"This is too much, Penny," Norah protested vehemently.

The three of them were entering one of the most expensive jewelry stores in the city and when Norah had learned of their next destination she had immediately started to protest. They had already bought a very expensive designer dress, that had been nearly $4000 dollars. Norah had practically fainted when she had seen the price, then they had headed directly for a shoe shop, a very expensive one. They had also bought a Hermes designer handbag, which had been another $1000 and now finally, they were in one of the most exclusive jewelry stores in the city. The price of all these items was close to $6,000, and that was more than Norah had ever spent even five years exclusively for clothes and accessories.

Heck it was more than she's spent on her own self that wasn't bills or medical expenses, though her insurance did cover most medical needs. She usually spent less then a thousand dollars on clothes and shoes in a year's time. She might buy a new top or a pair of pants or even a new pair of shoes, but she certainly didn't spend the amount that Aaron seemed comfortable with. If he spent thousands of dollars every time he needed new clothes, well, she understood that, since he had money to burn, but still, to her it was rather wasteful, though she had to admit that you could wear clothes for years so long as you took care of them and the really expensive stuff lasted longer because it was better made. Quality cost, something Norah knew very well.

She used the same handbag for years for example, as she didn't see the point of wasting money on getting the latest designer one, when the old one was more than serviceable.

"Aaron insisted," Penelope said simply and Norah caved immediately.

"I'm really going to have to talk to that man," Norah sighed in exasperation.

"You can try to convince him not to spend so much money on you, but I doubt very much you'll succeed," Penelope told Norah cheerfully nanaging not to chuckle at her new friend's exasperation with Aaron. "Aaron does exactly what he wants and at the moment he wants to spoil you so you might as well accept it."

Norah said nothing, she didn't want to argue anymore in a public place, and began to look at all the gorgeous jewelry that was in the display cases.

"Well, you sure do know how to stop an argument," JJ told Penny dryly. "You can't really blame her for arguing though, as both of us come from solid middle-class backgrounds. Though if some gorgeous guy wants to buy me jewelry or some nice clothes I probably won't put up too much protest."

"Everyone is different in how they react to things," Penelope said and JJ nodded.

"That's very true. Norah just doesn't like someone spending so much money on her, especially since the relationship might not last."

"I've never seen Aaron this serious about a woman," Penelope revealed to JJ quietly. "I won't say that he hasn't dated a lot, but not any of them were as serious, as what he wants to have with Norah."

"If Norah knew that she likely wouldn't protest so much. She's deeply afraid it isn't going to work out, so she's protesting about all the money being spent as she doesn't want to have to pay it back."

"Aaron doesn't expect his money to be repaid," Penelope said.

"I know that and you know that, but Norah hasn't figured that out yet," JJ said. "All she knows is that relationships between boss and underling don't usually work out for one reason or another so she's blocking herself from being truly happy. I think she sees herself as a passing fancy on Aaron's part one that will fade with time. She doesn't understand that Aaron is really in love with her. I've never met the guy, but I don't see him going to all this trouble just to get her appropriate clothes and accessories if he didn't at least care about her. I would love to meet him, and if their relationship turns serious who knows I might get the opportunity to do so."

"You're right, most relationships between boss and subordinate don't work out except in fiction," Penelope agreed. "Still, I hope she realizes soon that Aaron is way different from most bosses."

"I think she knows that it just hasn't sunk in yet. I think she believes that Aaron will eventually marry someone close to him in status, someone with wealth and a good family name."

"That is a not Aaron at all," Penelope said softly. "He does exactly what he wants and he'll marry who he chooses."

"And he wants to marry Norah," JJ said in understanding and Penelope nodded.

"Aaron isn't one that gives away his heart easily or lightly. He was never in love with any other women he's dated," Penelope said. "He only did it, because it was expected of someone in his social position. That isn't to say that he didn't enjoy those relationships no matter how temporary they might've been, just that they were not meant to last forever."

"Well, we better go see that Norah does exactly what Aaron wants," JJ said finally. "It's a good thing she's been so distracted looking at all the displays, or she would've been over here asking what we were talking about."

"You're right," Penelope agreed. "If there's one thing I know about Norah is that she's just as curious as a cat."

"Now that's the truth," JJ laughed softly before she and Penny went to join Norah at one of the display cases.

~~~Aaron and Nora~~~

"So see anything you like?" Penelope questioned. "You should pick out the appropriate jewelry for your dress."

"Well, the dress is red, so I guess that means rubies," Norah said. "It's all so gorgeous it's going to be hard to pick."

"We have a wide selection of choices madam," said the woman behind the counter, after Penelope had discreetly handed the woman one of Aaron's business cards. The woman's accent was very faint but still present. She sounded possibly European, though she had likely been living in the States for many years Norah never even noticed the exchange, as she was to absorbed at looking at all the beautiful jewelry.

"So the dress you have bought is red, yes? But is it a ruby red? There are different colors of red as it could be a light red, with more pink in it or it can be a medium red, while lighter then ruby red, any stones would still match the dress extremely well. Or you can go for something to contrast instead of compliment. You will look spectacular in nearly everything, as you have the kind of coloring, that makes you look good in most colors."

"Luckily, I took a picture," Penelope said, "as I knew we would be heading here at some point."

Penelope took out her link and brought up the picture she had taken.

The woman behind the counter studied the picture for a brief moment then nodded. "Yes, the pearl pendant that Ms. Greenway was eyeing, will go very well with this dress. Also the ruby and pearl bracelet and earrings that go with the necklace."

"Oh no, that's much too much," Norah said looking up. While her expression was rather wistful it was also resolute. "Aaron has been very generous buying me this beautiful dress, handbag and shoes, but buying all this lovely jewelry is just too much."

"Go ahead and try them on they'll look lovely on you," JJ said. "I think that Mrs. Croft here is right they'll go very well with the dress you bought."

"But no, I can't accept any farther generosity," Norah protested.

"You might as well give in," Penelope told Norah feeling a certain sympathy. "Believe me, you have no idea how stubborn Aaron Hotchner can be. He'll be very disappointed if I don't get everything, you need."
Norah sighed rolling her eyes, but gave in, as she hated arguing in public.

"Aaron and I are really going to have to have a discussion, but for now, I'll just accept his generosity."

"Good, Aaron will be pleased," Penelope said relieved that she wasn't going to have to buy all the jewelry that Ms. Croft had suggested and go against Norah wishes. She would hate to ruin their new friendship just because Norah was too stubborn to accept Aaron's generosity. She could understand it though, because as JJ had said earlier Norah was from a upper middle-class background, and while her parents had been able to pay for things like medicine, clothes and food, even vacations, that was a far cry from how the upper-upper-class lived.

"I suppose I'll take the pendent I was eyeing, the bracelet and earrings," Norah told Mrs. Croft.

Mrs. Croft who had been listening to the brief argument nodded and removed the items from the display case.

Mrs. Croft could guess very well that this Norah Greenway was Aaron Hotchner's current girlfriend and if the conversation was anything to go by she'd likely came from a middle-class background. Ms. Greenway apparently didn't believe in accepting such expensive gifts, which was very admirable, and also very smart unless you were sure of the guy's intentions. It also showed a certain strength of character, of moral fiber and that she wasn't greedy enough to easily accept such expensive gifts from a guy, even one with such an impeccable reputation as Aaron Hotchner.

Of course there was also likely Ms Greenway's pride involved Mrs. Croft thought. That might change if the two of them married, as they would be man and wife then and that was a totally different thing then just being someone's girlfriend. A girlfriend was expendable she supposed. A woman could find herself dumped very easily, as being someone's girlfriend wasn't a permanent arrangement unlike marriage, though a couple could divorce if they found they didn't suit each other.

She hoped the relationship worked out, because if she was anything she was a romantic at heart and she believed in true love. Everybody needed to love someone at least for a brief time to truly understand what real love was.

Mrs. Croft bagged up all the jewelry that Penelope had bought with a copy of Mr. Hotchner's credit card and then watched as the three women left the store.

~~~Aaron and Nora~~~

"Now see that wasn't so hard was it," Penelope asked cheerfully.

Norah rolled her eyes again. "I know you have orders, but I think we have spent enough for one day. Over $12,000 dollars. That's such a ridiculous amount to spend in just a few hours during one shopping expedition that I'm not going to think about it or I'm going to faint in shock."

"It does seem like a pretty ridiculous amount when you put it like that," JJ admitted. "I don't spend that much on this particular kind of thing in ten years, much less a single day's shopping. I've never spent that much period in a year much less a day and no, taxes don't count."

"No, they definitely don't," Penelope said in her naturally bubbly tone. "I would think you'd understand by now Norah that the rich like Aaron Hotchner are totally different from ordinary people. They spend what they want and then they do exactly as they please. On the other side of the scale though, he's not arrogant or full of himself, he gives generously to numerous charities, ones that inspire him and does it because it's the right thing to do not just because it'll look good on his taxes. He has built shelters for the homeless and set up programs for a lot of them to find decent work. He has programs for those addicted to drugs to help them recover and get off them and hundreds of volunteers to help out with that too check up on the person that is trying their best to stay away from such dangerous substances. Of course, such programs aren't a hundred percent effective, but that's only because the person has to really want to get off drugs and has to have a strong will as they'll have to fight the urge to use them every day, especially when times are tough."

"Drugs are seductive, particularly the illegal kind," JJ said. "I had a friend many years ago that got into the habit of taking them and it took a long time to completely break that habit. It made me decide to never take any illegal drugs as I watched my friend struggle every single day to resist the seductiveness of them."

"So have you kept up with your friend?" Norah asked.

"No, but as far as I know she's doing okay. We lost contact after college," JJ said. "Maybe I should think about trying to locate her and reconnecting. See how she's doing after all this time."

"I say you should go for it, as she was your friend all the way through college at least," Penelope suggested.

"Yeah a good friend. We told each other everything back then," JJ said looking wistful.

The three women put the package is in the trunk of the car before they climbed in.

"So home?" Norah suggested sounding suddenly tired.

"I thought I'd take you to my favorite place to eat near here before I take you back to your apartment building. I know I'm hungry and you two are bound to be as well."

"That actually sounds like a pretty good idea," JJ said and Norah nodded. "I didn't realize how hungry I was and that super shopping like we just did really takes it out of you."

"I could eat," Norah agreed,

"That's a really an original term," Penelope grinned, as she got behind the wheel. "I'm going to have to remember that."

"Well, I feel like I just completed a marathon, so I believe that JJ's term is pretty accurate," Norah said.

"The two of you just aren't used to shopping all day and trying on so many different outfits," Penelope said.

"That was not the only reason, as just sitting there tired me out," JJ said.

"Because you weren't actually doing anything other then sitting, as you were just watching Norah try on dresses," Penelope said.

"I suppose. I did look at some of the beautiful gowns though," JJ's tone was rather wistful. "I wish I could afford even a sleeve out of some of those stores as the clothing was gorgeous."

"And the shoes were spectacular," Norah agreed. "I could've bought out the store no problem if I could afford to and if I had anyplace to put them."

Both JJ and Norah sighed rather longingly as both loved shoes. It was something they had bonded over when they first met.

"We both have to many pairs of shoes as it is," JJ said and Norah sighed in agreement.

"I'm going to have to start getting rid of some pairs if I ever want to buy anymore, as I am totally out of room," Norah said. "That's the problem with New York, storage space is rather limited, especially in an apartment.

Penelope didn't say what was thinking and that was there was plenty of closet space at the Hotchner Mansion and it could be hers if she agreed to marry Aaron. She didn't want to push Norah into a full retreat, just because she felt pressured. She wouldn't wreck anything for them both for the world.

"I'm a bit of a shoe lover myself, something Derek doesn't understand my need for, but then, he's a guy. Guys just aren't equipped to understand a woman's need to have the perfect pair of shoes for a certain outfit, but they sure do react when we dress up," Penelope agreed. "I love shoes, clothes, handbags."

"We know, as we love all of the above," Norah and JJ said together.

"It's a sickness that so many women have," Norah added.

"So true," Penelope and JJ giggled.

~~~Aaron and Norah~~~