Ian looked at her and smiled gently. It was like watching a transformation come over him. Melanie looked stunned as he stalked over to her, taking her hand and kissing her palm while Rachel and I rolled our eyes at each other.
“Melanie,” he said kindly “how kind of you to take care of my personal friends” he added wryly, glancing over his shoulder at Rachel and me with a sigh “I cannot express my gratitude” he added smoothly.
“Oh, that’s quite alright” Melanie stammered.
His grin was rakish. “It appears that Luxe is now in need of a new manager,” he told her as Melanie’s mouth parted in shock “and I would rather have one that is familiar with the store and helpful to the customers.”
He looked over his shoulder at me and Rachel “what do you think? Would Melanie make a suitable manager?” he asked.
“Hell yeah,” Rachel said smugly “she’s the best saleslady there is and she was the only one who dared to stand up against that bitch” she declared, gesturing towards where Sophie had disappeared.
I nodded “She’s quite good at choosing fashionable pieces and anticipating what the customer wants. I think she would make an excellent manager for Luxe” I told Ian sincerely as Melanie began to blush.
“That’s settled then. Melanie congratulations on becoming the manager. I shall ensure that your pay is raised to suit your new position” Ian said calmly, turning towards the other women, some who looked disgruntled. “Anybody who does not agree or like that Melanie has been given the position may leave. I have no interest in keeping around employees who cannot work as a team or who create disharmony instead of a positive experience for the customers.”
The other women glanced at each other. Ian waited. I wondered if any of them had the balls to leave.
“We’re not going anywhere. Melanie deserves the promotion, she does most of the work around the store as it is” one of the other women admitted in a low voice “Sophie just took advantage of her.”
Ian was pleased. “I shall take a look at financials and perhaps see if there’s room for raises” he added, causing the women’s eyes to brighten.
There was a loud ruckus from the back. “This is all mine” Sophie was shouting, as the body guard shoved her into the store rather roughly “I earned this, I worked all these years and I’m not leaving with nothing” she screamed.
“It looks as though Sophie does not wish to leave cooperatively,” Ian said blithely, glancing at his body guards who began to move to assist the other “please escort Miss Sophie out of the building so that this store can begin running again. I would like to see it possibly open again today and achieve a profit.”
Sophie was screaming and yelling wildly, her face a crimson red, as the bodyguards bodily lifted her, her body flailing in the air, her handbag clutched tightly in hand. She had stock piled in her hands that the bodyguards promptly took off of her, as she wailed and screeched, depositing her smoothly out of the store and shutting the doors in her faces. She began to bang on the doors, but Ian pointedly ignored her.
“If she doesn’t leave on her own reconnaissance then I shall inform the police” he instructed everyone.
“Now” he added, “what were you doing before this all happened?” he asked me with eyes twinkling.
I giggled “Shopping Ian. We were shopping” I gestured towards Melanie who still looked a little starstruck and nervously glancing at Ian. “Do you think you could put our stuff through again?” I asked her.
She nodded “Certainly. I apologize for all of this,” she said weakly, as Rachel and I burst into laughter “and I sincerely hope that you come back/ I promise it will not happen again on my watch” she added proudly.
“Well, seeing as you’re the manager I’m more inclined to come” Rachel assured her as we stepped up to the register and our clothes and accessories got rescanned “but only if you serve me” she teased Melanie who nodded and grinned.
Ian was looking at the price askance. “Do dresses really cost that much?” he asked bewildered.
“Oh, these are one-of-a-kind designer dresses by Rair” Melanie hastened to inform him “so naturally the price reflects that. These dresses won’t be found anywhere else. This designer only sells in our boutique and one other. Her dresses sell like hotcakes. If Miss Flair and Rachel had not come shopping today, they would not have managed to purchase one because they would have no doubt all sold today” she said with a bit of a squeak as Ian glanced at us with interest.
“Rair,” he said thoughtfully “what an unusual” he paused deliberately and stared harder at Rachel and me “name for a designer,” he said blandly.
“I think it’s unique and lovely,” Melanie said excitedly “I’d love to meet her but nobody has clapped eyes on her,” she said sadly.
“Is that right?” Ian murmured “so nobody has seen this clever designer, not even the other boutique?” he asked with interest.
Melanie shook her head “Sadly no. A courier brings the dresses and we just have an email address to contact them. It’s all very secretive, but isn’t that what makes it exciting” she gushed.
Rachel and I remained very quiet. The look that Ian was shooting us meant he wasn’t as easily fooled. His eyes were narrowed as he went to fetch his card.
“No need,” I said hastily “Grayson wanted to purchase the items” I added.
Ian flattened his lips “Nonetheless I feel obligated to buy the items, seeing as we’re such personal friends” he emphasised to me and Rachel “and seeming as I’m the new owner of the boutique.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but Ian had already scanned his black card, rendering me mute. Damnit. Grayson was going to wonder why I hadn’t spent his money. Ian was gloating, no doubt recognizing the dilemma I was in. I glowered at him as Ian took the bags of clothes and accessories in both hands and inclined his head.
“We will go out the back” he said smoothly “While I cannot hear that horrid woman screeching anymore, there will be more privacy. I will be back” he told a nonplussed Melanie “and we will discuss what needs to be done.”
He silently strode through the store, two bodyguards in wake, while Rachel and I shrugged at each other and followed him through the loading dock and outside to his waiting limousine. He put the bags in the back and motioned for us to get in.
“Congratulations on your marriage to Grayson” he said drily “father is fit to be tied, so when you see him, do your best to listen to him. Rachel” he added with a crooked grin “it was a pleasure to see you again. I’ll see you both at the engagement party.”
“You’re invited?” I asked.
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.