Chapter 126 Looked Down Upon
After chatting, Olivia went online to check out a few car models Emma had recommended. She read some user reviews and looked at real photos, getting a rough idea in her mind before washing up and going to bed.
The next morning, after dropping Leo off at kindergarten, Olivia drove straight to a nearby dealership.
As soon as she walked into the store, a salesman in a suit approached her. He gave her a quick once-over, noticing her simple white shirt and jeans, and the plain canvas bag in her hand. A hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.
"Ma'am, are you here to look at cars?" the salesman asked in a flat tone, sounding almost dismissive.
"Yes, I'd like to see the Corolla," Olivia replied directly, ignoring his attitude.
"The Corolla, huh," the salesman said with a smirk, pointing to a display car nearby. "It's over there. Be my guest. If you have any questions, just ask me."
With that, he turned away and started chatting with a few other salespeople, clearly not intending to assist her.
Olivia frowned, feeling a bit annoyed, but she didn't say anything. She walked over to the display car and carefully checked out the exterior and interior.
She tried to open the door to get a feel for the space, but after a few tugs, she realized it was locked.
"Excuse me, could you unlock the door? I'd like to take a look inside," Olivia called out to the salesman.
The salesman strolled over slowly, looking reluctant as he unlocked the door. "Be careful not to dirty the interior," he warned.
Olivia ignored him and sat in the driver's seat, testing the comfort of the seat and the feel of the dashboard. It seemed pretty good.
"How much is this car right now? Are there any discounts?" Olivia asked.
"After the discount, it's twenty thousand. Can't go any lower," the salesman replied, still sounding uninterested.
"I'd like to test drive it to see how it handles," Olivia said.
"Test drive?" The salesman looked her up and down with a mocking tone. "Ma'am, you need to show a driver's license for a test drive, and we require appointments for this model. Do you have an appointment?"
"No, I don't. Can't I do a test drive on the spot?" Olivia frowned.
"No, we have rules here. No appointment, no test drive," the salesman said, waving his hand dismissively. "Besides, this car sells really well. A lot of people are waiting to pick one up. If you're just browsing, don't waste our time."
Olivia's face darkened. She could clearly sense the salesman's contempt, obviously assuming she couldn't afford the car.
"What kind of attitude is this?" Olivia's tone turned cold. "I'm here to buy a car, not to be insulted."
"What's wrong with my attitude?" the salesman snapped back, getting irritated. "I told you, no appointment, no test drive. If you want to buy, pay a deposit and book one. If not, stop bothering us. You think everyone's like you, dressed in cheap clothes, just here to joyride?"
Just then, a deep voice came from behind. "Is this how you treat your customers?"
Olivia turned around and saw Luca.
Why was he here?
Luca walked over with a grim expression, his icy gaze fixed on the salesman. His presence was so intimidating that the salesman instantly panicked.
"Sir, may I ask who you are?" the salesman stammered.
"I'm here to buy a car," Luca said, ignoring him and turning to Olivia. "Are you okay?"
Olivia shook her head, feeling a mix of emotions. She hadn't expected to run into Luca here, let alone have him witness her being disrespected by the salesman.
"Sir, what car are you interested in? I can give you a detailed introduction," the salesman said, his attitude doing a complete 180. His face was now plastered with a fawning smile, completely forgetting his earlier arrogance.
Luca ignored him and looked at Olivia. "Which car do you want to test drive? I'll have them arrange it for you."
"No thanks, I can handle it myself," Olivia said. She didn't want to trouble Luca or get too involved with him.
"Handle it?" Luca raised an eyebrow and turned to the salesman. "Is this how you treat potential customers? Judging people by their appearance?"
The salesman's face turned bright red, and he lowered his head, not daring to speak.
The dealership manager, hearing the commotion, hurried over. Seeing Luca's demeanor, he felt a jolt of panic and quickly apologized. "Sir, ma'am, I'm so sorry. Our salesman was out of line. Please accept my apologies."
"Arrange a test drive for this lady immediately, no fees. And process this salesman's termination," Luca said in a tone that left no room for argument.
The manager nodded repeatedly. "Of course, I'll arrange it right away."
Hearing he was about to be fired, the salesman's face went pale. He quickly turned to Olivia, pleading, "Ma'am, I'm sorry, I was wrong. Please forgive me just this once."
Olivia ignored him and turned to Luca. "Thanks, but there's no need for all this trouble. I'll just check out another dealership."
"Since you're here, do the test drive before you go," Luca said, grabbing her wrist. "I also want to check out this car. Let's do it together."
Olivia tried to pull her hand away, but he held on tight.
"Luca, let go of me. I can handle my own business," Olivia said, her tone laced with anger.
"I just want to help," Luca said, a hint of hurt in his eyes. "You're here buying a car alone. What if someone bullies you?"
"I don't need your help," Olivia said, forcefully pulling her hand free. "We've been done for a long time. You don't need to pretend to care."
"Pretend to care?" Luca's face darkened. "Is that really how you see me?"
"What else?" Olivia looked at him. "Back then, you were so cold to me. Now you're suddenly so nice. What are you trying to do?"
"I just want to make things right," Luca said, his voice low. "I know I was wrong back then."
"Make things right?" Olivia scoffed. "Some hurts can't be fixed with a simple sorry. I just want to live my life, take care of Leo, and have nothing to do with you. Do you get that?"
The manager and the other salespeople stood silently, not daring to interrupt as the two argued.
Luca looked at Olivia's resolute expression, feeling a sharp pang in his heart, but he wasn't ready to give up. "I know you don't want to deal with me right now, but I'm not giving up. If you want to buy a car, I'll help you choose."
"No thanks, I can choose for myself," Olivia said, turning to leave.
The manager, quick to read the room, stepped in and said to Olivia, "Ma'am, you have great taste. This car is perfect for daily use, and we've got a discount right now that other stores don't offer."