At that mont a slow, chilling silence settled in the air.
Valentina turned her gaze sharply toward the staff, her expression hardening.
"Excuse ?"
The staff hesitated but quickly stood her ground.
"Miss Victoria is one of our most valued custors," she explained again, her voice unwavering.
"She has purchased from us many tis before, and she—"
"—Ca in after ," Valentina cut in, her tone dangerously calm.
"And yet, you’re telling that despite selecting these items first, you’re refusing to sell them to ? Based on what? Favoritism?" She scoffed.
"What kind of establishnt is this?"
At that mont Victoria let out a mocking laugh.
"Oh, don’t be so dramatic, Valentina. It’s simple. I want it, so I get it." She stepped closer, lowering her voice.
"That’s just how the world works. And I always get what I want."
Valentina lifted her chin, her gaze sharp as glass.
"Then I dare you to try."
The mont the words left her lips, the staff hastily moved, ignoring her completely as they began packaging the items for Victoria.
Then Valentina clenched her fists at her sides, her blood simring with barely contained rage.
"So, this was how you wanted to play? Fine."
At that mont Valentina’s expression darkened as the staff blatantly ignored her and proceeded with the transaction.
Then her fingers twitched at her sides, her patience hanging by a fragile thread.
Just as she opened her mouth to protest, the staff turned to her sharply.
"Miss, if you intend to cause a disturbance, I’ll have no choice but to call security."
Imdiately Valentina stiffened.
Victoria let out a delighted laugh, stepping closer with mock pity. "Oh, dear Valentina. Didn’t you just say you wouldn’t let this happen?" She tilted her head, feigning curiosity.
"So why are you just standing there now? What happened to all that confidence?"
Valentina’s jaw tightened, she couldn’t believe Victoria just outdone her for sothing she prepared for her late Mom.
It has been years she went to see her, but Victoria just outdone her because of her connection.
At that mont Valentina shakes her head, as realization set in on her, she was no longer the Valentina she once was.
"Face it,"
Victoria continued, voice dripping with satisfaction.
"You’re nothing now. You have no relevance, no status, and no family to back you up." She sneered. "You think you can just walk into places like this and demand things like before? Wake up. Nobody cares about you anymore."
She turned to the staff.
"How much is it?"
The staff quickly processed the paynt, bowing slightly as they handed her the items. "Thank you for your purchase, Miss Victoria."
Victoria smirked, flicking her hair back.
"As always."
At that mont Valentina’s fists clenched. Her voice was calm, but the weight of her words was undeniable.
"If you think this is over, you’re delusional."
The staff hesitated, but before they could respond, Valentina took a slow step forward.
"If you think you can manipulate the situation just because she’s a VIP cardholder, then you’re severely mistaken. And trust ..." She smiled coldly.
"You’re going to regret it."
Valentina’s eyes darkened as she took a step closer to Victoria even more.
"I won’t allow this nonsense to happen," she stated firmly.
Imdiately Victoria scoffed, her lips curling into a smirk.
"Oh, Valentina," she drawled.
"But it has already happened." She gestured toward the items the staff had neatly packed for her.
"You see, money and power always win."
Valentina’s expression didn’t waver. "Not this ti."
Just as the tension thickened, the entrance doors swung open, and a man in a sharply tailored suit stepped inside.
The mont his gaze landed on Valentina, his eyes flickered with intrigue by the beauty.
He wasn’t just any employee—he was the manager.
His steps were purposeful as he approached the commotion. "What is going on here?" His voice was composed yet authoritative, his gaze lingering on Valentina longer than necessary before shifting to the staff.
One of the attendants quickly stepped forward, her tone respectful but firm.
"Sir, our VIP mber wanted the sa items as this lady." She nodded toward Valentina.
"Since she hadn’t paid for them yet, we prioritized our VIP custor."
Victoria folded her arms, tilting her head with amusent.
"Exactly. That’s how things work here."
At that mont the manager’s jaw tightened slightly as he turned his gaze back to Valentina.
There was sothing undeniably striking about her, sothing that made it difficult to dismiss her the way he usually would with lower-tier custors.
Still, protocol was protocol. They did prioritize VIPs. And Victoria was a familiar face—an influential one.
But...His eyes flickered to the items. The staff had conveniently left out a crucial detail. Valentina was the one who selected them first.
And that ant they had wronged her.
For the first ti, hesitation flickered in his expression. He knew what the staff had done was unfair. He knew the policy wasn’t ant to be abused like this.
And yet, with Victoria standing there expectantly, he wasn’t sure what the right move was.
The manager’s lips parted slightly, his hesitation evident as he glanced between Valentina and Victoria. He knew the protocol—VIP mbers were always given priority—but this situation was different. Valentina had selected the items first. That was the unspoken rule. Yet, since it was Victoria, one of their esteed clients, he was stuck in a difficult position.
Victoria crossed her arms, tilting her chin up with arrogance.
"You don’t have to think so hard about it," she said smoothly, addressing the manager.
"Just make sure this never happens again. A nobody insulting a VIP? I expect her to be reprimanded."
However Valentina didn’t flinch. Her voice was steady, unwavering. "And I expect you to correct this mistake," she said, eyes locked onto the manager.
"I was the one who selected those items first. You know I had every right to purchase them. Instead of getting to pay, they gave them away."
She took a step forward, her presence commanding despite her composed tone.
"Do what is right—give back what I selected."
At that mont the manager swallowed hard, his mind spinning as he searched for a way out.
He wanted to tell Valentina to simply pick sothing else—it was the easier option. But just as he opened his mouth to speak, his gaze fell on the ring on Valentina’s hand.
Imdiately his breath hitched.
The erald ring with a touch of gold. The clover emblem.
His expression shifted instantly, his throat suddenly dry as realization dawned on him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)