Chapter 9 Chapter 9
Scarlett's POV
I took a deep breath after Damon left. The entire floor felt lighter without him hovering over me like an overprotective guard dog.
Don't get me wrong. The protection was nice. The attention was sweet. But I just wanted to buy some jeans and t-shirts like a normal person. Not have a mob boss hold up grandmother dresses and stripper outfits like they were both perfectly reasonable options.
I turned to leave the boutique. Maybe find a Gap or something. Anything with price tags under three digits.
But then my eyes landed on that red dress again. The one Damon had picked out earlier. The skintight sequined nightmare.
I walked over and picked it up. Held it at arm's length.
This is why men shouldn't shop alone. God help us all.
"Wait, so you DO have a sugar daddy. Well, that explains everything."
The voice was sharp. Mean. Coming from the entrance.
I looked up.
Oh great. Just what I needed.
Zelda stood in the doorway with three other girls. I recognized the loud one immediately. Madison. Zelda's best friend and professional mean girl. The other two were Ashley and Sophie. They all went to the same private school. They all wore designer everything. They all thought they were better than everyone else.
I'd met them exactly twice. Both times they'd made snide comments about my clothes. Both times Zelda had pretended to defend me while actually making it worse.
Madison was staring at me like I was dog shit on her Louboutins. "I knew it. I told you girls she had to be doing something disgusting to afford shopping here."
I didn't say anything. Just looked at her.
This was going to be entertaining.
Zelda grabbed Madison's sleeve. Her voice went soft and apologetic. "Madison, don't. Scarlett, please don't take it the wrong way. Madison's just worried about you."
Oh, here we go. The performance.
Zelda's eyes were wide and innocent. Her voice had that hurt, confused quality. Like she couldn't understand why I was always so mean to her sweet, concerned friends.
The three girls immediately looked more pissed off. Like I'd just insulted Zelda somehow.
In their minds, Zelda was a saint. And I was the trash from the foster system who didn't appreciate having such a wonderful sister.
Madison's voice got louder. Making sure every employee in the store could hear. "I knew it. Girls from the slums will do anything for money. Anything."
She looked me up and down. Her lip curled. "Let me guess. Married man? Does his wife know he's buying clothes for some knocked-up side piece?"
The store was empty except for us and the staff. But all the employees had stopped what they were doing. They were watching now.
I caught the store manager's expression. She looked uncomfortable. Her eyes kept darting between Madison and me.
One of the younger sales girls whispered something to another employee. I heard fragments. "...Damon Wolfe..." "...not old at all..." "...way she looked at him..."
Oh, this was too good.
These idiots thought Damon was some gross old man. The staff knew exactly who he was. And they'd clearly seen how he looked at me in the store earlier.
Madison was on a roll now. Getting more confident. "You know what they say. Put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig."
She laughed. Ashley and Sophie laughed with her.
"You really think hooking some disgusting old man makes you good enough to shop here?" Madison continued. "Please. You're still trailer trash. Just with a credit card you didn't earn."
I put the red dress down. Looked at Madison properly for the first time.
These girls had something wrong with their brains. They kept coming after me. Every few weeks, they'd find some excuse to start shit. And every time, I'd shut them down. Hard.
And yet here they were again. Like goldfish with three-second memories.
You know what? Fine. They wanted to be taught a lesson? I'd teach them one.
I smiled. The nice kind of smile. The kind that didn't reach my eyes.
I turned to the store manager. "Excuse me. These people are being very loud and disruptive. It's ruining my shopping experience. Could you please ask them to leave?"
The manager's face lit up. She'd clearly been dying to kick these girls out.
"Of course, miss." Her voice was ice cold. "Ladies, I'm going to have to ask you to exit the store immediately."
Madison's mouth fell open. "What? You can't kick us out. Do you know who I am?"
"I don't care who you are," the manager said. "This is a private establishment. I can refuse service to anyone."
"This is ridiculous," Madison said. She pointed at me. "She doesn't even belong here. You really think she can afford anything in this store?"
I almost laughed. She was making this too easy.
"Actually," I said slowly. "I can afford quite a bit. Can you?"
Madison's face went red. "Of course I can afford it. I could buy this entire store if I wanted to."
"Sure you could," I said. My voice was sweet. Innocent.
I picked up the red sequined dress. The horrible one Damon had chosen. Held it up.
"I've decided I want this one," I said to the manager. I looked at Madison. Let my smile turn mean. "I'm buying it. Right now. Unless someone wants to compete with me for it?"
Madison's eyes went wide. Then narrow.
She was pissed.
"I want that dress," Madison said immediately.
I raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, I saw it first."
"I don't care," Madison snapped. "I want it."
"So buy a different one," I said. I held the dress closer to me. "This one's mine."
Madison turned to the manager. Her voice was shrill now. "I'll pay double. Sell it to me."
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
Got her.
I looked at the manager. My expression went soft. Understanding. Almost sympathetic.
"Congratulations," I said to Madison. "The red sequined dress is all yours."
I handed it to the manager. "Please wrap it up for this young lady."
Madison froze. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
The manager took the dress. "Certainly. That will be eight thousand dollars."
The air went still.
Madison's face went through about five different colors. Red. White. Purple. Back to red.
She'd just been tricked into buying an eight-thousand-dollar dress she didn't even want.
"Well?" I said. I tilted my head. "Where's your card?"
"I..." Madison looked at Zelda. Then at Ashley and Sophie. They were all staring at her.
"You said you could afford anything in this store," I continued. My voice was so helpful. So kind. "Luxury brands have set prices. The extra money can be a tip for the staff. They work so hard."
Madison's hand shook as she pulled out her credit card. She threw it at the manager.
The manager picked it up. Walked to the register.
Madison was glaring at me. Pure hatred in her eyes.
I just smiled back.
Zelda's eyes were red now. Her lips were pressed together. She looked like she was about to cry.
"Why would you do that?" Her voice cracked. "Madison was just worried about you. Why did you have to humiliate her?"
She bit her lip. Tears gathered in her eyes. "You hate me, I get it. But why take it out on my friends? If you want to hurt someone, hurt me. Not them."
Here we go. The victim act.
I looked at Zelda. At her perfect tears. Her perfect hurt expression.
She was good. I had to give her that.
I turned and headed for the door.
Behind me, I heard Madison's voice. Strangled and angry. "Did the payment go through?"
"Yes, miss. Would you like it delivered or---"
I stopped at the entrance. Looked back.
All four girls were staring at me. Madison looked furious. Ashley and Sophie looked confused. Zelda looked heartbroken.
I smiled. My brightest, most genuine smile.
"Why?" I said. "Because it's entertaining. And you make it way too easy."
I walked out of the boutique.
Behind me, I heard Madison scream.