360: GEMS OF AFFECTION ARIEL’S POV Tessa grinned. “Let’s start with earrings. A pair of statement earrings would really elevate your look.” Nodding in agreement, I followed her lead as we began sifting through the selection of earrings. Gold, silver, pearls–there were so many options to choose from. Finally, Tessa’s fingers landed on a pair of exquisite diamond drop earrings, their brilliance catching the light. “These are perfect,” she declared, holding them up for me to see. “They’ll add just the right amount of glamour without overpowering the dress.” I admired the earrings, and the thought of wearing them flashed through my head. “I love them.” With the earrings chosen, we moved on to the next task: finding a necklace to complement them. After careful consideration, we chose a delicate diamond pendant on a fine chain, which perfectly complemented the dress’s intricate detailing with its understated elegance. “And for bracelets?” Tessa pondered, scanning the displays once more. I spotted a slender diamond bangle nestled among the other accessories; its simple yet sophisticated design caught my eye. “What about this one?” I suggested it, pointing it out to her. She nodded in approval. “Perfect. It ties everything together beautifully.” With our selected accessories, I felt a sense of satisfaction. “I can’t thank you enough, Tessa. You have such an eye for fashion.” She beamed at me. “It was my pleasure, Ariel. You’re going to look absolutely stunning tonight.” “Well, thank you.” I blushed at the compliment. “Well, well, well, who do we have here?” Simon approached us, walking slowly in our direction. “If it isn’t Ariel Walker and her worthless friend,” He paused, then asked Tessa, “What’s your name again?” “Oh, shut up!‘ She snapped at him. “What are you doing here?” “I came here to get myself some clothes, just like you,” he answered with a plastic smile. 360 GEMS OF AFFECTION 2/4 “Look, Simon. I know you’ve come here to play your vile games. But I don’t have time for this nonsense right now.” His smile faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. “Oh, is that so? And here I thought I was just enjoying a leisurely shopping trip,” I could feel the tension cracking in the air as Simon’s gaze shifted to me. He took a step closer, his expression turning menacing, “But you, Ariel, always seem to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time,” 1 stiffened, instinctively taking a step back. “There’s no need for all this, Simon. We can just go now and pretend like none of this ever happened.” He quickly captured me, with his grip tightening on my hand and his fingers digging into my skin. “Don’t play dumb with me, Ariel. “You know exactly what you did, disrespecting my family like that.” I winced at the pain in my hand. “Let go of me,” I demanded, attempting to pull my hand free from his grasp. But Simon only tightened his grip, his eye glowing with malice. “You will pay for what you’ve done,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. I shook my head defiantly, refusing to cower in the face of his threats. “I won’t let you go on with this. Let go of me now.” With a frustrated growl, Simon released my hand, his gaze narrowing in fury. “Fine,” he spat, taking a step back. “But don’t think this is over, Ariel. You haven’t heard the last of me. 11 And the moment he stormed off, I let out a shaky breath, feeling a rush of relief wash over me. Turning to Tessa, I met her gaze. “Let’s get out of here,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. Her expression was filled with concern as she nodded in agreement. “Absolutely. Come on, Ariel. We’ll go somewhere else.” Linking arms with Tessa, I followed her lead as we hurried away from the spot, leaving behind the echoes of his threats and the lingering sense of unease. **** I couldn’t believe it was already three days and how the relationship had been moving so fast. Everything moved so fast, and I wanted to make this day extra special for Harriet. I wanted to express my love for her in the most meaningful way possible, and I knew that 360 GEMS OF AFFECTION she deserved nothing but the best. That’s why I decided to take her to a Jewelry shop. “Where are we going, Luke?” Harriet asked as we walked hand in hand “It’s a surprise,” I replied with a smile. 3/4 We arrived at the jewelry store, and Harriet’s eyes were filled with surprise. “A jewelry shop? ” “Not just any jewelry shop, but one of the most expensive in New Haven.” “Luke, you shouldn’t have.” I chuckled. “I want to buy you something special.” Her eyes widened, and she let out a small gasp. “Really? You don’t have to do that, Luke.” “I want to.“Please, let me show you how much you mean to me,” I said, taking her hand and leading her inside. The store was filled with sparkling diamonds, glittering gold, and shining silver. Harriet’s eyes darted around, taking in all the beautiful pieces. It was clear that she was in awe. “So, what kind of jewelry do you like, Harriet?” I asked her with a smile. She paused for a moment, looking at all the options. “I’ve always loved earrings,” she finally said. I nodded and walked over to the earring section. Harriet’s eyes widened as she saw the variety of designs. “These are all so beautiful,” she said, looking at me with a grateful smile. I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself as I picked out a pair of diamond stud earrings for her. “These will look amazing on you,” I said, handing them to her. Harriet’s eyes filled with tears, and she hugged me tightly. “Thank you, Luke. I love them,” she whispered in my ear. But I wasn’t done yet. I wanted to make this day even more special for her. “Wait, there’s more,” I said, leading her to the next section. I could see the glee in her eyes as she saw the stunning necklaces. “Oh my, these are gorgeous,” she said, her voice filled with awe. I knew that she loved delicate and dainty jewelry, so I picked out a simple yet elegant gold chain with a small heart–shaped pendant. “This is for you,” I said, placing it around her neck. HHarriet hugged me tightly. “I don’t know what to say, Luke. Thank you so much,” she said, 360: GEMS OF AFFECTION 4/4 her voice cracking with emotion. I smiled and wiped away her tears. “There’s one more thing,” I said, leading her to the last section. Harriet’s eyes widened as she saw the beautiful bracelets. “Luke, this is too much,” she said, looking at me with a mixture of love and surprise. “Nothing is too much for you, Harriet,” I replied, picking out a delicate silver bracelet with a heart charm. I helped her put on the bracelet, and she looked at me with so much happiness in her eyes. Thank you, Luke. You’ve made me the happiest girl in the world,” she said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. I hugged her tightly, feeling overwhelmed with love and joy. This was the perfect way to show Harriet how much she meant to me. And seeing her so happy made it all worth it. “You’ll go to the party with me, right?” I grinned at her.
