Not A Small Town Girl (Danielle and David) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

The next morning, Xavier was up bright and early, lounging in the living room as he eagerly waited for Danielle. It was his first time taking her shopping, and he’d been so excited he’d barely slept.

"Just so you know," Xavier announced smugly to his brothers, "I’m taking Danielle out today."

The others exchanged sharp glances, silently cursing his gloating.

"Mom, why isn’t Danielle down yet?" Xavier asked, practically bouncing in his seat.

Vivian shot him a look of mild irritation. "For heaven’s sake, Xavier, you’ve asked a hundred times already. Be quiet for a minute, okay?"

Before she could say more, Danielle came down the stairs, her presence instantly lighting up the room.

"Danielle! Did you sleep well? No rush-take all the time you need," Xavier said, his tone enthusiastic as he stood to greet her.

"Good morning, everyone," Danielle said, her smile warm and cheerful.

Howard and Vivian beamed at their daughter, admiring her cute outfit. "Come have some breakfast first, sweetheart," they said in unison.

Meanwhile, Audrey had been upstairs, spending extra time primping herself. When she finally walked into the living room and saw everyone gathered around Danielle, happily eating, she felt a pang of jealousy.

"Good morning, everyone," Audrey said with a big, practiced smile.

Vivian glanced up. "Audrey, you’re up early. Come join us for breakfast," she said gently.

Audrey sat down, playing coy. "I wanted to eat with all of you."

As the meal went on, she turned to Joseph, her tone casual but calculated. "Joseph, since I’m on summer break and bored at home, can I intern at the company?"

Joseph frowned slightly, surprised. "Why the sudden interest in working?"

Howard and Vivian exchanged glances, equally puzzled. Audrey wasn’t the type to show much interest in hard work.

"Audrey, if you’re bored, why not take a trip with your friends?" Vivian suggested. "Working at the company can be exhausting. I don’t want you overdoing it."

Audrey pouted a little, her voice softening. "Mom, I know you care about me, but it’s our family business. I just want to learn a little, and Joseph won’t let me work too hard, right?" She batted her lashes at him.

Howard rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Some work experience wouldn’t hurt."

Sensing her parents’ approval, Audrey turned to Joseph with a sweet smile. "I promise I won’t cause any trouble. Please let me try."

Joseph shrugged. "Alright, report to the CEO’s office tomorrow."

Audrey lit up, clapping her hands. "Thank you, Joseph! Mom, Dad, I’ll work hard and do my best to help the company!"

Danielle glanced at Audrey, keeping her expression neutral. Just yesterday, Audrey had tried to put a hit on her, and now, she was suddenly eager to intern at the family business. It was interesting.

Meanwhile, Xavier kept sneaking glances at Danielle. She’d finished her breakfast, and he was practically vibrating with anticipation. Still, he didn’t want to seem pushy.

attention of everyone nearby. The security guards at the entrance stared, momentarily stunned.

One guard quickly approached the car. As the doors opened, a man stepped out, his face hidden by a hat and mask, followed by a woman whose beauty seemed almost otherworldly. The guard couldn’t help but gawk.

Danielle noticed the lingering stares, but before she could react, Xavier, still recovering from the dizzying ride, snapped, "What are you staring at?"

The guards snapped out of it and stammered apologies. "Sorry! We didn’t mean to stare."

Xavier, protective as ever, pulled Danielle close. "Come on, Danielle. Let’s head in. Anything you want, it’s on me," he declared grandly.

As they entered the mall, heads turned everywhere they went. Even with Xavier’s face mostly hidden, his tall, striking figure caught attention. And Danielle’s beauty was impossible to ignore.

They wandered leisurely until they reached a luxury boutique. The moment they stepped inside, a salesperson approached, her eyes lighting up as she took in their expensive outfits.

"Welcome! These are some of our latest arrivals," she said warmly. She gestured to a rack of clothing and added, "This dress, for example, is a limited- edition piece designed by Celia Clark herself. It’s truly one of a kind."

Danielle raised an eyebrow. She was familiar with Celia’s work. The designer had been making waves in the fashion world ever since winning a major competition last year. But to Danielle, her designs felt unremarkable, lacking in real creativity.

Sensing Danielle’s lack of interest, the salesperson quickly pivoted, showing off other options.

Xavier, meanwhile, spotted a sleek white dress on display. His eyes lit up. "Danielle, this one is perfect for you," he said, holding it up and looking at her like an excited puppy.

Danielle couldn’t help but smile at his enthusiasm. Taking the dress, she headed to the fitting room.