Chapter 299

Chapter 299
Rosalind

"I still don't understand why you didn't bring Beckett," Paige said as we pulled into the parking lot of Boston's most exclusive luxury car dealership. "Isn't car shopping something couples do together?"

I adjusted the Cartier diamond tennis bracelet on my wrist and checked my reflection in the rearview mirror. The Hermès scarf, Chanel suit, and Van Cleef & Arpels earrings created exactly the image I wanted—money, power, and the kind of understated luxury that whispered rather than screamed.

"Paige, darling," I said, stepping out of my modest sedan, "have you ever seen Beckett's idea of a perfect car? It's either a tank or a motorcycle. The man has absolutely no appreciation for automotive elegance."

Paige laughed, smoothing down her simple sundress and cardigan. "So you're telling me the most powerful man in Boston has terrible taste in cars?"

"Terrible taste in cars, excellent taste in wives," I said with a grin. "Besides, this is girls' day out. We're going to find you something gorgeous, and I need proper CEO transportation."

The Prestige Motors showroom was a temple to automotive excellence—gleaming marble floors, dramatic lighting, and million-dollar machines displayed like works of art. A Lamborghini Aventador SVJ sat in the center like a golden sculpture, flanked by a pristine white Bentley Continental GT and a midnight blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

"Welcome to Prestige Motors," said a perfectly groomed man in an expensive suit, his eyes immediately taking in my jewelry and designer outfit. "I'm Richard Thornfield, senior sales consultant. How may I assist you today?"

"I'm in the market for two vehicles," I said smoothly. "Something befitting a CEO, and something lovely for my friend here."

Richard's smile widened as he clearly calculated potential commission. "Of course, Mrs...?"

"Montgomery. Rosalind Montgomery."

If I'd announced I was the Queen of England, his reaction couldn't have been more dramatic. His eyes widened slightly, and his already deferential manner became positively reverent.

"Mrs. Montgomery! What an absolute honor. I've read about your appointment as CEO of Montgomery Industries in the business journal. Truly inspiring." He gestured toward the showroom. "Please, let me show you our finest selections."

For the next thirty minutes, Richard was the epitome of professional excellence. He walked us through the specifications of a stunning Aston Martin DB11 Volante, explaining its twin-turbo V8 engine and hand-stitched leather interior with genuine passion. He detailed the features of a gorgeous Porsche 911 Turbo S, describing its acceleration capabilities and adaptive suspension system.

"And this," he said, leading us to a breathtaking Ferrari 488 GTB in rosso corsa red, "is perhaps our most exquisite piece. Twin-turbocharged V8, 661 horsepower, zero to sixty in just three seconds."

Paige's eyes were wide with wonder as she ran her fingers along the Ferrari's curves. "It's like automotive poetry."

"Indeed it is," Richard agreed warmly. "Would you like to sit inside and experience the craftsmanship?"

"Oh, I'd love to, but I should probably—"

"Of course you should," I interrupted. "Richard, please show my friend the interior details."

Just then, my phone buzzed with an urgent message from my assistant. "Paige, I need to step away for just a moment. Business call. Richard will take excellent care of you."

I stepped toward the ladies' room, but paused when I heard the conversation continuing behind me.

"So," Richard's voice had undergone a complete transformation—the warmth and enthusiasm replaced by barely concealed condescension, "are you actually in the market for a vehicle, or are you just... browsing?"

"I was hoping to look at something in maybe the fifty to seventy-five thousand range?" Paige said hesitantly.

Richard's laugh was short and dismissive. "Miss, I think you might be more comfortable at the Honda dealership down the street. We deal in serious luxury vehicles here, not... entry-level transportation."

"But Mrs. Montgomery said—"

"Mrs. Montgomery is a valued client with serious purchasing power. You, on the other hand..." He paused meaningfully. "Well, perhaps you should consider what you can actually afford before wasting my time with fantasies."

The ice in my veins had nothing to do with the air conditioning. I turned around slowly, my heels clicking against the marble with the precision of a countdown.

"Richard," I said, my voice carrying the kind of deadly calm that made boardrooms fall silent, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with my friend."

Richard's face went through several interesting color changes. "Mrs. Montgomery, I was just—"

"Excuse me," I called out to a young woman across the showroom who'd been watching the interaction with growing concern. "Could you come here, please?"

She hurried over—a professionally dressed Asian woman with kind eyes and an eager demeanor. "Yes, ma'am?"

"What's your name, dear?"

"Lisa Chen, ma'am. I'm a sales associate here."

"Perfect. Lisa, I'd like to purchase that Porsche 911 Turbo S for my friend Paige. The fully loaded model with all available options."

Lisa's eyes widened. "The... the Turbo S? That's a $230,000 vehicle, ma'am."

"I'm aware." I pulled out my black American Express card—the one with no spending limit. "Will this suffice?"

"Of course, Mrs. Montgomery!" Lisa was practically vibrating with excitement. "I'll prepare the paperwork immediately."

Richard's face had gone from pale to green. "Mrs. Montgomery, perhaps we could discuss—"

I held up one perfectly manicured hand. "Richard, you're no longer needed. Lisa will be handling all of my purchases today."

"Purchases? Plural?" Lisa asked, clearly trying to contain her excitement.

"Yes. After we finish Paige's transaction, I'll need that Aston Martin DB11 Volante in midnight blue, and..." I paused, looking directly at Richard's increasingly horrified expression, "that Ferrari 488 GTB. Both with full option packages."

Lisa's hands were actually shaking as she calculated the numbers. "That's... that's over eight hundred thousand dollars in total purchases, Mrs. Montgomery."

"Is that a problem?"

"No ma'am! Absolutely not! This will be the largest single-day sale in our dealership's history!"

I turned to Paige, who was staring at me in complete shock. "Paige, darling, what color would you prefer for your new Porsche? They have it in several beautiful options."

"Rosalind, I can't possibly—"

"You absolutely can and you will. Consider it a belated birthday present. Or an early birthday present. Or a 'congratulations on being an amazing friend' present."

Richard cleared his throat desperately. "Mrs. Montgomery, if I could just apologize for any misunderstanding—"

"The only misunderstanding, Richard, is that you thought my friend wasn't worthy of your attention." I smiled, and it was sharp enough to cut glass. "Lisa will earn a very nice commission today. You, on the other hand, just learned a very expensive lesson about judging people by their appearance."

As Lisa enthusiastically began processing Paige's paperwork, Richard stood frozen nearby, watching what should have been his massive commission slip away.

"You know what?" I said to Lisa, pulling out my phone. "Make that two Ferraris. I think I'd like one in white as well. My husband mentioned he might want something sportier."

Lisa looked like she might faint from joy. "Two Ferraris, Mrs. Montgomery?"

"Why not? Life's too short for boring cars."

Richard made a small, strangled sound and walked away, probably to rethink his career choices.

Paige grabbed my arm, her voice a whisper. "Rosalind, this is insane. You just spent over a million dollars to prove a point."

I shrugged, signing the final paperwork with a flourish. "Honey, I'm the CEO of Montgomery Industries and my husband owns half of Boston. A million dollars is a rounding error. But the look on Richard's face when he realized he just lost the biggest sale of his career? That was priceless."