Chapter 107
The moment Olivia Montgomery heard the saleswoman’s mocking remarks, a fire ignited in her gaze.
Who the hell do you think you are, looking down on people like that? Her sharp voice sliced through the air like a blade. Never in her life had she been so blatantly disrespected.
Her eyes flicked to the store’s sign, lips pressing into a thin line of displeasure before she immediately dialed the mall manager.
“What the hell is wrong with your establishment?” Her tone was glacial. “Has the Montgomery name suddenly lost its weight here, or did you hire staff without even basic training?”
The manager broke into a nervous sweat, wiping his forehead as he stammered apologies like a frightened rabbit.
“M-Miss Montgomery, I’m so sorry! This store is new, and the hiring process was rushed. Clearly, the staff training was inadequate. Please, rest assured—I’ll handle this immediately!”
Within moments, the store manager rushed out, his gaze locking onto Olivia as if his career depended on it. With an overly eager, almost desperate smile, he hurried toward her.
“Ah, Miss Montgomery! What an unexpected honor—”
Olivia cut him off with a bitter scoff. “Oh, now I’m ‘Miss Montgomery’? A second ago, I was just some nobody, wasn’t I?” Her voice dripped with venom. “In all my years, no one has ever dared insult me to my face. Your training standards must be truly impressive.”
The saleswoman’s face drained of color, her earlier confidence crumbling instantly.
“Boss,” she stammered, voice shaking, “I-I didn’t mean to—” She had completely misjudged these two women, mistaking their understated elegance for insignificance. Now, with her job on the line, she froze in horror.
The manager, realizing the gravity of the situation, scowled at her. “Idiot! What part of ‘the customer is always right’ did you fail to understand? Every guest deserves respect, regardless of who they are!” He turned back to Olivia with an ingratiating smile. “You must understand—this is Miss Montgomery. Her family owns this entire shopping center!”
The saleswoman’s face crumpled in despair, all color vanishing from her cheeks. She knew she had crossed a line she couldn’t come back from. Trembling, she dropped to her knees before Olivia and Isabella Sinclair, her voice shaking as she begged for forgiveness.
“I’m so sorry! It was my fault—I was careless, I—”
From the side, Genevieve Delacroix’s cold laughter cut through the tension.
“The Montgomery family? Ha! Let me make one thing clear—even if the president himself walked in here today, it wouldn’t change a thing! I grabbed that dress first, so it’s mine!”
The manager, sensing the brewing storm, wiped another bead of sweat from his brow. He couldn’t afford to offend Genevieve, but provoking Olivia was unthinkable. Desperate to mediate, he stepped forward with a placating smile.
“Ladies, please—it’s just a dress. There’s no need for this to escalate. I deeply apologize for my staff’s incompetence.” He shot a pointed glare at the trembling saleswoman. “What are you waiting for? Wrap it up for Miss Montgomery!”
But he wasn’t done. Turning to Genevieve with a strained smile, he added hastily, “As for you, Mrs. Delacroix, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. As a gesture of goodwill, please accept a new bag from our exclusive spring collection—made from the finest crocodile leather.”
Before Olivia or Isabella could react, Genevieve exploded.
“Who gives a damn about your stupid bag? I said I want that dress! Are you deaf? I had it first!”
Caught between store policy and Genevieve’s fury, the manager faltered. Genevieve was wealthy, but Olivia was someone he couldn’t afford to cross.
Genevieve’s expression twisted with rage. She was used to throwing her weight around, crushing anyone who stood in her way—but being humiliated like this by two women she deemed beneath her was unacceptable.
Seething, she yanked out her phone and dialed.
“Sophia, I just got back, and people are already trampling all over me. Are you seriously going to let this slide?”
Sophia Kensington and Ethan Blackwood, who had been shopping nearby, immediately headed over.
Hanging up, Genevieve shot Olivia and Isabella a venomous glare.
“Wait,” she hissed. “My daughter and son-in-law are on their way—and they have more money than you could ever dream of. Mark my words—you’re going to regret this.”
