Rose hated her work with a passion. It was so hard having to smile the whole day and having to listen to the ugly and most often disgusting comments of the ladies entering the store. Some of them never seemed satisfied with anything.

"I told you that I want a white one I silk. Do you even know what silk is, you silly girl?"

Rose remembered how much she had enjoyed going shopping with her mother and her friends from school back in Philadelphia. How they had made fun of the staff and had thrown around things, knowing that the girls working there would've to pick it up and that they couldn't say anything against their rude behaviour, because they would get fired otherwise.

Wait a minute?

Was that the revenge for her dreadful manners towards others back then?

Karma's a bitch, she knew it. Had her father been right about her? Was she really just a self-centred spoiled brat, who only cared about clothes?

She wondered how live would turn out once the holidays were over. It was easy to avoid people now without school and everything, but what would people think of her later on? Would her father expect her to choose a university?

Frankly she had never even thought about entering one. Back in Philadelphia her and the other debutantes had been all about marrying and Rose had been head-over-heels with James and him sweeping her over the threshold. She had collected all things possible from his team – The Philadelphia Eagles – bed sheets, pillow, a nighty…and had dreamed of the day, when she would be standing next to him in an all-white dressed, getting married in a beautiful old church or maybe at the beach, where all his companions of his team would form a trellis and cheer them on, when they would walk through.

Of course she hadn't been the only one, to have that dream. Eventually James had started to go out with Chelsea – who was – could this get any more cliché – the leading cheerleader.

"Miss, excuse me, but I guess I asked you a question?" Rose was brought out harshly of her reverie.

Of course she knew what silk was. Honestly, if there was anyone knowing about fashion, it was her. She had spent weeks going through the latest edition of the Vogue, who read what Anna Wintour and all the famous designers are Armani, Gaultier and Lagerfeld deemed worth dressing for the next season.

And she had gotten everything. She had to be dressed according to the newest mode, every season again or otherwise she would've never been accepted in her group of girlfriends. They had sat out in the park during the break and made fun of the other girls walking buy, whose parents hadn't been so fortune to own a company and mocked them about their clothes.

Again there was this thing with karma.

Rose realized now that they had been very shallow indeed.

Speaking of which she hadn't seen Caitlin for what seemed like hours…her fellow worker had simply gone into the back to sort out things as she had said. Rose had already noticed that every time a new customer, who looked to be trouble, came into view; she had simply disappeared until after hours later.

Caitlin was playing this game very well. Mrs. Greyson was doing the accounting in the office mostly and Caitlin knew very well that Rose wouldn't tell her. Of course, when Mrs. Greyson was here, she was all nice and helpful sales clerk that what was expected. Never mind that Rose already had sore feet by this time.

"Miss?" the woman next to her was clearly getting angry.

As if it couldn't get any worse now, Mrs. Greyson was suddenly there too.

"Still dreaming about your life as a princess, Miss Dewitt Bukater? Well I guess it's time for you to wake up and just to living down there with us commoners."

The woman hardly suppressed a laugh.

"Sorry," Rose mumbled feeling a sudden urge to throw everything away and shot at them how they could both go to hell with their silky stupid dresses.

But then she remembered her father and how sad he would be and disappointed with her, if she screwed it up now.

Rose told the woman to follow her and showed her some other dresses not caring anymore what she was thinking of her.

Mrs. Greyson had gone to look for Caitlin, who was putting anti-theft devices on the more expensive clothes.

"I would appreciate it, if you had a look on our new help. The girl is clearly not fit to work on her own. She needs someone with experience to show her the lead."

Caitlin just nodded, though she could things of better ways to spend her time. At first she had wanted for Mrs. Greyson to throw Rose out, but then she had thought about and decided that it was so much to let her do the dirty work and please those awful rich ladies coming up here. After all Rose had been part of that clique as well. She should know how to handle them, shouldn't she?

"Don't worry, Mrs. Greyson, I will show her."

…..

Nathan did have a very hard day. And Cal had again not shown up, but rather decided to spend the day at the beach with some friend. Nathan hated that people; they were just as lazy as his son and were only full of mischief. It was a shame really.

Cal would never be able to take up the company and guide it through the hard economic times they were facing now, with the way he was behaving. His new girlfriend at least had a job, though she didn't seem to be very bright either.

"Do you have any more wishes, Mr. Hockley?"

Nathan turned towards the young boy, who had proved to be a great help to him for the last weeks.

"No, you can go home. See you tomorrow."

Jack waved goodbye to Mr. Hockley glad that the day was over.

Nathan wasn't stupid. He knew how much Jack loathed his work here and that he would rather be out bathing in the sun as well and playing beach volleyball with his friends. At least this boy had understood that life wasn't only about fun. He had been far too lax with his own son. He should've been stricter in his upbringing, but instead he had allowed his wife to take over the education and she had installed the firm behaviour and belief in him that he was better than others, because of his money and the fortune he would one day inherited.

They had divorced, when Cal was fifteen. Michelle had finally admitted her long standing with another long standing supposed friend of Nathan, whose only benefit seemed to be that he had even more money than Nathan. Of course for Michelle it was always about money.

She had thrown a tantrum or two, even demanding that Caledon go and live with them in Chicago, where Paul was doing a large company selling electronic devices. Of course Nathan had realized right away couldn't compare to that with his mere real estate company. Caledon had shown him the latest IPhone his stepfather had brought him for his latest birthday.

Nathan and Michelle had quarrelled for months but the money. Sadly Nathan had been so stupid not to sat up a prenupational agreement and eventually Michelle had almost a third of his fortune, including that lovely house in Florida that he had loved so much and had hoped to spend his retirement within. Well now it was Michelle and her new hubby lying there in the canvas chair and enjoying swimming in the pool.

But at least in had succeeded in keeping Cal at his side here in New York…this way he could at least have retain some control over him. Of course his son hated him for it, always telling him that he would rather live with his mother and stepfather, because they – unlike him – really understood him and he could tell them everything.

For sure Nathan had never told him about the real reason of their divorce and Michelle certainly had made sure that Cal thought Nathan was at fault entirely. Whatever would he say if he found out that his mother was just a greedy gold-digger, who had just replaced a rich man, with an even richer one?

But Nathan would never to this to his son. Whatever issues he may've had with Michelle, she was Cal's mother after all and a son should never think badly of his mother however, materialistic she may be.

Nathan closed the door behind himself dumping into someone on the other side of the door.

"Oh it's you," he commented looking around.

"I just wanted to thank you," came the reply.

"No need to thank me. Everybody else would've done the same. Do you have time for a drink? I'm paying," he quickly added.

"Yes why not. I would love to."

He lend an arm leading her inside the building again.

….

"What do you think of Jack?"

This question took Rose by surprise.

Wasn't he Caitlin's boyfriend? Why would she care about him? Honestly she thought him to be…in fact she didn't anything special about him?

Caitlin had been watching over her the past two hours until the store had finally closed up and now they were waiting for their respective boyfriend to show up.

"Ah, sorry, Rose…I didn't want to embarrass you. Of course you've your own boyfriend already. I'm sure Cal wouldn't like our talk," Caitlin laughed up a second later realizing that the way of asking her directly wouldn't be the best one after all.

She really couldn't care less about this stupid girl or Cal, but she cared for Jack and wanted him to be happy. If only he hadn't chosen to give his heart to this dreadful girl. Whatever he saw in Rose that was worse putting up with her, Caitlin really had a hard time detecting it herself.

"You bet…Cal is a great man, you know and I hate how you always talk ill of him. You and your friends…you're just jealous, because he chose me and not you," Rose got up after having exchanges her comfortable ballerinas with the more womanly high heels.

She had to make sure that she looked appropriate, when Cal showed up.

"Aren't you getting tired of it?" Caitlin wondered, deciding to play along with the games.

If Rose wanted to be a cold-hearted, egoistic bitch so could she. She was good at this game as well.

"What do you mean?" Rose looked at her perplexed.

"Of dressing up like…," hussy…"…model for a man, who will eventually dump you anyway."

"You're just jealous. That's all. Cal loves me."

"Caledon Hockley is a self-centred egomaniac, who tells every girl with the appropriate body and style that he's in love with her. You're no exception here. Others were also falling for his charms. You'll just get a broken heart. Trust me, I know it."

Rose made a face and stuck out her tongue.

Ugh!

God, what an idiot – Caitlin thought. How could Jack even think of putting up with her? Had he lost all of his good taste? And she – this girl – she was acting like a child, even worse.

"I won't anything of it."

"Yes, don't, if you don't want to no one is forcing you to. It isn't me, who is going to have a broken heart after all, but you. But remember at least that I warned you. Cal is not being honest with you. But of course go on and continue to dress like a…," Caitlin stopped herself there not wanting to say the word. "You know my parents would never allow me to dress up like…," she didn't get any further as Rose flat palm connected with her cheek.

As stupid as this girl may be she surely had a harsh blow.

Caitlin touched her cheek.

"I hope that will cure you of speaking ill of me and other," Rose screamed at her.

Just then a limousine rolled up alongside them and the driver opened the door for Cal to get out.

"How's my lovely girl doing today?" he asked Rose giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Something wrong with you here, ladies?" he added seemingly noticing the tension between them.

"No, I'm just tired. Let's go," Rose took his hand dragging him away.

"Shouldn't we give your friend a ride as well?" Cal wondered.

"No, she's going to be picked up too," Rose answered for her, before getting herself seated in the limousine and stretching out her legs.

How they hurt. Cal had even been so thoughtful to buy some Sushi on his way here and while they were eating Rose thought that she had clearly made the right choice. Cal was a good and attention man, nothing compared to the others she had met so far and certainly not that stupid friend of Caitlin – Jack, with his even more silly dreams of becoming a famous artist.

"Has she said something to anger you, my dear?"

Without saying it Rose knew that he was talking about Caitlin.

"She's just…well you can't be friends with anyone, I guess."

"So true…," Cal answered, but couldn't help but wonder what Caitlin had told her.

He knew very well that she despised him, just like the rest of her clique. He couldn't care less about this of course, but he didn't want for Rose to be influenced by them. It wouldn't be good. She was far too lovely to spend her time with this people.

"You've to tell me, if she's angering you in any way. Will you?"

For an answer Rose gave him a smile and a kiss on his lips, before leaning back into the care, stretching out her feet. How good that felt to be finally able to sit down some.

Once had got back to her home, Cal helped her to get out of the car and even to put on her shoes again.

"Will you be alright with walking alone for the last steps?" he asked her. "I've to be at my father's in half an hour."

It was a lie. His father most likely wouldn't even be at home now. He liked to spend his evening alone away from his son, who would only constantly remind him of his wrong doings. Cal wasn't stupid. He knew how his father had messed it up with his mother and now he was keeping him away from her, while she had done nothing else, but get out of a horrible marriage, where his father was controlling her every life.

Cal had void to himself long ago that he would never to that to any girlfriend or future wife of his. He would spoil them, only spoil them, but he would never hit them or betray them like his father had done with his mother.

Cal hated his father for this. Even more so he wanted to hit him himself, like he had hit his mother so many times before, every time he saw him. He was disgusted of his father's behaviour. How could he even look himself into the mirror after everything he had done? No wonder his mother had chosen to live as far from him as possible.

His father was just a coward. After all which other man chose to hit an innocent woman? He still remembered how his mother had first choked out the truth to him. It had been after some court hearing and Cal had found her crying in the alley, asking her of course what had happened. Eventually she had spat out the truth to him.

'I couldn't tell you, Cal. I didn't want to you hate your father,' she had said. 'And I don't want you to hate him now.'

Of course Cal hadn't been able to hold up to that promise. Every time he spoke with his father now, the teary-eyed and shocked face of his mother turned up in front of him. He would never forget her frighten look. If only he would've been able to stop his father.

"My father isn't at home," Rose suddenly spoke up breaking up his day-dream having guessed somehow the real reason why he didn't want to accompany her. "And my mother would love to meet you."

Cal still declined. Sometimes it was more appropriate to let things develop in a more slowly way. But while driving away he reminded himself that he would have to buy some flowers and send one bucket to Rose and one to her mother. Indeed he knew how to treat women correctly. Not like his father. Smiling to himself, Cal told his chauffeur to drive on.