Chapter 30
“I don’t mind,” Charlotte said.
Elizabeth gave a cold, knowing smile. She was certain Charlotte wouldn’t dare speak up.
Charlotte dropped her gaze, pulled out her phone, and fired off a quick text.
Charlotte picked out her own clothes. Simple T-shirts, jeans, a windbreaker. All together, her choices didn’t even come close to the price of one of Olivia’s dresses.
At the register, Elizabeth glanced at Charlotte’s pile and couldn’t hide her look of disdain.
A country girl would always be a country girl. With those clothes, Charlotte would never belong with the glamorous crowd. Someday, if she was lucky, she might snag some tacky rich guy, but that was about it.
“Elizabeth, your total is The sales clerk started to ring them up, but before she could finish, a man who looked like the manager rushed over.
“I’m so sorry, Elizabeth. There’s a problem with this dress. I can’t let you take it today.”
“What?” Olivia, who had been hugging the dress to her chest, instantly lost her smug look.
“I apologize, but five minutes ago, a mysterious customer bought this dress.” “We picked it out. Why should someone else get it?” Elizabeth’s voice was icy, her expression annoyed.
“Yes, you picked it out, but the other customer paid in full before you did.”
“Do you know who we are? We’re super VIPs. We have priority. Who dares to steal my purchase?” Olivia jabbed her finger at the manager, her tone full of attitude. “This dress is mine. I’m taking it home today.”
While all this was going on, Charlotte just took her bags, sat down on a nearby sofa, rested her chin in her hand, and scrolled through her phone, barely paying attention.
The manager looked troubled. “You are a super VIP and do have priority. But the other customer has a Platinum Card.”
Platinum? Olivia’s eyes widened.
That was the legendary card,
personally signed by Tracing, the founder and chief designer of 1-Kiss. There was only one in the world
Whoever had it got first pick of every new collection, long before anything hit the boutiques.
Olivia was a die-hard 1-Kiss fan. She knew what the Platinum Card meant. VIP status was nothing compared to it.
Still, Olivia held on tight to the dress, refusing to let go.
“But the manager hesitated, then spoke respectfully, “the other customer said if Olivia really wants the dress, she’s willing to let her have it.”
Olivia’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course,” the manager replied with a polite smile. “All you need to do is pay an extra three million.”
Five million. The number crashed down on Olivia like a ton of bricks. She’d barely convinced her dad to give her two million for the dress. There was no way she could ask for another three.
“If you’re not willing to pay the difference, I’ll need you to hand the dress back,” the
manager said gently, taking the dress from Olivia’s hands.
“Mom Olivia’s voice trembled. Her eyes were red with frustration.
Elizabeth gripped her purse, looking helpless. Five million wasn’t pocket change. Steven would never agree to this.
Before the manager could even start wrapping the dress up, his phone rang again. He listened his face shifting from surprise to disbelief. “Are you sure… you want me to cut it?” he asked, barely trusting what he was hearing.
“Yes, I understand.”
He took the dress out, then told an assistant to bring scissors.
“Elizabeth, I’m truly sorry. The buyer said that since the dress was touched, she thinks it’s dirty and wants it destroyed right here.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the beautiful dress was sliced open, a huge tear right down the middle.
The room fell silent.
Olivia’s breath caught. Her face went from pale to furious. The dress she’d worked so hard to get… gone, cut up like it was nothing.