The boutique was silent enough that Fiona could hear the faint hum of the air conditioner. Every staff mber froze where they stood. Nathan didn’t raise his voice, he didn’t need to. His calmness alone made the head saleswoman tremble.
The woman swallowed and imdiately bowed her head. "S-Sir... I didn’t know— I didn’t realize—"
Nathan cut her off with a single look.
"I don’t care what you realized," he said. "You insulted them."
The woman’s hands shook. She looked at Ella and Fiona quickly, then at Nathan again. "I—I apologize. Truly. I didn’t an to offend them."
Nathan stared at her like he was evaluating sothing useless. "Your apology is too plain."
"You’re apologizing because you’re scared," Nathan continued. "Not because you’re sorry. And I don’t accept that."
She blinked rapidly, sweat gathering around her temple.
"I will make sure," Nathan said calmly, "that you never work in this city again. Boutique, hotel, mall, supermarket — anywhere. I’ll make sure you’re blacklisted."
The woman gasped loudly. "Sir— Sir please—!"
She dropped to her knees so fast.
She was crying now. "Please, Mr. Kent... I have a family. I didn’t an— I didn’t know they were connected to you—"
Nathan’s eyes hardened. "So if they weren’t connected to , humiliating them is fine?"
The woman wanted to say sothing but stopped, she had no answer. No excuse.
Nathan looked down at her like she was nothing. "If you’re going to kneel..." He tilted his head slightly. "Kneel properly."
She imdiately dropped lower, kneeling straight, her hands on the floor as if worshipping him.
"And now," Nathan said, "you’ll apologize to both of them the way you just apologized to ."
The woman’s face twisted with sha, but she crawled — literally crawled — toward Ella and Fiona.
Ella folded her arms, raising her chin proudly. Fiona shifted uncomfortably, but Nathan placed a reassuring hand on her back.
The woman lowered her forehead to the floor.
"I’m sorry," she said, her voice shaky. "Miss... I’m sorry for insulting you. I was wrong, I shouldn’t have judged you. Please forgive ."
She turned to Ella next.
"M-Miss, I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have... please forgive ."
Ella gave her a slow, satisfied smile. "Hmm. That’s more like it."
Just then—the manager rushed to the scene, "What’s happening here—?"
He froze the mont he saw Nathan, his expression changed instantly — from confusion to sheer terror.
He bowed lowly. "Mr. Kent! I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were visiting today—"
Nathan didn’t acknowledge him.
The manager looked around and saw the head saleswoman still kneeling, crying. His face went red with anger.
"What did she do?!" he demanded, turning to the attendants.
Ella stepped forward proudly, arms still crossed. "She treated us like trash."
The manager’s eyes widened. "She—what?"
Ella tilted her head. "She insulted us, called us poor. Told I sll, she even tid us like children. Ordered security to throw us out. And worst of all—" She lifted her chin. "—she disrespected his girlfriend."
The manager’s jaw dropped. He spun toward the woman.
"You idiot!" he shouted.
Before she could defend herself—
SLAP!
The sound echoed loudly, the woman held her cheek, stunned.
The manager slapped her again.
"You dare treat Mr. Kent’s people like that?! Are you insane?!"
The woman cried harder. "I-I didn’t know— I didn’t know who they were—"
"That is your Job!" the manager yelled. "To treat every custor with respect! Not only the rich ones!"
Ella nodded approvingly. "Exactly."
The manager bowed deeply to Ella and Fiona. "Miss, I deeply apologize. Please tell what I can do to compensate you."
Ella smirked. "She needs to apologize properly."
"She hasn’t apologised?—" the manager asked.
"No." Ella raised a finger. "She will apologize again. On her knees."
The manager didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the woman’s arm and forced her to kneel again.
"Apologize!"
The woman, trembling, lowered her forehead to the floor again. "I’m sorry. Please forgive . It won’t happen again."
Ella looked at her nails dramatically. "Good."
Fiona sighed softly. "Ella..."
But Ella only whispered, "Let enjoy justice for once."
The manager turned to Nathan next. "Mr. Kent... please... don’t blacklist us. Give us a chance to correct this."
Nathan’s expression didn’t soften. "No."
The manager nearly collapsed.
Nathan took Fiona’s hand and looked at the manager with cold finality. "We’re leaving."
He started guiding Fiona and Ella toward the exit.
"W-WAIT!" the manager cried, panicking. They stopped.
"Please!" he said desperately. "Allow us to make it up to you! Pick ANY designer bag, any shoes—anything in the boutique! Completely free! As many as you want!"
Fiona imdiately shook her head. "We’re not—"
Nathan didn’t even look at the man. "We’re not interested."
Ella’s eyes widened. "Wait—wait—wait. FREE?"
Ella grabbed Fiona’s arm. "Fiona. Fiona, please. Opportunities like this don’t fall from the sky. I beg you."
Fiona sighed. "Ella—"
"PLEASE!" Ella whispered intensely. "I’ve suffered enough today. Let have this."
Fiona pinched the bridge of her nose. Then she looked up at Nathan.
"Nathan..." she said softly. "Let her. Just for Ella."
Nathan looked at Fiona’s face — at her soft pleading expression and exhaled.
He turned to the manager. "Fine."
Ella almost scread in joy.
"But," Nathan added sharply, "I’ll pay. Put everything on my na."
The manager nodded so fast his glasses almost fell off. "Of course! Yes, Mr. Kent!"
Nathan looked at Ella. "Go ahead. Shop. Anything you want."
Ella didn’t need to hear it twice. She practically sprinted toward the most expensive section of the boutique.
"FIONA CO ON!" she called out excitedly.
But Fiona didn’t move imdiately, she looked at Nathan with soft eyes.
"You didn’t have to do that..." she whispered.
"I don’t like seeing you treated badly," Nathan said simply. "And I won’t let anyone disrespect you."
Her chest ward at that.
Ella called again. "Fiona! I’m picking shoes!"
Fiona laughed lightly and stepped away, but Nathan caught her hand for a second.
"Don’t take too long," he murmured.
She nodded and hurried after Ella. anwhile, the staff stood perfectly still, terrified.
The head saleswoman stayed on her knees, sobbing silently.
The manager hovered near Nathan like a terrified puppy.
Nathan stood there, arms crossed, watching Fiona and Ella pick out bags, shoes, and dresses — all of which he would pay for without blinking.
And now everyone in that boutique now knew one thing: Fiona wasn’t soone to look down on.
She was Nathan Kent’s woman — and that ant untouchable.
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