Chapter 5 You Only Deserve the Things I Don't Want
It was quite common for several customers to want the same item, but this saleswoman was clearly new to the job.
She nervously repeated to Amelia what she had just told me. "This bag is limited to 15 pieces worldwide and extremely popular. Our store only has this one right now, priced at $188,000."
"I know all that." Amelia glanced at me guardedly. "I flew to Starstream City specifically for this bag. It's just a few hundred thousand dollars - do you think I can't afford it?"
"No, no." The saleswoman quickly shook her head. "This bag has a purchase threshold. You must either spend over $1.88 million in one transaction at our store or have cumulative purchases exceeding $4.88 million."
"How hard can that be?" Marcus raised his eyebrows in displeasure and urged the saleswoman. "Whether it's two million or five million dollars, we can afford it. Give us the bag."
"Such big talk!" Amelia walked over quickly in her thin high heels. "Do you know who the man beside me is?"
Marcus shrugged dismissively.
The saleswoman smiled stiffly. "I'm sure he's someone important."
Amelia looked at her puzzled. "You really don't recognize Lucas?"
Lucas felt somewhat embarrassed and gently tugged at Amelia.
I stood to the side with my arms crossed, thinking that if Amelia wanted to throw her weight around, she had the wrong idea!
"So Mr. Valeri is here!" The store manager noticed the situation and hurried over. "We're honored by your presence. Are you shopping with Mrs. Valeri today?"
The manager's words made Marcus, Lucas, and Amelia all change their expressions.
I smiled slightly. "Julie, haven't you heard? Lucas and I are already divorced. Mr. Valeri is here with this young lady, and she wants the bag I was getting."
Julie looked at Lucas and me in surprise, then quickly adjusted her expression. "I see. Our store's rule is that the highest bidder wins."
I nodded calmly. "Let's bid then."
Julie turned to Amelia. "Ma'am, please make your offer."
Amelia didn't understand. Lucas explained the bidding rules to her, and Amelia asked in confusion. "You're already Kingpin of the North, this whole mall is yours. Shouldn't getting me a bag just be a matter of you saying the word?"
Lucas frowned deeply. "The owner of this store is my business partner."
As far as I knew, this partner was quite influential, with diverse supply channels and access to all kinds of rare items. Lucas definitely wouldn't risk the partnership over a women's handbag.
Amelia didn't get it. Lucas pressed his lips together, a flash of irritation in his eyes.
I spoke leisurely. "The mall has its rules. The Valeri family follows the rules, but the Gambino family probably doesn't even know what 'rules' are."
As I brought up families, Amelia's face darkened. "It's just bidding, right? I'll pay double for this bag!"
I said calmly. "Triple."
Amelia frowned. "Three and a half times!"
Marcus laughed. "Only adding half? Acting rich when you have no money - why don't you just add one dollar?"
Lucas looked somewhat puzzled. "Didn't you learn the rules of bidding in your family?"
Amelia felt humiliated and embarrassed, her pretty face flushing.
Her mother had only been promoted from mistress to legitimate wife a few years ago. Growing up, all she learned from her mother was how to seduce men, not family heritage.
Of course, the Gambino family didn't have much heritage for her to inherit anyway.
"I..." Amelia hugged Lucas's arm aggrievedly and cooed softly. "I was just trying to save you some money."
"No need to be so petty." Lucas pulled his arm back. "Five times."
I smiled composedly. "Seven times."
Amelia looked at Lucas pitifully. Lucas glanced at me with a complicated expression and said to Amelia in a low voice, "If you want it, buy it, no matter the price."
Amelia immediately brightened up and glared at me triumphantly. "Eight times!"
I replied, "Nine times."
"What are you trying to do? Are you deliberately getting revenge on Lucas and me?" Amelia was angry that I kept bidding against her. Spending a few hundred thousand on a bag made her feel proud, but spending millions would only make her feel the pinch!
Marcus said lazily. "Why do you talk so much? Are you bidding or not? Let me bid for you. nine times plus one dollar."
Snickers came from around us. Amelia glared at Marcus. "Who are you?!"
Marcus's eyes rolled. "I'm Bella's bodyguard."
Seeing Marcus dressed plainly and carrying shopping bags, Amelia believed him.
Lucas laughed silently and coldly but said nothing. He couldn't possibly tell people that Marcus was my "lover."
Marcus deliberately said loudly to me. "Bella, this woman is too arrogant. She has no money but still dares to compete with you! You're the person Mr. Sorelli treasures most, and Mr. Sorelli won't let you suffer any grievance. It's just a bag worth over a million dollars - worst case, we'll buy the whole store!"
Marcus winked at me after speaking. I held back my laughter and didn't expose him.
Lucas, watching Marcus and me "exchanging glances," looked worse and worse.
Amelia asked in surprise. "Mr. Sorelli? You mean that lawyer named Brian?"
She laughed mockingly. "How much money can a lawyer have? Stop pretending!"
"Yeah, Brian doesn't have much money. I'm not talking about Brian." Marcus curled his lip.
"Then who?" The one asking wasn't Amelia, but Lucas.
"Is it the man who picked you up that night?" He was somewhat agitated. "The man who treasures you most and won't let you suffer any grievance - who exactly is he!"
Marcus rolled his eyes and stood in front of me. "The chairman of Platinum Haven Hotel."
Lucas instinctively denied it. "Impossible!"
Marcus scoffed. "Believe it or not."
I signaled Julie to stop watching the drama. "Ring me up."
Julie reached out her hand. Amelia snapped back. "No! I bid ten times!"
I smirked. "Ten times? Are you sure?"
"Sure!" Amelia challenged me. "Do you dare to keep bidding?"
I shook my head and curved my lips slightly. "I don't want it anymore."
Amelia froze for two seconds, then barely raised her chin to declare her victory.
I looked at her and smiled. "You only deserve my leftovers - both the bag and the man."
Amelia went crazy and swung her hand at my face. I grabbed her wrist and pushed her away forcefully. Amelia staggered and nearly fell.
I elegantly brushed my hair and handed my bank card to Julie. "Except for this bag, I'll take everything else in the store."
"How could you possibly have that much money?" Amelia's voice was shrill, making people around frown uncomfortably.
Julie took my card and pulled out a POS machine, smiling. "Do you mind if I check the balance on this card?"
I entered my password indifferently. Julie saw the long string of zeros and broke into a bright smile. "I'll close the store immediately and provide you with exclusive private service for our top VIP customers!"
Julie's attitude said it all. Amelia's face blushed with anger, unable to believe it. "Where did you get the money?"
I glanced at her and deliberately said. "Don't you know? My ex-husband gave me tens of millions of dollars as a breakup fee."
Amelia gasped. "Lucas! Is what she said true?"
"Ex-husband." Lucas seemed dazed, even ignoring Amelia.
He frowned, his brows tinged with hostility, and said irritably, "Bella, we haven't officially divorced yet. Right now, I'm still your husband!"