The next morning, Shira's eyes fluttered open as sunlight streamed through the curtains. She reached for her phone on the nightstand. A message from Gina has arrived:
"How did last night go? "
Shira smiled, her fingers tapping out a quick reply: "Thanks for helping with Zack. You're a lifesaver! "
She set the phone down and stretched, feeling the warmth of Brian's body next to her. As if on cue, he stirred and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
"Morning, Shira," he laid his head on her neck.
Shira turned to face him. "Hey, you," she said softly.
Brian's eyes roamed around the luxurious apartment. "This place is amazing."
Shira pushed it aside. "Oh, you know, it's not bad," she said vaguely.
"Not bad?" Brian chuckled. "This apartment is insane. I didn't know you could do that well with these followers... even when I work at Instagram!"
Shira hesitated for a moment before forcing a smile. "Well, my family... has always been supportive of me. Um, how about some breakfast? There is a really nice cafe just around the street corner."
Brian walked to the window to take in the breathtaking ocean view. His mind raced as he formulated a plan. Turning to Shira with a smile, he said, "Hey, I've got a surprise for you. I booked a table at Jean G. for dinner tonight."
Shira's eyes widened. She knew Marion Miami was one of the most expensive steakhouses in the city. "Really? Brian, that's amazing!" She threw her arms around him and planted a kiss on his cheek.
They headed out for breakfast at a nearby café. Shira ordered her usual protein shake, while Brian opted for a healthy breakfast sandwich and an iced cold brew. As they sat at a small table outside, Brian watched Shira sip her shake.
"So, tell me more about your work," he said, taking a bite of his sandwich. "How's the influencer life treating you?"
Shira shrugged, stirring her shake. "Oh, you know, it's growing pretty well. I'm grateful for the opportunities it's given me. I actually just finished shooting for this lingerie brand and I'm pretty excited. Wanna see the photos when they are finished?"
"Of course! I'm sure they are great."
After breakfast, they strolled hand in hand along the streets of Miami's design district. The sun was warm on their skin, and a gentle breeze carried the scent of the ocean. As they passed by the Chanel store, Brian suddenly stopped.
"Hey," he said, nodding towards the store's gleaming facade. "Do you want to take a look inside?"
Shira hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Sure, why not?"
As they approached, a smartly dressed doorman greeted them with a polite nod. "Good morning, welcome to Chanel," he said, holding the door open.
Shira stepped inside, the cool air-conditioning a welcome relief from the Miami heat.
A sales assistant approached them, her heels clicking softly on the polished floor. She had a warm smile and perfectly coiffed hair. "Welcome to Chanel. My name is Olivia. How may I assist you today?"
Brian glanced at Shira before responding, "We're interested in some accessories, maybe earrings or bracelets?"
"Excellent choice," Olivia nodded, leading them to a glass display case. "We have some stunning shipments that just arrived."
She carefully pulled out a velvet-lined tray of earrings, each pair with Chanel's impeccable design.
"These are beautiful," Shira picked up a pair of delicate gold hoops with tiny dangling Chanel perfume bottle charms. "And these two", she then picked geometric earrings with the iconic interlocking CC logo. The earrings had a mix of black and white enamel in a bold, vintage design, with a small diamond accent at the center.
"Would you like to try them on?" Olivia asked.
Shira nodded, and Olivia used an alcohol swiped to clean them before handing them to Shira. Shira put the first pair on and turned to the mirror, admiring how they complemented her features.
"What do you think?" she asked Brian.
"They look amazing on you," he smiled.
Shira tried on a few more pairs, showing each one to Brian. They both seemed particularly drawn to two pairs: the perform button charm drops and the vintage enamel ones.
As Shira admired herself in the mirror, her mind raced. She knew she couldn't afford them. She started thinking of excuses to leave without buying anything.
"Maybe we should think about it and come back later," she began to say, but Brian cut her off.
"We'll take both pairs," he said to Olivia.
Shira's eyes widened in surprise. "Brian, you don't have to-"
He turned to her with a soft smile. "I want to. You know, I feel bad for not bringing you a gift. I've been so caught up with work in California."
Shira felt a mix of excitement and guilt, but she quickly composed herself, adopting a nonchalant air. She casually brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, adorned with one of the new earrings.
"Oh, these?" she said with a practiced smile, her voice light and airy. "They're lovely, of course. But you know, I receive gifts like this quite often from brands I work with."
She turned to Brian, her eyes twinkling with feigned indifference. "It's sweet of you to offer, though. Are you sure you want to splurge on these? I mean, I have a whole collection of designer pieces at home."
Brian raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sudden change in demeanor. "Is that so? Well, I'd still love to add to your collection. Besides, I'm sure these will look stunning on you at dinner tonight."
Shira laughed, a melodious sound that caught the attention of nearby shoppers. "Oh, darling, you're too kind. But if you insist, who am I to refuse? Perhaps I'll wear them in my next Instagram post. My followers do love a good accessory shot."
She turned back to the mirror, adjusting the earrings with practiced ease. "You know, these remind me of the pair I wore to that exclusive gala in New York last month. The designer personally sent them to me. Can you believe it?"
As she spoke, Shira's mind raced, hoping her act was convincing enough. She'd seen countless influencers pull off this air of casual luxury, and now she was putting it to the test herself.
Brian squeezed her hand and looked into Shira's eyes. "I'm sure. Consider it a belated birthday present."
Olivia beamed at them. "Wonderful choice! I'll get these boxes up for you right away."
As Olivia walked away, Shira leaned in and whispered to Brian, "Thank you. This is incredibly generous."
Brian kissed her cheek. "You deserve it. Plus, I can't wait to see you wearing these at dinner tonight."
Shira's heart raced. She has never received something as expensive as this. More importantly, she knows she has got Brian's heart now.
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