The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Shopping
“Babe! Who was that stunning flower?!” Athena exclaimed, bounding over to where Hera stood and clinging to her like a koala.

“Oh? Did you forget already? That was Doctor Everett, my attending physician from the last time you sent me to the hospital,” Hera replied, looking puzzled.

“Huh?! Was he? I don’t recall seeing him in the hospital room when I took you there. And trust me, I wouldn’t forget a handsome man if I saw one,” Athena mused, still pondering the memory.

“Perhaps that’s when you stepped out to make a call?” Hera suggested, offering a possible explanation.

Athena then recalled that she had indeed stepped out to call the Old Master and buy food for Hera. She felt vexed that she had missed seeing him at that time. “Ha! What a bummer,” she remarked, letting go of the topic and shifting her focus. “What drinks did you get?”

“Ah!” Only then did Hera realize that the order she had mentioned earlier was only heard by Zhane, and thus, no order had been placed for them. She smiled guiltily at Athena. “I forgot. Sorry.”

“Tsk Tsk! You see a handsome man and suddenly your best friend doesn’t exist?!” Athena exclaimed dramatically, teasingly.

“You’re such a drama queen,” Hera chuckled in response. She then decided to take matters into her own hands and headed to the counter to place their order, noticing that all the waiters seemed busy.

“Hi, I’d like to order an orange juice and a mocha latte, please,” Hera said with a smile, addressing the cashier.

The cashier’s face lit up upon seeing Hera, nearly squealing with delight. “Aren’t you Hera Ainsley?!” she exclaimed excitedly.

Hera was surprised by the cashier’s enthusiasm, unsure of what was happening, but she still nodded in confirmation.

“I knew it! You’re wearing the same clothes as in the picture, and you’ve been trending for days now. Only someone living in the deep mountains wouldn’t recognize you,” the girl exclaimed excitedly. “Can I please have a picture with you?”

Hera was baffled, unable to find the right words. “I… I’m sorry, but I’m not a celebrity. I think you might be mistaking me for someone else or something?” she stammered, feeling bewildered by the sudden attention.

The girl giggled at Hera’s bewildered expression. “I guess you’re not aware of how popular you’ve become. Look at this,” she said, showing Hera a picture taken that very morning. Hera was taken aback as she saw hundreds of thousands of likes and over a million comments on just a single photo of herself.

She gasped for air as she saw the photo, realizing instantly that it was Athena who had taken it and posted it online. ‘So that’s the picture she mentioned in the car this morning?! No wonder she didn’t want me to see it,’ Hera thought to herself, feeling a mix of surprise and frustration.

The cashier girl found Hera’s expressions endearing, and in person, she resembled a Goddess who had descended into the mortal realm. Her presence seemed to emit a radiant glow; her skin was porcelain white, supple, and exuded a healthy radiance. Her cheeks displayed a natural rosy hue, and her lips were moist, plump, and crimson like ripe cherries. Her amber eyes sparkled with clarity and purity, while her long, wavy hair cascaded softly with a lustrous shine. ‘Oh my God! She’s truly a Goddess! She’s even more stunning in person than on screen or in pictures!’ the cashier girl marveled silently.

“What do I do, I think I’m turning gay for you?!!!” the girl exclaimed, swooning.

Hera chuckled, taking the girl’s words as a playful comment, reminiscent of Athena’s tendency to act like a fangirl around beautiful people.

The moment the girl saw Hera smile, she reacted as if she’d been struck in the chest, stars practically shimmering in her eyes. Hera couldn’t help but feel awkward; she wasn’t accustomed to receiving so much attention and praise directly to her face. Feeling shy and unsure of how to respond, she shifted uncomfortably.

However, the girl seemed utterly entranced, causing Hera to clear her throat awkwardly. As if snapped out of a trance, the girl abruptly remembered she was still on duty. She attempted to regain her composure, but her eyes remained fixed on Hera. “Orange juice and mocha latte, correct? Anything else, Goddess?” she asked, her tone attempting to mask her previous fervor.

“Ah… No, that’s all. Thank you,” Hera replied with a slight smile.

“Thank you so much, Goddess, for gracing our cafe with your presence!” the cashier exclaimed once more.

The chatter from the cashier had drawn attention to them, and soon the other customers were glancing their way. Even after Hera returned to her seat, she could feel the lingering stares. While Hera felt shy about the attention, Athena remained oblivious, absorbed in her phone. She hadn’t forgotten to take a picture of her car earlier, making it her new profile picture.

And now, Athena had been replying to the comments on her profile and the pictures she had taken of Hera that morning.

Hera flicked Athena’s forehead suddenly, catching her off guard. Athena winced in pain and instinctively held her forehead. “What’s wrong with you?” she exclaimed.

“Hah! Then tell me about the stolen picture,” Hera sneered.

“Picture? What picture?” Athena feigned ignorance.

“Don’t play dumb. I’ve already seen the picture you took this morning. Don’t tell me it was it, Grandpa or Alfonse?” Hera retorted sarcastically.

Realizing that feigning ignorance wasn’t working, Athena switched tactics and adopted a cute demeanor. “What?! I just want to share the beauty I appreciate, is that so wrong, hmm?” she pouted, fluttering her eyelashes intentionally.

Hera had noticed Athena taking candid photos of her from time to time to share on social media. Initially, she hadn’t minded much since they both had few friends and followers. However, now she grew concerned; if this continued, it could potentially compromise her privacy.

“Babe, don’t worry. Even if you became famous, your lifestyle wouldn’t change that much. Celebrities still do regular things like shopping or hanging out in public places,” Athena reassured, attempting to downplay the situation. She knew that if she didn’t, Hera might retreat and foil her plans.

Hera pondered the reassurance and acknowledged that many celebrities did indeed continue to live relatively normal lives, enjoying public outings without much hassle. However, she wasn’t particularly well-versed in entertainment gossip or news to discern the difference between established celebrities and newcomers, So she wasn’t aware that lesser-known celebrities lead relatively normal lives, unlike famous celebrities. Pushing these thoughts to the back of her mind, she decided to focus on enjoying their time together. After finishing their drinks, they set off to start their shopping excursion.

They first headed to the Dior store. Athena eagerly browsed through the displays, her eyes lighting up at each item. However, despite finding something she liked, she didn’t put it in her cart; instead, she simply admired it before moving on to the next display.

Hera, feeling puzzled, approached Athena. “Why are you just checking them out without putting anything in your cart?” she inquired.

Athena sighed in frustration. “I’m trying to save up more money,” she explained. “I’ve got my paycheck, and my parents and brothers gave me some welcoming pocket money when I returned, but I just don’t feel like spending it right now.” Working in the fashion industry and designing clothes for their company to sell, she had a deep understanding of fashion and the value of savings.

However, Hera interpreted Athena’s explanation differently. “Well, why don’t you pick out anything you like?” she suggested, pulling out the black card her grandfather had given her. “I have this, so you don’t have to worry about money, and there are still a few thousand million in my own bank,” she added with a smirk. This was Hera’s opportunity to treat her best friend to a shopping spree, and she didn’t want Athena to miss out on getting something she truly desired.

Athena’s eyes widened at the sight of the black card in Hera’s hands. Even the shop assistant trailing them was taken aback to see the exclusive black card from the Dragon Empire Bank under the Avery. With only 10 cards released worldwide, the rarity of the card was striking, and the fact that one was now right before her added an extra layer of wonder.