Chapter 286

Chapter 286

"Even if I'm left out in the cold, I'm still better off than you, you nosy busybody. Don't you think?"

Katherine had had enough. She'd held her tongue so many times, but she couldn't find the right moment to clap back. It just wasn't her style to sink to the level of such a nasty person.

No matter what people said, she always focused on doing her job well.

Katherine's words left the woman fuming, speechless, and she stomped her foot in frustration.

If Howard hadn't been the one driving today, she would have plastered the photos all over the street.

"Just my luck! Of all people, it had to be Howard! Ms. Brown will never forgive me now. What am I gonna do?" The woman stood there, distressed.

Several employees at the mall had warned her not to get involved in these matters, but she insisted on meddling. Now, with Katherine exposing her in front of everyone, no one dared to associate with her.

If it wasn't their business, they wouldn't get involved.

Katherine walked into the mall with her bag. She had taken the morning off, and the store was currently closed.

As she fished out her keys to open the shutter, Monica arrived with a team to move things in.

Katherine casually inspected a few items and found that the purchases were exactly as she had imagined.

Monica's first task upon entering wasn't to sit down and rest or complain about being tired. Instead, she supervised the workers installing the fixtures. Katherine, not one to exploit her employees, got up to fetch bottled water for Monica and the workers.

"You managed to complete the procurement so quickly and stayed within budget. Monica, you've made incredible progress," Katherine praised.

She was never stingy with her compliments, especially towards children and female friends.

Monica, however, looked troubled and began to vent, "You know, I wasn't good at this before. It wasn't until Michael had me inventory fabrics and decorations and calculate the costs that I realized how important procurement is. Timing and negotiating prices can save the company a lot of money."

Katherine smiled warmly, "This is just a small step on your path to promotion. There's still so much more to learn. When buying things, it's not just about the price; relationships matter too."

Monica wasn't the type to grasp things instantly.

But she was willing to spend time understanding, which was better than many who seemed smart but lacked dedication.

Monica nodded earnestly and turned back to guide the workers.

Under Monica's strict supervision and standards, the workers completed their tasks in just an hour.

After settling the payment with the workers, Monica finally sat down on the small sofa to catch her breath.

"Oh my gosh, I'm exhausted. Katherine, I think you should move to that big store on the first floor. This place is too small; there's no room to work. Can I help you here today?"

Monica's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Clearly, she was trying to avoid Michael's demands. But since Michael had to pick up the kids in the afternoon, he wouldn't be able to manage the store, leaving Monica to handle it.

Katherine thought for a moment, "Alright, but you need to head over there before Edward and Flora get out of school."

"No problem," Monica perked up immediately, taking the items from Katherine and arranging them. "I'll make sure everything's perfect for you."

Watching Monica bustling around, Katherine marveled at how quickly time had passed.

When she first met Monica, she was someone who often messed up small tasks. Now, she could handle things on her own.

The store now had a beverage cooler and a sewing machine.

Katherine had completely overhauled the shop, arranging every necessity along a single, intuitive path—transforming the entire operation into a model of efficiency.

Katherine waved Monica over and handed her a record book, "Come here, I'll teach you how to record customers' measurements and other data. Later, you can help me with the entries. Also, organize the items by color and length, and arrange them neatly."

Monica studied diligently and couldn't help but marvel, "Katherine, are you sure you're not a professional tailor or designer? How do you know so much?"

Katherine didn't hesitate, "If you spent more time with Michael, you'd learn these things too."

"No thanks, I've learned enough from you," Monica pouted, and seeing the time, she started attracting customers outside.

Despite the earlier disruption and temporary closure, the store had received rave reviews online, increasing its popularity.

Monica didn't need to spend much time attracting customers. Soon, the store was packed.

Although customers were selecting and paying for items themselves, it was still incredibly busy.

Monica was nearly overwhelmed.

But Katherine remained calm, methodically working on her tasks and occasionally guiding new customers.

Customers could freely choose clothes without trying them on and could queue up for Katherine to tailor the fit and style. If they spent a certain amount, they could enjoy a color analysis and unlimited drinks.

While altering clothes, Katherine invited customers to watch.

The more they watched, the more excited they became.

"Am I seeing this right? This ordinary dress looks amazing now!"

"I feel like I'm wearing a runway outfit! I've never found clothes that fit so well."

"Me too! Hurry up, ladies!"

Katherine didn't follow a fixed template for alterations. She tailored each piece to the customer's needs, adding unique touches with her expertise.

"It's you who choose the clothes, not the clothes that choose you. Everyone's body has its own beauty. We need to discover our own beauty. Ladies, if you're tired, please come in for a seat and some water!" Katherine said gently.

This statement quickly became a popular quote online.

Most people came to the Wilson Corporation mall specifically for Katherine, and the line stretched from the third floor down to the mall entrance.

Other store employees, who had been resting for a long time, were amazed by the crowd.

Employees from several floors came out to the corridors to watch the bustling scene.

Stella saw it all.

Sitting in her office, she turned off her tablet and nearly crushed the glass in her hand.

"That bitch!"