Chapter 152: What A Pathetic Excuse
"Ha... Whatever, at least you will get peace by seeing me buying the dress easily in front of you, while it would be a dream for you people to afford this dress."
But Charlotte and Thea didn’t seem to pay attention to her words. Instead, Charlotte turned to Thea and asked softly, "Did you like any dress at all?" Thea kept silent, her expression unreadable.
"Charlotte, I don’t..." Thea started to say, but Charlotte cut her off with a gentle smile.
"Please pack that dress too." Charlotte asked the kind saleswoman, pointing to a beautiful gown on the rack. The saleswoman smiled and nodded, asking her assistant to pack the dress.
"Charlotte..." Thea started to protest, but Charlotte replied softly, "Thea, don’t miss the chance."
Meanwhile, the kind saleswoman turned to Alexia and asked, "Madam, may I have your card, please?" Alexia handed over her card, still looking at Charlotte and Thea with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. She seemed to be wondering how they could afford to buy such expensive dresses, and why they seemed so unbothered by her attempts to intimidate them.
As the saleswoman processed Alexia’s payment, Charlotte and Thea stood calmly, waiting for their turn to pay. The atmosphere was tense, but Charlotte’s calm demeanor seemed to diffuse the tension, leaving Alexia looking increasingly flustered and annoyed.
"Madam,the payment is not going through with this card."
Alexia’s expression changed from one of confidence to one of annoyance. "Why?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation.
"Okay, try with this one." she said, handing another card to the saleswoman. Her movements were swift and impatient, as if she couldn’t believe that her first card had been declined.
The saleswoman took the new card and inserted it into the payment machine. She waited for a moment, her eyes fixed on the screen, before shaking her head. "I’m afraid it’s still the same, madam."
Alexia’s face darkened, her eyes flashing with anger and embarrassment. She couldn’t help but contain her disdain, her lips curling into a sneer as she glared at the saleswoman. "This is ridiculous." she muttered, her voice low and menacing.
"What is the price of this dress?"
The saleswoman smiled politely and replied, "It’s $16.5 million."
Alexia’s eyes widened in shock, and she took a step back, her voice rising in incredulity. "Are you insane? This dress costs $16.5 million?" She seemed to be struggling to comprehend the staggering price tag, her mind reeling with the implications.
The saleswoman nodded calmly, unfazed by Alexia’s reaction. "It is..This dress is the most expensive one in our store, and moreover, it is designed by the famous designer, Aurélien LaFleur. There are hundreds of diamonds intricately embedded in the fabric, making it a true masterpiece of haute couture."
The saleswoman’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she continued, "And what makes this dress truly unique is that it’s one of only a few in the world. In our country, there are only three of these dresses in existence, making it a true rarity. The exclusivity and scarcity of this dress are what drive its value, and we’re proud to offer it to our most discerning clients."
Alexia’s face flushed with embarrassment as she realized she couldn’t afford the dress. She had been so caught up in the moment, trying to one-up Charlotte and Thea, that she hadn’t stopped to think about the price tag. Now, she was faced with the humiliating reality of her financial limitations.
Her husband, Julian Sawyer, had given her a generous allowance, but it was nowhere near enough to cover the cost of the dress. The credit limit on her cards, combined, was only $5 million, a fraction of the dress’s price. Alexia felt a wave of panic wash over her as she thought about how she would explain this to Julian. He would be furious if he found out she had tried to buy a dress that was triple their credit limit.
The saleswoman’s polite smile seemed to grow wider, as if she sensed Alexia’s distress. "Is everything okay, madam?"
Alexia nodded hastily, trying to compose herself. "Yes, everything’s fine." she said, her voice tight with embarrassment.
"Madam, are you going to pay?" the saleswoman asked, her voice tinged with a hint of impatience, as she noticed Alexia’s prolonged silence. Alexia’s eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, but the saleswoman’s gaze remained fixed on her, her expression a mixture of curiosity and disdain.
Alexia’s face flushed with embarrassment as she stuttered, "I...I remember I have some other work..." Her voice trailed off, and she took a step back, trying to create some distance between herself and the saleswoman.
But before she could make a quick exit, Charlotte’s voice cut through the air, dripping with sarcasm and amusement. "Madam, can’t you afford this dress at all?" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "How funny...just now you were flaunting your wealth in front of us, boasting about your designer clothes, luxury lifestyle and status .but after hearing the price, your face shrunk..." Charlotte’s laughter bubbled up, and she couldn’t contain her giggles.
The room fell silent, with all eyes on Alexia, who was now the center of attention. Her face burned with humiliation, and she felt like she was shrinking under the weight of Charlotte’s mocking gaze. The saleswoman’s expression remained neutral, but her eyes seemed to gleam with a hint of satisfaction, as if she had seen through Alexia’s facade all along.
"Yes, it seems like your wealth wasn’t as vast as you claimed. Maybe you should stick to window shopping from now on." The room erupted into a chorus of snickers and giggles, with Alexia standing alone, her pride wounded and her dignity bruised.
As the laughter and whispers spread, Alexia’s face grew hotter with shame. She knew she had to get out of there, fast, before she lost what little dignity she had left.
"Madam, you better properly clean the clothes she had touched." Charlotte said, her voice dripping with disdain as she turned to the saleswoman. She then shifted her gaze to Alexia, who was standing by the door, her eyes blazing with anger. Alexia’s face was twisted in a scowl, her eyes flashing with a fierce intensity, as if she wanted to tear Charlotte and Thea apart.
Charlotte’s eyes locked onto Alexia’s, a sly smile spreading across her face. "I wouldn’t want any of her...uncleanliness to rub off on our other customers." she said, her voice heavy with sarcasm. The saleswoman nodded in agreement, her expression neutral, but her eyes gleaming with a hint of amusement.
Alexia’s anger seemed to boil over at Charlotte’s words, her face reddening with rage. She took a step forward, her hands clenched into fists, but then seemed to think better of it. With a fierce glare, she turned and stormed out of the store, leaving Charlotte and the saleswoman to share a triumphant smile.
"Thea...ah, it feels so nice after teaching that old hag a lesson." Charlotte said, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "My hands were itching from the moment I heard that she had misbehaved with you, but today I caught her red-handed, humiliating you in front of everyone. How dare she?" Charlotte’s voice was laced with indignation, her eyes flashing with anger at the memory of Alexia’s behavior.
A smug expression on her face. "I know, right? She’s always been a bit too full of herself, thinking she’s better than everyone else just because of her wealth and status. But today, she got a taste of her own medicine, and it was glorious to watch."
She chuckled, a low, throaty sound. "I’m just glad I was there to witness her downfall. She’s been asking for it for a long time, and today she finally got what was coming to her." Charlotte’s smile grew wider, her eyes sparkling with triumph. "And the best part is, she’s not even rich enough to afford that dress she was eyeing. What a pathetic excuse for a socialite."
"Miss, shall I pack the two dresses for you?" the saleswoman asked Charlotte, her voice warm and attentive.
"Yes, please." Charlotte replied, her eyes shining with excitement. "And remember what I said." she added, her voice taking on a slightly conspiratorial tone.
"Yes, Miss, I will personally take care of it." the saleswoman assured her, her expression discreet and professional.
