Chapter 11 Power Isn't Loud
Elena turned slowly and immediately decided that this had to be Camille's mother.
What an ugly coincidence it was to meet such a distasteful soul twice in twenty-four hours.
She could see the disdain on Camille's face as she turned to face them.
“Did you hear me, girl?” the older woman asked, waving her manicured fingers in Elena's face. “My daughter wants that.”
“Oh, hello, ma’am,” Elena said calmly. “I’ve already selected this. I just need it packed up.”
The older woman didn’t even look at her properly. She turned to the store attendant instead.
“Reverse her purchase,” she said flatly. “I’m getting it for my daughter.”
“I'm sorry, I don't think you understand,” Elena tried to sound as polite as she could.
Deciding that Camille's silly behavior at the banquet the previous day shouldn't be used to judge her innocent mother's character, “I said I've gotten this already. Maybe you could find another piece. They have a truly lovely collection.”
But the woman arched her drawn brows at her. “It would be such a shame for a young girl your age to be deaf.” The woman rolled her eyes. “Drop the necklace. We are buying it.”
Elena blinked, then straightened. “That’s not appropriate. I saw it first. I picked it up, and I’m about to make payment.”
Camille stepped closer, lips curling. “Are you really arguing with my mother? What is it with you and a simple pair of earrings you can’t let go of?”
Elena held her gaze. “Exactly the reason you both should walk away. I picked it first. There are several other pieces you can choose from.”
The older woman scoffed. “Enough of this nonsense. I am buying it for my daughter, and that’s final.”
Before Elena could react, the woman snatched the velvet box from her hands and turned toward the counter.
“Ma’am, please,” a shop attendant rushed forward. “I’m sorry, but she picked it first. She’s a frequent customer.”
The woman stopped and turned slowly.
“Do you know who you’re speaking to?”
The attendant froze, and her face drained of color. “I—I’m sorry, ma’am.”
Camille smirked. “You’re looking at Madam Matilda,” she said proudly. “Wife of the senator of this city. How dare you deny her the right to purchase from your shop?”
The attendant’s hands trembled. “I apologize, ma’am. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
“I could make sure you're fired and never employed in this city again,” Madam Matilda said smugly.
The attendant dropped to her knees, but the woman kicked her hands off her skirt.
“Are you enjoying this?” Elena asked sharply. “All this for a ruby necklace and earrings that may not even suit that rough skin of yours?”
The boutique went silent at that single line of insult.
Matilda’s eyes flashed.
Elena exhaled once she knew she'd given her what she deserved. “You're right. Ruby is a bad choice. I’m no longer interested.”
She turned and walked away.
But Camille followed.
“I’ve had enough of you,” Camille hissed when Elena stopped at another display. “You think just because you got Julian to marry you that you’re prettier than me?”
Elena laughed softly. “I never thought about that. But now that you mention it, maybe it’s true.”
Camille’s face twisted with rage. “I’ll make you regret living in this city.”
Elena didn’t even turn back. “You sound just like my little sister. She throws a tantrum every time she doesn't get things done her way.”
Then slowly, she selected a diamond necklace and walked back to the counter.
But Camille had her eyes on Elena the entire time and then whispered something to her mother.
Moments later, Matilda returned.
“We’ll take that diamond set too.”
The attendant stammered. “Ma’am, she’s already paid.”
Matilda’s smile vanished. “Then refund her. In fact, she’s no longer welcome to shop here.”
Elena stared at her. She was genuinely surprised by how far they were willing to go.
“That’s right. I will get what I want,” Camille boasted. “You can tell that so-called husband of yours.”
That was when Elena pulled out her phone.
“Julian,” she said quietly. “I’m at Lorrainé’s Boutique. There’s an issue with your acquaintance, Camille.”
Camille watched smugly with her hands folded as Elena described the ordeal.
When Julian told her he'd take care of it, she was expecting another order and simply was about to walk away.
But just seconds later, phones buzzed around the store, and every attendant froze.
“Lock the doors,” someone whispered, and the security moved instantly.
The front doors shut just before Camille and Matilda could leave.
“What is this? I paid for all my items. Let us out!” Matilda snapped.
But the doorman shook his head. “I just got a top-tier instruction to let no one out until a certain Mrs. Thorne's purchase is sorted out.”
Camille blinked. “What?!”
The man nodded. “I'm sorry, ladies. But my job might be on the line.”
Matilda spun around. “What is this?”
“Do you know what you've just done? We could have you sued for this harassment!”
Just then, the manager rushed up. “What’s going on? Headquarters just called.”
The cashier swallowed. “Nothing, sir. These ladies were just buying some jewelry. They're set to leave, but we all received a call not to let them.”
“No, it's not just a call,” the manager cut in. “The owner himself called. He instructed that both the ruby and diamond sets be handed over to Elena Thorne immediately.”
Elena blinked. “What?”
“Yes, I think there's been a huge misunderstanding, ma'am.”
But Matilda snapped at him, quickly reintroducing herself as the senator's wife. “I have paid for these, and you have no right to tell me to return them to her!”
But the manager looked lost. “If I get this messed up, I'm losing my job.”
“Why?” Camille asked. “Why does she take the jewelry and we can't?”
The manager smiled politely. “They were just anonymously paid for, triple the value.”
Camille stared and Matilda went pale as they gasped in unison.
“$1,500,000.”