Chapter 365
Chapter 365:
Heather thought the whole situation was utterly absurd. Who did this girl think she was, coming in and stirring up such a commotion? The nerve of her!
Yelena, on the other hand, hadn’t planned on getting involved in their business. Honestly, it wasn’t her battle to fight. But Donna had been eyeing that bracelet, and no way was Yelena going to let her mother waste good money on a fake.
So here she was, laying down the truth.
Still, a small doubt lingered. Did Heather even realize the bracelet was a knockoff?
After all, she’d been managing this store for over two decades. Could someone with that much experience really not tell genuine jade from a cheap imitation?
If it had been a rookie sales associate, it might have been excusable. Newbies sometimes lacked the keen eye that came with years of handling high-end goods.
But Heather had been at the helm of this store for twenty-some years. Surely, someone with her experience could spot a fake from a mile away. How could she not know? It simply didn’t add up. It was all very odd.
Besides, Yelena caught something in Heather’s expression when Donna hinted the bracelet could be a fake—a flicker of unease, a crack in her otherwise composed mask. It was subtle, but it didn’t escape Yelena’s sharp eye.
Bella, flustered by the rising tension, leaned in and whispered urgently, “Yelena, drop it, will you? If we get kicked out, it’ll be beyond embarrassing p>
If that happened, it would be a total disaster—humiliation on a silver platter.
The last thing Bella wanted was to be dragged into this mess.
Donna, however, was having none of it. Her usual sweet, gentle demeanor vanished as she shot Heather a sharp look. “Heather, mind your manners. You’re running a business, not a playground. If a customer raises a concern, shouldn’t you verify it? Or is there a reason you’re avoiding examining the bracelet p>
Donna wasn’t the type to raise her voice. She was the perfect picture of calm, always gentle and soft-spoken, the kind of person who could diffuse any tension with just a smile. So when she spoke with such firmness, it caught everyone off guard.
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Heather backpedaled quickly, her tone laced with forced politeness. “Mrs. Harris, I apologize. That was out of line. But how can this young lady be so certain the bracelet is counterfeit? We pride ourselves on our reputation, and I assure you, we’ve never dealt in fakes p>
“Most of the items here look fine, but this bracelet? It’s a dud,” Yelena replied coolly, her confidence unwavering. It was purely by chance that Donna happened to pick up that bracelet.
Heather felt the walls closing in. What now? Admit the mistake and risk tarnishing the store’s image, or double down and hope no one called her bluff?
Just then, the soft jingle of the shop’s door interrupted the tension. All heads turned as a woman swept in, her presence commanding attention without her saying a word. She was elegance personified, dressed to the nines with a timeless style that made her age irrelevant. Her hair was immaculately styled, and her eyes sparkled with the kind of confidence that came from knowing you belonged at the top.
Around her neck hung a full-green jade necklace, a masterpiece in itself, and her fingers gleamed with rings. She was a walking testament to wealth and class, oozing sophistication with every step.
The sales associates practically tripped over themselves to greet her. “Good day, ma’am,” they chimed, their voices tinged with reverence.
The woman gave a simple nod, a smile playing at her lips. “Go ahead and carry on with your work. Take care of the customers; don’t mind me p>
But as soon as Heather laid eyes on the newcomer, her expression shifted, though she quickly masked it with a practiced smile. “Ma’am, you’re here.” The woman acknowledged her with a nod.
Donna’s gaze flicked toward the newcomer. It was Stella Loftus, the wife of the eldest son of the Loftus family.
Donna had met Stella a few times at social events, though their interactions had been brief and superficial. Who would’ve guessed that this same Stella now owned Sterling and Grace?