Flair POV
I kept my calm, even as Rachel was incensed by the manager’s behavior towards us.
“You’re making a big mistake” I warned the manager, who merely raised a brow and glared at us, security now entering the store and standing directly behind us “That credit card is my husband’s and you have no business treating us like criminals!”
“Charlotte Deluca herself said that you two should not have been allowed to shop in here” Sophie the manager said, drawing herself up “I should have listened to her. There are only so many of these cards in existence and a person as famous as Grayson is not going to be married to somebody of your poor quality!”
“How dare you” Rachel hissed, her tone dripping with venom, yanking her arm away as one of the security team attempted to manhandle her “You have no idea who she is” she added while I subtly shook my head at her.
I didn’t want her to divulge my identity to this woman. I had made the call, now I just needed him. I glanced towards the entrance, hoping he wouldn’t take too long.
“Unless Grayson himself enters the store both of you are fraudsters,” Sophie said, as I felt a security member grab my arm and squeeze it painfully “and as such should be restrained until the police can come.”
“Please come with me Miss,” the security man, an older man in his thirties said, with disdain.
I gave him a frosty gaze “Take your hands off of me” I warned him.
He laughed “Or what? You’re hardly in a position to demand anything” he added, smirking at his colleagues who nodded in agreement.
Rachel was roughly grabbed again, wincing as her arm was pulled behind her. She looked stone-faced. Sophie gave a smile but Melanie looked deeply upset and traumatized by what was happening. She knew Rachel was not capable of stealing anybody’s card but her boss refused to listen to her.
The security man attempted to pull me back and I stumbled slightly. The entrance was still slightly open as another security member stood there, waving away customers. I heard an angry voice speak and couldn’t contain the fierce grin that came over my face. It was about time that he had come. His voice was dripping with fury as he addressed the security team, while Sophie looked confused.
“Take your grubby, disgusting hands off these women right now, before I order them to be broken.”
The security team glanced at each other uneasily as none other than my big brother Ian Grant came striding inside, a fierce scowl on his face, his bodyguards following in his wake. Slowly, the hand gripping me, released me reluctantly as the security turned to face the wrath of Ian Grant in all it’s glory.
Rachel rubbed her arm, scowling at the security men and then smiling brilliantly at Ian whose eyes slid to both of us in concern.
“Are you alright?” he bit out, deliberately moving to glance at my arm which had bruises forming.
“I’m fine, just a little roughed up” I murmured and Ian frowned, before checking Rachel’s arm.
“On whose authority are you attempting to restrain these women?” he asked, as the security team glanced at each other, none of them wishing to speak up.
Everyone knew who Ian Grant was. He was infamous, more famous than Grayson and Charlotte Deluca and everybody knew not to get on his bad side. Even the manager looked worried now.
“I gave the order” Sophie stammered “but I had a good reason…” she trailed off as Ian’s attention turned to her.
“A good reason” he sneered “it seems like this is nothing more than a powerplay by a woman who has nothing better to do and is suffering some midlife crisis” he barked.
Sophie blushed profusely. “But they have a card that is clearly stolen” she attempted to defend herself.
Grayson slid his eyes to me. I nodded tightly and mouthed ‘it’s Grayson’s. My husband’s.”
He grunted “The card is hers. She’s married to Grayson Oakes,” he said with deliberate emphasis “and I’m sure her husband would not be happy to know that his wife was treated in this manner.”
Sophie went white. It was brilliant. She looked as though she was about to faint. She clutched her chest. “I um…” she breathed.
“I tried to tell you Miss Sophie,” Melanie said without sympathy “Miss Rachel is a regular customer and I didn’t think her friend would be a criminal.”
She sounded slightly patronizing to her manager I noticed with some glee. I could hardly blame the girl. The security team was still shifting on their feet, looking dismayed. This could cost them their jobs and they knew it.
Ian rested on his feet, glancing around the store. The other saleslady’s were all pointing and chatting amongst themselves. His bodyguards remained surrounding us. He cast a scornful look at Sophie. “Who are you to determine who is a criminal or not? Do you mean to tell me that this woman? A good friend of mine is a criminal?” he pointed slowly at me.
Sophie looked like she was going to be sick. “I did not realize that she was a good friend of the Grants,” she said weakly “she never said a word.”
“It’s not in my nature to drop names and you wouldn’t have believed me anyway,” I said with a shrug “you were too convinced I had stolen the card.”
She blanched. Rachel looked smug, embracing Ian tightly. “It’s been too long,” she told him as his arm wrapped around her and returned the affection “you look the same” she teased him.
The other women looked at Rachel enviously. I walked over to Ian and he wrapped his other arm around my waist and glared at Sophie. He nodded his head to the security team.
“You can leave now and be thankful you still have your positions” he growled.
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.