Her brothers were taken aback by what they had heard. They could not believe that their sister was really part of an underground organization.

"This is not the time to question me about this matter," she said. "We can talk about it some other time. Let's go, we are running out of time. I suggest you go first. I need to use the restroom right now."

Franzlie, without a word, took a detour down the alley. She noticed a thrift store and went inside. She picked out a few clothes and asked the sales clerk, 

"Miss, can I try these on and please give me a pair of sneakers or canvas shoes that you have?" She smiled politely.

The sales clerk smiled back and said, "Of course. You can try them on in the dressing room over there." She pointed to a small room in the corner of the store.

Franzlie went into the dressing room and tried on the clothes. She found a few that she liked and then went back to the sales clerk.

"I'll take these," she said, holding up the clothes.

"Okay," the sales clerk said. "And how about a pair of sneakers or canvas shoes?"

"Yes, please," Franzlie said.

The sales clerk went to the back of the store and came back a few minutes later with a pair of sneakers.

"Here you go," she said. "These are the only ones we have in your size."

"They're perfect," Franzlie said. "Thank you."

Franzlie paid for the clothes and shoes and went back to the fitting room to change into the clothes that she had just bought. She then wrapped up the clothes that she had taken off and went back to the counter.

"Miss, I want you to have these clothes of mine," she said to the sales clerk. "They're still new, and it wouldn't be wise for me to throw them away."

The sales clerk was taken aback by the woman's generosity. "Thank you, Miss," she said, taking the paper bag with a big smile. "It looks like your clothes aren't ordinary."

Franzlie smiled back and said, "I'm glad you think so. I hope you enjoy them."

And with that, she turned and left the store, leaving the sales clerk to wonder about the mystery woman who had just given her a bag of expensive clothes.

She walks back to the showroom, yet the personnel at the entrance hold her.

“We don’t allow paupers in the showroom.” An arrogant taunt of a man that stops her to enter. 

Franzlie stares at the man that upholds her. I need to get in, my brothers are already inside, they are waiting for me. She calmly pleaded to the man. 

“"You mean they are already inside the showroom?" the man in front of her bellowed, drawing the attention of the crowd.

"Please," she appealed to the man at the lobby for the second time, "can you let me in? I need to see my brothers inside. I am here to purchase a car."

Hearing what Franzlie said the personnel cackle in laughter.

The lobby attendant rudely dismissed the potential customer, saying, "You pauper will purchase a car here? That's a pretty absurd joke. Alright, stop this nonsense and go away. Your presence attracts a crowd."

The lobby attendant was still chasing away the customer when a mid-forties man came rushing in and scolded the attendant for his rude behavior.

"Please refrain from shouting in the lobby. This is a place of business, and your behavior is disruptive and unprofessional. A senior executive is here for an inspection, and your actions are reflecting poorly on our company. Please compose yourself and act in a more appropriate manner." 

The lady in her mid-forties is Mrs. Gail Chen. Franzlie gazes a cold stare at the man and speaks once again. 

‘Am I allowed to enter now? My company is there now and they are probably looking for me now.” Franzlie spits her words into an icy cold that makes the man wonder with her attitude.

“By all means, young lady. I see three gentlemen in the east wing. I would be happy to assist you with anything else you may need, and please take this brochure. It will help you choose from among the cars available in our showroom. We also offer door-to-door delivery, at your convenience.”

Mrs. Chen handed the stack of pamphlets to Franzlie with an eagerness to be of assistance.

“Thank you” Franzlie expresses her appreciation to the lady and leaves her. Yet, she hasn't taken a few steps and she goes back to the lobby. 

“Ma’am can the man in the lobby assist me?” Franzlie requested Mrs.Chen.

“Of course, It’s not a problem,” Mrs. Chen replied blissfully. “ Garcia, assist this young miss at the east wing with her company.”

“Me? will I assist a pauper like her? Come on, stop dreaming like you can purchase any car from this showroom.” 

Garcia on the other hand keeps pushing her patience to the end and mocking her.With irritation Mrs. Chen bursts in. 

“Indeed, you will assist her or you want to lose your job right now. Don’t provoke me with your stereotyping of our customer. I don’t need your opinion about them. You work here, then do your work and stop your prejudice against her.” 

Franzlie takes a blank glimpse to Garcia and shrugs her shoulders and walks away. Garcia doesn't have anything to retaliate, he follows Franzlie fuming. He keeps Thinking what he can do to drive the girl out of the showroom. The man smirks and takes out  his keys and scratches one of the cars. 

“You’re a dead meat now.  I’ll make sure that you will end up in jail after this.”

However Franzlie is aware that the man is up to frame her up. She keeps walking until Malik notices her. Yet, Malik scratches his head staring at her like a rugged girl on the street. 

“Franzlie” Malik called her and she walked to them. 

“Woahhh!!! Wait!!! Wait!!! Franzlie is that you? Xanth asks her, roaming his eyes on her.He can’t ever imagine her sister can be so low and wear old clothes.

“What happened to you? Are you hurt or something? Why are you wearing clothes like that? That’s not yours right?” 

Franzlie is being swarmed with questions from her brothers but she just keeps looking at them and views to the sideline.Rhory picks up the message by her body language. She signals to Malik. Malik walks beside her and nods. 

“I found the car that you want and according to the agent, you can customize the car and they will assist you. Or you can give your precise design and they will do it. Yet, the customization may take time and you will add twenty percent on the net payment to the car.” 

Xanth explains her seriously while staring at Garcia. Nevertheless Franzlie shakes her head. Xanth walks her to the car. A metallic black van in front of her. She asks to open the trunk to see the engine mechanics of the van.

“It’s a V-12 engine. With an automatic steering wheel. All the seats are leather. In the dashboard all are digitized and with a wide screen for all the functions of the car. Automatic lock for all doors and windows at the driver's seat button.”

Xanth detailed it to her, while she followed him while explaining.

“Ask if they have another color other than this. I need a bright yet slick one and arrange another car for Malik too. I’ll junk  that car of his. An orange convertible for the lad if they have, if not let them customize the paint of the car.” 

Franzlie took her wallet and gave the card to Rhory. However, Garcia appears.

“Are you done with your conference now? Let me see the car. Maybe you’ve done something awful to it and are going to run away without paying for the damage.”

With sinister arrogance, Garcia speaks to her. “Are you leaving now?” 

“Sir, excuse me but why are you chasing us out? “Xanth speaks out of nowhere looking at Garcia straight to his eyes. “Do you have the right to chase us away in this premises? Are you the owner?” 

Franzlie shakes her head when Malik and Mrs. Chen came. 

“Mrs. Chen made me an arrangement of this van. Please customize them for me. Malik will send you the details of the customization design. An Iwant an orange convertible too.” Franzlie speaks with all her coolness even when she's irritated by Garcia. 

“How could a pauper like you can purchase a luxury car like this and you are hilarious that you want a customized car huh!... I want to laugh at you hard for being delusional having them at your shabby house.”

 Garcia keeps mocking her. Malik doesn’t wait for her to retaliate. He steps and throws a punch towards Grcia’s face. Garcia flies and bangs  at the wall. His teeth knocked out due to the force of the hit Malik did. Xanth and Rhory were taken aback by what Malik had done. Garcia spits blood then passes out. 

 “That’s enough, Malik. Please make all my requests Mrs. Chen, call me or my secretary if you need anything else. My apologies to what my subordinates had done to Garcia.” 

Franzlie bowed her head apologizing to the supervisor of the showroom. However her siblings rolled their eyes to what they had heard of her. 

“Send that poor thing to the nearest hospital and please compensate him as well. And one last request: he is the person that will deliver my cars to my house.” 

Emotionless as she speaks to Mrs. Chen. On the other hand Mrs. Chen takes notes on all of her requests. The old lady accepted the card and while she dialed a number for the nearest hospital. 

“Thank you very much young Miss, I will handle all your requests. Rest assured your  words  will convey to Garcia. Young Miss, no need to apologize about the matter of Garcia. He’s the one that provokes you. It’s all his fault.”

An apologetic words from the supervisor. The old lady gave back the card and tilted her head towards her. She smiles at the old lady and pats her shoulder as they leave the showroom. 

“What about now? You don’t  even do anything while he mocks you in front of us. Where is the fierce and bully lassie that we know?” 

Xanth lectures her while they are going to their next destination. Malik wants to talk but he keeps his mouth shut and just stares at her. She nods at him and Xanth looks back at Malik. 

“You, I know you know my sister, what’s on her mind now? Xanth fires back at Malik.

“Well, just wait till the man is fine and you will know what your sister is going to do with him. I just couldn't control myself earlier, that's why I did that thing. Even me was surprised to see her in that attire. Perhaps something happened earlier that we don’t know. That's why she dresses like that.”

Malik explains nervously his tone quivers as he speaks to Xanth. Her company arrives at Casa de Estrella. Malik walks to the information and confirms their appointment.

“Mr.Ali, good to see you here. All your requests are already prepared and please do follow me at the receiving area.” A curvy lady named Natasha receives and assists them. 

“Mr.Ali it’s been a while that Miss MC hasn't visited here, is she well? Our personnel have a lot of ideas for new designs. If ever she has time, I hope she can drop by. Please convey it to her.” Natasha talks non stop in a gleeful way. 

“Don’t worry and you will never know she may visit you in the most surprising manner though. Your boss likes surprises that will give you a heart attack in the end. So, it’s better you guys just wait for her.”

Malik retaliates with a playful tone to Natasha. The lady giggles blissfully. 

“Sir these are all the gowns and suits that we have and the cream off-shoulder gown is one of the well designed among the gowns here.” Natasha picks classic   beige shoes with diamond glitters on the heels. 

Malik gazeFranzlie at the back. She waves her hand and she takes a seat looking at the window. Rhory walks to her and wraps his arms around her shoulder.

“It will be alright Franz. Smile for me, I mean for us.” Rhory whispers words to console her. 

“I’m alright don’t worry about me, we need to hurry now. Do pick your suit for later so we can go back. We need to help Achlys and Llyr so we can prepare earlier. I don’t want to disappoint Papa.” Franzlie replied calmly to Rhory. 

“Yes, young miss. I will be obliged to your wishes.” Rhory candidly answers her. 

She shakes her head and pushes him towards Xanth and Malik. In a matter of an hour they are done with all the suits and gowns that they need for the party. Xanth settled all the bills. Malik helped them load all the boxes and bags at her car. 

“Can I drive?” She asks her brother and without second thoughts Xanth tosses the keys to her. “Get in,”she ordered.