dressed in a blue flowy gown which highlighted her curves, despite her age and having given birth to a grown woman, Selva looked as young and dashing as she had been in her youth.
"Where are you going Mom and where's Celeste." Eli asked, ignoring the annoyed look that continuously flashed through this woman's eyes.
"Today's Elara's birthday and also our wedding anniversary, so I had asked her to get ready for the surprise I had for her." Eli continued when he noticed his mother-in-law had no thought of answering him.
Your wife is currently at the party arranged for her by her grandmother and numerous suitors, since you – her so-called husband forgot about it — and that's where I am headed." Selva responded, the irritation never leaving her tone.
"I wonder why Elara refuses to divorce you" Selva added under h
er breath, before walking out of the house and slamming the door behind her.