The security team glanced at each other and practically scrambled to get away from Ian and the tension in the shop. “Lock the door on your way out” Ian snarled.
I heard the door shut behind them while Ian kissed the top of my head.
“You always get into trouble” he muttered “and about this marriage of yours, you think I didn’t know?” he said what a chuckle “I know everything you do. Now,” he said a little louder as Sophie trembled in front of us “I’m not pleased with how my friends were treated but I’ve taken steps to assure myself that it will never happen again” he finished grimly.
Rachel glanced at Ian with a questioning gaze but I held back a grin. I knew that Ian wouldn’t just leave it here. No way. When you offended the Grant family, you paid the price. A steep price. Ian’s eyes were glacial as he studied the manager who was practically shaking in her boots.
“Forgive me” she pleaded, her eyes widening as she glanced at all of us beseechingly “I made a mistake. I’m very sorry” she choked out, putting her hands together in a prayer position.
“God is not about to help you here,” Ian told her callously, his tone so cold that even I flinched from it. “What you did, was abuse your power as manager. You refused to listen to a staff member, who is wiser than you are, it appears” he added, glancing at Melanie who gaped “and you do not deserve to be in a position that can demean or degrade a customer on your whims.”
He was really angry, I thought studying his face. Furious did not even begin to cover it. Although his posture was stiff and his facial expression was tense, there was a simmering rage underneath that he was doing his best to hide. I knew my brother well. I knew that his temper had unreachable limits. But I’d had no choice but to ring him for assistance or Grayson. I didn’t want my husband bothered so I’d chosen, what had seemed the lessor of two evils at the time.
“Kneel” Ian instructed chillingly as Sophie blinked at him, a look of puzzlement on her face “Kneel and ask for your forgiveness.”
She hesitated. Ian cocked his head and waited. It was well known that Ian was ruthless when it came to dealing with people who offended him. She shouldn’t have been surprised by the manner he was dealing with her. Rachel stepped back and folded her arms, a look of great satisfaction on her face. The other women in the store had their moths wide open, agape as they stared at their proud manager being forced to kneel on her knees.
“Last chance” Ian’s voice was dangerously soft.
I felt a small pang for this woman. But only a small one and it didn’t last long. She could have avoided all this if she had just listened to what Rachel and I had tried to tell her. Even if she’d just listened to Melanie. Now she had lost her pride and I had a feeling it was not all she was about to lose.
Sophie slowly, awkwardly, got onto her knees, her eyes rising to meet Ian’s, her lower lip quivering. She clasped both her hands together, her hair beginning to look disheveled and messy, giving off the appearance of a woman who was losing her composure. She made a strangled noise and then coughed, clearing her throat. Her tone when she spoke was soft, hoarse and tinged with desperation. She was grasping at straws and she knew it. Offending the wealthiest family in this country and one of the richest in the world was not a good move on her part.
“Mr Grant” she said, glancing up at him, a hopeless look on her face “Please forgive me for my lack of judgement and for offending you and your friend’s. It was not my intention” she pleaded, her eyes going suspiciously shiny as she held back tears.
I held my breath and waited for Ian to speak, knowing that forgiveness was not in his vocabulary. Sure enough, I was not disappointed.
Flair POV
“I do not forgive you. I wanted you to know how it feels to be degraded and looked down on. You no longer have that proud look on your face that you had when we came in” Ian said with satisfaction as tears welled in Sophie’s eyes “you see how easy it was to break you and make you do something against your will?” he mocked.
Sophie said nothing, her head bowed. She didn’t dare move, lest she anger Ian who was still staring scornfully at her. Ian produced his phone from his pocket and pressed the dial button, shoving the phone at a stunned Sophie who took it in trembling hands.
“I have the owner of this boutique on the phone,” Ian said with a snarl “and they’ve been made aware of the actions you took today. They would like a word with you,” he said icily.
Sophie looked as though she would rather face the gallows as she awkwardly got to her feet and put her ear to the phone. I could make out the sound of yelling on the other end and I saw the blood drain out of Sophie’s face.
“But, but I didn’t” she began to blabber, only to be furiously cut off again.
“It wasn’t my fault” she tried to protest, a roar coming through the phone.
She hung her head and then handed Ian the phone.
“I will of course be appointing a new manager,” Ian said calmly, nodding slowly as I watched “one that is more suitable to customer service” he added “and I thank you for selling the business to me” he added.
“You bought Luxe?” I asked as he hung up.
He glanced at me “Of course. Did you think I would do anything differently?” he asked nonchalantly.
I shook my head. I should have anticipated that would be Ian’s reaction. Sophie looked devastated.
“My job, my position” she whispered, through cracked and quivering lips “it’s all gone.”
“Miss Sophie your services are no longer required at Luxe. Effective today, you are fired” Ian told her dismissively as a tear began to trail down her cheek “I suggest you clear out your locker and grab your things so that I can check them before you leave.”
She gaped at him as he gazed at her coolly. He tapped his watch, “I don’t have all day and I’d rather not have my bodyguards manhandle you if I can avoid it. I’m a gentleman that way” he said as she began to sob.
Ian was unmoved. She put her hands to her cheeks and then turned and ran towards the back of the store, where the employees no doubt had their lockers.
“Follow her” Ian instructed one of his bodyguards who nodded tightly and began to saunter after her.
He glanced around at the other women “Did any of these women stand up against the manager for you?” he said bluntly.
“Only Melanie,” I said softly, gesturing to her.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.