Alexia POV

Alexia couldn't believe he had just dropped almost $12.000 dollars on two laptops. He'd said regardless of the price but she knew her dream laptop was extremely expensive, so she had thought he would back out and tell her it was too much. She would have understood it of course. She hadn't even expected to actually get anything at all. But then he just made a phone call to someone and just bought it without any hesitation. Alexia felt a little nauseous over that. She had wanted a laptop for years but she couldn't have kept that secret from Kiara and Thomas so she had resisted buying one and used the computers at school or the library. She had been keeping a huge secret from everyone, including Leo, but only being able to use the snail speed computers at school or the library limited what she could do and what she could earn. With this one... Her heart rate picked up at her excitement. Her possibilities were endless with this laptop. Once she got it she could take on bigger and better jobs and she would be able to pay them back for the two laptops in a matter of days. Maybe sooner depending on the jobs she takes. And Leo. She could start teaching him about ... Her heart leapt for joy for the first time in her life. "Lets go." Her fathers deep, cold voice brought her out of her thoughts. They loaded up into 2 SUVs and took off. About 45 minutes later they pulled up to an Ikea. They started in the show room and Luca pulled out a notebook and a pen to write down any and all things they wanted. Alexia saw a white chaise that would fit in her room. It could make a comfortable reading nook so Luca made a note of the order number and the color she wanted. She got a few white book cases, one with doors covering the bottom 3 shelves and one with some drawers. She also picked out a large soft light gray rug for around her bed. She also found a small white desk lamp. The only things Leo liked in this first part of the show room were a lamp, shaped like a pencil and a TV bench in blue. In the bedroom showroom, Alexia found a bedside table that has 2 drawers and build in outlets for easy charging of her phone. She asked for one in white. She was looking for a table lamp for the night stand when she saw a globe light she really liked. Without her even saying anything Luca came over and took down the order number and smiled at her. Alexia frowned slight. "Does everything have to be from here?" She whispered to Luca. "Or could we order stuff online, like Amazon or something as well?" "We can get it from where ever you want." He smiled. "We're mostly just here because dad thought it would have the best variety for you and Leo to choose from." He explained. "If you don't want anything from here you don't have to get anything from here." "Okay. Then you can cross off my lamp and the chaise." She said. She could probably find one that is more comfortable somewhere else. "Oh and the desk lamp cam be crossed out as well." She said as she remembered it. Luca chuckled. "How about the rug or the book cases?" "We can keep that. And I think Leo likes what he has picked as well. He wont be thinking of lighting and stuff." Alexia said and Luca nodded. "I'll get into the car with you when we leave here and you can order stuff from my phone. That way we will have it by tomorrow." Luca said. "Does that mean you don't want anything else from here?" Luca asked. "Not really. Ikea is cool and all but you can get just as good or even better things online for cheaper than here." Alexia shrugged. "Plus you have more options online and you can read reviews and see if it's good or not. Here you have to make your own guesses and hope you don't make the wrong choice." Alexia explained. Their father who had heard their conversation then took the detour through the showroom and skipped 3 sections and went straight to the kids showroom. Leo's eyes lit up. While he looked around Alexia nudged Luca. "You might want to get some of those." She pointed towards a storage combination with boxes. "I'd get the white and turquoise colors. And a variety of sizes and shapes." She explained pointing at several of them. "He is very specific with organization." She thought for a moment. "He'll also need book cases and show cases. He likes building but doesn't like breaking it after and would prefer to show off his creations." She said smiling as she followed Leo with her eyes. Luca quickly took down several order numbers and followed after Leo who had finally found stuff he wanted. Alexia saw Luca's shock when he realized what had Leo so excited were merely pens, markers and legos. Not long after they left. They left their purchases with two of their fathers workers and they would bring it home in the truck they came with. As he said, Luca got into the same SUV as Alexia and gave her, his phone. She got on to Amazon and started searching for things she knew they would need, starting with desks. She looked for an electronic standing desk "What color do you want?" She asked Leo. She already knew but he could surprise her so she still asked. He took a look at the options. "That one." He said pointing at the sky blue desktop with the grey legs. She picked the 60 inch one knowing he would use every inch of it and she got the same desk for herself but with a maple table top and white legs. She picked a black and blue gaming chair for Leo and picked a white executive office for herself. Next she picked out desk lamps for both of them that could be mounted on the side of the desk so it didn't take up table space. She picked several other things asking for Leo's opinion every now and then but he mostly didn't care. When she was done with the furniture they needed she went in and searched for some engineering kits for Leo as well as some architectural kits and blocks. She also got more pens and all kinds of other things he would need for his dream jobs. Things he had longed for, for a long time. Then she looked at Luca who had been looking at everything she did. "Books?" She asked. "Sure. Get as many as you want." He said. She first found books she knew Leo would love. Series of books and standalone. She also got advanced educational books at various levels for him to work with as well. When she had picked several books for him, she started picking her own. She got the whole Harry Potter series. She'd heard the hype about it but never really had the chance to read them as the library never had them checked in. She'd also heard the hype of the hunger games and the lord of the rings so she got those as well. She looked around a bit more in the fantasy books and stumbled upon the Shadow and Bones series, A court of thorns and roses series, A song of fire and ice series as well as the Broken Earth series. She considered getting some educational books for herself but no one but Leo knew what her interests were in so she opted against it. She could get them another time. She gave Luca his phone back and just like Matteo he just purchased it. No hesitation. He didn't even look over the cart before he pressed buy. Five minutes later they drove into a parking garage and got out. Alexia assumed they were at the mall they were talking about. She was skeptical with being here. Right now it was about 10 in the morning. Ikea hadn't taken as long as their father had thought. Walking inside, Santino and Luca quickly took the lead while everyone else was just following along.

The two headed straight for Louis Vuitton and Alexia's eyes nearly popped out when she saw the prices. "Grab anything you like." Santino said as he was already perusing through the store. Two snobbish looking women came up to them and asked if there were anything they could help with. "Ah, yes.." Santino said. "We need clothes for a 15 year old girl and an 11 year old boy." "The girl is easy." Said one of the women. "But I'm afraid we don't really have anything for little boys in here. We cater more to well dressed teenagers and adults." She smiled a flirty smile at Santino as her eyes raked him up and down. The other woman was busy oogling Luca but she nodded in support of that the woman said. Santino frowned. "You should fix that then." Luca waved her hand. "It's fine we'll find another store for him. Get some girl stuff." He said and the two women quickly scurried around the store picking out all kinds of clothes Alexia would never wear. She looked on horrified as the women picked one awful thing after another. If she got all that stuff and someone looked into her closet they would think a unicorn threw up all over her stuff. "You don't like any of the stuff they are picking out, do you?" A soft voice came from besides her and she nearly jumped out of her skin and almost cried out in pain as her injuries didn't like her sudden movement. "Sorry." Emilio said quickly when she looked at him slightly panicked. "I didn't mean to scare you." She nodded. "No, I hate every piece they have found so far." Alexia said honestly. "I'd never wear it so it would be a complete waste of money. Plus it's way to expensive." She frowned. "Can't we just go to a TJ Max or a Walmart or something? That is fine with us." Alexia pleaded. Emilio looked amused. "No can do. Sorry reginetta." (Italian - Little queen.) Alexia frowned. "Please don't make me wear that." She pointed towards the mountain of clothes each of the women now had in their hands. All full of bright colors and skimpy clothes. Emilio chuckled again. She really couldn't see what was so funny about this. "What kind of clothes do you like to wear then?" He asked. "Hoodies." Alexia replied immediately. "Comfortable oversized hoodies and sweatshirts. I could wear that day in and day out for the rest of my life and I'd die happy." Alexia said. And she wasn't kidding. "Anything else?" He asked still sounding amused. "Sweatpants." Alexia shrugged. "Jeans if I must." She fell silent as she watched one of the women pick up what Alexia thought was a dress that looked so small it would barely cover anything. She must have made a face as Emilio's attention shifted from her. He too frowned. "Tino.. Nothing from here." He said gaining Santino and Luca's attention. Both of them looked at Alexia's face and clearly saw that she wasn't interested in any of the things these two women had found. "Ralph is probably a better choice for her. They'll have stuff for Leo as well." Emilio continued. Santino and Luca looked like they thought about it for a second before nodding and walking out. Santino grabbing Alexia's hand and dragging her with him as he went. Alexia squeaked as she hadn't expected it, making everyone laugh. "What color clothes do you like?" Santino asked as they walked through the mall. He was still holding her hand and every girl they passed sent her nasty, jealous looks. "Um.. Neutral colors I guess." She replied. She mostly wore black, grays and white. "Not brown though." She added as she thought about it. She hated that color, she didn't think it suited her. "How about white and beige?" Santino asked. "Those are fine. I prefer darker colors but white and beige is fine sometimes." She said as she looked behind her. Her eyes seeking out Leo. He was walking with Luca, Matteo and their father. Lorenzo was behind them while Emilio was right behind her. "Alright." He said. "And if you have to pick at least 3 colors, which would they be?" "Um.." Alexia said as she thought about it. "I assume you don't think grey is a color? Even though there are 50 shades of them." She said making Santino, Luca and Emilio all burst out laughing. She even heard her uncle chuckling. "Blue, green and purple I guess." She said. "What type of clothes do you prefer?" Santino continued to ask. "Comfortable clothes." Alexia said automatically. "Gotcha." He said and smiled wickedly. "What about you, Leo?" He asked looking back at Leo. Leo looked at Alexia before shrugging.

10 minutes later Alexia and Leo were looking at two, still growing piles of clothes. Shoes and accessories were being added on. Alexia had been watching them pick her clothes and the only problem she had with most of it were the price tag. She would have been okay with cheaper stuff from Target and Walmart. Not long after Luca paid and 6 large bags filled with stuff was packed and handed over to a person Alexia hadn't noticed before. Santino murmured a few words to their father before dragging Alexia out of the store and into a new store close by. Victoria Secret. He told one of the ladies working there to go get Alexia measured and then help her find several sets of underwear. The woman was fawning over Santino and quickly did what was requested. Alexia was asked a few questions while being measured a few minutes later the lady had several sets and underwear Alexia would never wear, several sets she could maybe wear and some she would be okay wearing as well as several sports bras. She also found some pajama sets and some sleep shirts. He paid and when they walked out of two more bags. "Let's go eat, then we can continue shopping." Luca said.