Chapter 21: Shopping, Lana

Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills.

After leaving the mansion and driving around the upscale neighbourhood, and enjoying the view, he finally arrived here.

He hadn't planned to go shopping today, but then he remembered that aside from the clothes he had on, he didn't have anything else to wear.

And this prompted his decision to come here.

Rodeo Drive, one of the most expensive shopping area globally. It's a place he never thought he would had have the opportunity of not only coming but also shopping here.

Things here aren't expensive just because of the brand names. No, it's because the whole area is filled with stores cater to celebrities, billionaires, royalty, and luxury collectors, and their prices naturally has to reflect that.

Liam drove down and finally parked by the side of the street. Even though it was already evening, there was still a bit of crowd around.

As he drove down, his car grabbed the attention of some of the onlookers. Even though the whole area is is no stranger to luxury cars, the car still got people talking.

Liam got out of his car and look at around. All he could were luxury stores around him but he has no idea which one to choose.

He was still looking around, when he heard a familiar voice calling his name. He turned and he saw that it was one of Stacy's friends who he bad met at the gathering that night.

"Liam?" The girl asked in curiosity.

"Lana?" Liam called out her name.

"Oh, wow. It's really you, Liam. I thought I saw wrong when I saw you get out of the car," Lana smiled.

"You surprised me too. I didn't expect to see someone familiar here," Liam said.

"Hehehe. I get that a lot," Lana giggled.

"It's nice to see. I still haven't thanked you guys for your hospitality that night. I really appreciate it," Liam said, with polite smile.

"You don't need to thank us. We also enjoyed your company," Lana said.

"So, you came for shopping?"

"Yeah. Clothes and stuff. Lots of them," Liam replied.

"I see... You look like this is your first time here, do you mind me showing you around? I know which store has what around here."

"Sure. I would love that," Liam nodded.

Lana was right. He's new to the place and it would be a great help if she can show him around.

"Cool. Come on, let's go then," she said, and started leading him down the street.

As they walked, Lana started introducing him to nearly every store they passed. She chatted away, flaunting her knowledge wealth, as she told Liam about the history of nearly each store and even the high profile individuals, like celebrities, billionaires and the likes, that have patronised them.

Liam was quite surprised by how much she knew about the stores in Rodeo Drive. Though he doesn't exactly need the information she was giving him, but he appreciated it.

He actually felt that it might be her way of interacting with people. But he would be lying if he said that he wasn't curious about how she knew all of this.

Lana noticed Liam's silence and turned to look at him, and she saw him staring at her in a strange way. She met his gaze but immediately turned her face away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. It seems like I was rambling on and on about things that aren't important," she said in a low voice, that was barely above a whisper.

Liam caught what she said clearly and he smiled.

"You seem to know a lot about this place," he said.

"Yeah, my mom is the Store Director of the Dior store here," she replied.

"A Store Director? Wow!" Liam said in surprise.

"Yeah. She's someone of status," Lana smiled proudly.

Liam saw how proud Lana was of her mother and he couldn't help but smile too.He actually has no idea what a store director is but he knew that it was a position higher than store manager.

Now that Lana had said it, he just realised how high-end the clothes she's wearing is and also that which she wore at the gathering.

Damn, Stacy! You and your friends are form families with some monster level background.

"We are here. This is my mom's store," Lana said, as they arrived in front of a store with the Dior logo in front of it.

"Come on in," she said and opened the door, walking into the store.

Liam nodded and followed her in.

"Liam, can give me a minute, please? I want to help you out with the shopping, but I have to give my mom her coffee," Lana said, with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Sure," Liam shrugged, "I will just look around while I wait."

"Thank you," Lana said with a smile and walked to a black door.

Just as Liam said, he decided to look around the store.

The air inside the store was cool and infused with a faint, refined fragrance—something floral layered with musk, luxurious and subtle. Ambient lighting from recessed LEDs highlighted every surface with a soft glow, bouncing gently off polished marble floors the color of pale champagne.

The boutique was laid out like a curated museum. Each section was open and spacious, allowing each item to breathe. Nothing was cluttered. No racks were overfilled. Every piece of clothing was spaced just enough to emphasize its uniqueness and value.

Liam strolled toward the men's section, immediately noticing the tailored suits displayed on sleek matte-black hangers. One mannequin was dressed in a full navy wool double-breasted suit with subtle embroidery on the lapels—classic, elegant, and dripping with quiet power. The price tag discreetly tucked behind the lapel read $6,800.

On a central display table made of smoked glass and brushed steel were neatly folded knitwear and silk shirts. One shirt—an off-white piece with a muted Dior Oblique jacquard pattern—felt impossibly soft between Liam's fingers, and it had a price tag of $1,950.

He continued down the line, catching sight of calfskin leather jackets with minimal designs and precise cuts. One particularly clean black piece, thin as paper yet structured like armor, sat proudly on its own pedestal stand, and it costs $9,200.

Footwear lined the wall across from the clothes: high-top sneakers with embroidered bees ($1,300), Derby shoes in patent leather ($2,100), and boots with the CD hardware subtly engraved into the heel ($2,850).

Liam let out a low breath.

He wasn't shocked by the prices—he could afford all of it now—but it was still a surreal feeling. To walk in casually, browse clothes worth so much and know that he could buy everything here without denting his finances, was something he never thought possible.

His fingers brushed over another blazer—this one a sleek sand-colored single-breasted cut made from a cashmere-wool blend, with lean lines and slight sheen, and a price tag of $5,400.

He was still looking around, when he heard Lana's voice behind him.

"Liam, thanks for waiting," she said, as she walked towards him.

"No problem. I kept myself busy with the sights of the clothes."

Lana giggled sheepishly when she heard what he said. Even without him saying it outrightly, she understood what she meant.

"I know. They are expensive."

"They are indeed," Liam said, shaking his head slightly.

"So, what are the criterias for the clothes you want? Sneakers..." Lana asked.

"Not much. I just want something comfortable and not too flashy."

"How many?"

"A lot of clothes, a couple of sneakers, belts and other things."

"I see... Your budget?"

"$100,000+"

"Ok," Lana nodded, but she sharply turned to stare at him the next moment.

"Sorry, what?!" She asked in shock, wanting to confirm what she heard.

"Yeah, $100,000+," Liam replied again.

Lana was a little taken aback. She couldn't help but feel like she heard wrong, but Liam has already repeated the same thing twice.

$100,000+ for clothes???

Even though Lana's mother works at a top luxury store, that doesn't mean Lana regularly sees people—especially young men like Liam—casually throwing around $100,000+ on clothes. Most shoppers, even the wealthy ones, tend to buy a few select items at a time.

Yes, her mom's position as a Store Director is of significant status, but while Store Directors are respected and compensated well, are still employees of the brand.

Her family typically live comfortably, but they don't shop like billionaires. So even Lana, despite her access and exposure, still see clients with six-figure budgets as exceptional.

Also, Liam isn't walking around with a known public persona or a family name tied to wealth. To someone like her, he's just a charismatic guy she met through Stacy.

But now, he's casually treating $100,00+ like a shopping allowance. It completely broke her understanding of normal and forced her to rethink who be really is.

Who exactly is this guy?

She remembered Stacy telling her that he was probably the same Liam as the one Alex spoke about, but she didn't pay much attention to it. But now, she's being forced to.

Lana noticed that she had been spacing out for too long and quickly regained her composure.

"I've gotten your orders. I will take care of it. You can wait in the VIP clients room. I will bring them to you for confirmation when I'm done done," she said.

"Sure," Liam nodded.

Lana nodded and called for one of the sales associate, and asked her to lead Liam to the VIP clients room.

After that, she immediately got to work, with a very enthusiastic smile on her face.