"You want...how many?" the saleslady fixed Lila with a flat, skeptical stare.
"Six of everything," Lila repeated. She had just picked out a purple leotard with a unicorn embroidered on the sleeve. The outfit came with matching tights, socks with sequined unicom appliques, gym bags with unicorns for handles, warm-up jackets and shorts. She couldn't believe they actually had an ensemble with a unicorn motif. It was a sign, she decided. A sign that she was doing the right thing.
The saleslady put down her pencil and sighed.
"Young lady, I really don't have time for jokes. Now why don't you come back with your mother and..."
Lila drew herself up to her full height. "My name is Lila Fowler. That's Fowler as in Fowler Enterprises. My father owns the buildings on either side of this spa, plus almost every other major piece of property in this county." She opened her purse and removed a gold credit card. "Don't worry about my credit limit. I don't have one. And I want to pay for every single item separately, so that I'll have a contest entry for each purchase."
The saleslady continued to stare at Lila as if she were some practical joking teen.
"Julie, why are you keeping Ms. Fowler waiting," a sharp voice demanded. Ms. Malone swept in and smiled at Lila.
"But Ms. Malone," Julie said timidly, "we don't have six unicorn ensembles in stock."
"Then call another Slenderella store, locate them, and have them brought by messenger," Ms. Malone snapped irritably. When she turned toward Lila, her scowling face relaxed and she beamed graciously. "Lila Fowler! Forgive me for not recognizing you when you came in with Rachel. Of course we are happy to accommodate you in every way possible." She shot a look at the saleslady. "Please make sure that the appropriate number of entry forms are completed. An entry form for each item. That means a separate entry for each pair of socks, each pair of tights, each leotard, etc."
"But that's..." The saleslady did some quick figuring. She leaned over the counter. "Is that fair?" she whispered.
"Of course!" Ms. Malone said. "The whole reason we're having the contest is to give our customers an incentive to try all of our services. It's not a secret."
Ms. Malone picked up the purple leotard. "It's lovely. But just out of curiosity, why get six identical ouffits? Why not get six different outfits? Slenderella features the largest selection of workout wear available."
"I wanted one for each of my friends," Lila explained. "We're a club. The Unicorn Club."
"My! I've never seen such generous young girls before," Ms. Malone commented.
The saleslady rang up the purchases and showed the bill to Lila.
Lila could feel Ms. Malone breathing down her neck as she peered at the bill over Lila's shoulder. The total was high. Staggering, actually. But it would be worth it to trump Ms. Rachel Grant and win a weekend with Katherine Pierce.
Lila's gold card made a
keeerachick keeerachick sound as it passed through the charge machine. Ms. Malone handed her a fancy gold pen so that she could sign the ticket.
Once Lila had dotted the "i" in her name, Ms. Malone breathed a happy sigh. "What a treat to see such an attractive young woman throw herself into the Slenderella spirit. I think Katherine Pierce would be very interested in hearing about it. Perhaps I could arrange a lunch upstairs for the two of you in our Slenderella Garden Room."
Lila felt her face break into a smile. It had been money well spent. She was actually going to get to spend time with Katherine Pierce--one-on-one.
Her mind began to race. Katherine Pierce had the most glamorous life of any teenager in the world. Lila wanted to hear all about it from Katherine herself. And maybe, just maybe, pick up a few tips on how someone like, say, herself, might get into modeling.
And best of all, Lila couldn't wait to see the look on Rachel's face when she announced she was running upstairs to have lunch with Katherine Pierce.
