As they passed a designer boutique, Felix appeared again, like a recurring error message that refused to be closed.
"This dress is only a few thousand dollars," he said, gesturing at a piece in the window. "Surely you're not going to tell me that's too expensive to buy for Sophie?"
"I'm not buying it," Stan said.
He had one rebate charge left for the week. Spending a few thousand dollars on a dress would be like pouring a glass of water into the ocean and calling it irrigation. He needed a large purchase, something substantial enough to make the six-times multiplier worth activating.
"How?" Felix's voice pitched upward with genuine incredulity. "You can't afford clothes that cost a few thousand? You actually invited Sophie Youngs to a shopping mall and you can't buy her a dress? What right do you even have to,"
"Felix."
Stan stopped walking. Turned and looked at him.
