Chapter 589:
Lucinda’s expression eased as she accepted it, though her tone carried a sharp edge. “You need to learn how to tell different customers apart. Just look at them, dressed so simply. Unless they’re serious about buying, if they damage anything, it will come out of your paycheck.”
The young saleswoman gave a quick nod, outwardly compliant, though her chest tightened. She knew Melany well. Not only was she a loyal customer, but she had purchased plenty of pieces, and every sale had gone under her name. Losing someone like that would mean losing one of her rarest repeat clients, something she could hardly afford.
She then gently drew Melany aside with a courteous smile. “Come, let me show you the new arrivals on the other side.”
Rylie, however, did not move. Her gaze remained steady as she spoke directly to Lucinda. “Are you from the Garrett family branch?”
Lucinda sipped her coffee leisurely, then looked over with disdain. “Since you know I’m from the Garrett family in Crolens, are you now planning to buy something?”
Rylie’s voice was calm but firm. “You’re fired.”
Lucinda nearly choked on her coffee. She wiped her mouth and burst out, “What did you just say? Fire me?” She slammed the cup onto the counter, causing hot liquid to splash, but she didn’t notice. She stormed toward Rylie, her face so close that their noses almost touched. Her finger jabbed the air near Rylie’s face as she screeched with fury. “Say that again! Did shopping fry your brain? Who even are you? Some student in shabby clothes, daring to boss me around? Fire me? You?” Her voice climbed louder. “Do you know who I am? Do you know whose store this is? This belongs to Detour Inc! I’m Laurel Garnett’s niece! Who do you think you are? Get out right now, or I’ll call security and throw you out!” Every word dripped with contempt. Malice clung to her expression, her arrogance nearly smothering the room.
The young saleswoman hovered nearby, pale and trembling, desperate to help but too afraid to step in. Melany’s fists balled at her sides, ready to lash out, but Rylie raised a calm hand to stop her. Instead, she pulled out her phone and called Grayson, asking him to come down to the basement with sealing tape.
Updates loaded at gαlησνe𝓁s․com
Lucinda’s jeering never stopped, but Rylie stood steady, her thoughts drifting elsewhere. She pieced together the truth: Sweetberry was likely being drained by Laurel’s relatives, planted there to profit from it.
Before stepping through the door, Grayson heard the shrill shouting and felt cold sweat bead on his brow. He hurried in, pushing past the crowd until he saw Lucinda’s finger nearly striking Rylie’s face. His voice thundered through the shop. “Stop!”
The single shout, raw with panic and anger, cut Lucinda off at once. Silence swallowed the store, even reaching the crowd outside.
Lucinda flinched at the outburst. She turned sharply, her face stiffening into a false smile, though her voice still carried complaint. “Oh, Mr. Ramsey, thank goodness you’re here! These two customers are causing trouble, even threatening to fire me! You should—” Her words froze.
Grayson’s face, usually polite toward her, was now dark as a storm. Fear and severity burned in his eyes, sharper than she had ever seen. He didn’t even spare her a glance. His gaze fixed instead on the plainly dressed young woman before him, heavy with respect, as though she were royalty.
.
.
.