Women can indeed be manipulative—sometimes in subtle ways, even when they claim otherwise. My mother used to say, “Ask, and you shall receive; don’t ask, and you won’t want.” I have my doubts about that.
Let me set the scene for you…
This weekend, I spent a delightful day at Westfield Shopping Centre, just ten minutes from Paddington, with a charming companion. Surrounded by bustling shoppers and high-end boutiques, I managed to tick off several items on my shopping list, including some with Victor. I adore shopping dates, as they offer a refreshing change from my usual online shopping spree on Amazon.
There we were, fingers intertwined, arms laden with branded bags. Victor had insisted on visiting nearly every men’s clothing store (who says men aren’t particular?), while I found myself yearning for those stunning multi-coloured glitter stilettos from Kurt Geiger on level one. As he tried on his fiftieth jumper, I mentally justified the £150 price tag while calculating the remaining balance on my MasterCard.
Being attuned to the needs of others, I often step in before tensions rise, especially when Victor gets frustrated. I wanted those shoes, and he was ready for a change of scenery, so I suggested we pop into Pret a Manger, conveniently located on level one. The aroma of coffee and fresh sandwiches drew him in, and as we ascended the escalator, I figured we could pass my dream shoes in just 30 seconds after we refuelled.
A man with a full belly is a happy man – and a man open to bribery. Near the cafe was a huge Apple store with plenty of shiny laptops and iPads murmuring sweet nothings. Attention diverted from Fair Isle knitwear, Victor swung his hips through the door and took a lungful of Broadband. A London escort such as me must have patience as a virtue: the patience to accept her needs comes after those of her date. I watched Victor dribble over a MacBook Pro and counted down the minutes until I could lick the heel of that display shoe.
And then… a boom! Victor kissed my forehead and said, “Darling, you have been patient with me today. Let me buy a present for my beautiful girl. Shall we look at something for you?” I could have wept. “Oh, you don’t have to do that…” I said through my lashes. He made a pooh-pooh noise, and we fell into step… right past Kurt Geiger. And there they were… in the window, dazzling under the lights as I knew they would be… my shoes. Ten minutes later, I had a shiny gift bag dangling from my arm, and my date looked very pleased with himself as I let him “choose” a pair, though I can’t say product placement didn’t play a part.
Call me manipulative, then, if you want, but you can’t say that my gentleman friend wasn’t pleased to make me happy. The date had, as always, been about him and a trip to W12. I’m a big fan of West London, especially now that I know Kurt Geiger has a fantastic store there!
