“Those customers just walked into the store, Ms. Galloway.”
“So, is this how you manage things here? You guys just let anyone walk into this store? Ugh, no wonder your business is flopping. Fuck this. I will not buy anything until you get those wretched hags out of the store. I don’t want them to ruin any of my desired items!” I thought I had already seen the worst of Sadie’s behavior during our altercation at the clinic, but I was proven wrong by her excessive belligerence on display now. Was she serious right now? Did she just call us wretched hags? The face she made as she spoke those words while eyeing me up and down led me to realize that Sadie knew who I was beyond the doctor who kicked her out of the clinic; no, she knew that I was Jeff’s wife.
“Ms. Galloway, is that any way to speak to your doctor?” Kenzie huffed with disdain.
“Doctor? The last time I checked this wasn’t the clinic. So, in that case, you’re not my doctor at the moment, which means I can speak to you the way you deserve to be spoken to.”
“Spoiled much?” I spouted under my breath.
“What is all of this ruckus!?” an unfamiliar voice shouted.
“Mrs. Henderson, thank God you’ve arrived. Our VIP customer is upset at these two women and is demanding their departure. I was about to ask them to leave when they insulted Ms. Galloway,” the associate, ran off at the mouth to the point where it was borderline unintelligible. The manager took one look at us, and it was clear she was preparing to tell us to take a hike, but she was interrupted as she strode toward us.
“What authority do you have to make such demands, Sadie?” I turned to my right, and Leon stood next to me while glaring at his ex. Seeing such malevolence radiating from him was strange, to say the least. Around myself and others, Leon was always so respectful and kind without a trace of malice. It just goes to show he must really hate her.
“UGH! What a fucking day! Why the fuck are you here!?” Sadie screamed at him, raising her volume another notch, much to everyone’s displeasure.
“The last I checked I still owned this store. So, why wouldn’t I come here?” He what?
“Mr. Von Doren!?” the manager gasped and immediately approached him, disregarding Sadie and us. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?” she asked with a smile that gleamed.
“I was escorting my two guests into the store when your associates bombarded me and neglected their presence entirely. Is this how business is conducted in my absence?” he asked in an equally suave and solemn voice.
“N-n-no, Mr. Von Doren,” the manager stuttered nervously before immediately launching into a tirade against her employees. “What are you lot doing!? Hurry and help Mr. Von Doren’s guests!” It took a split second before everyone sprang into action and rushed towards us.
“Actually, we were just—” I wanted nothing more than to tell them we were leaving since this impromptu circus ruined my mood to shop, but again, Leon intervened before I could finish my sentence.
“Mrs. Henderson, must I remind you who has permission to enter this store and who doesn’t? The memo should have gone out that Sadie Galloway was banned from this store!”
“My apologies, Mr. Von Doren. I wasn’t aware that she had come in today. And the associate that assisted her is new!” the manager quickly explained, attempting to defend herself.
“WHAT!? YOU BANNED ME FROM HERE!?” Sadie shouted at the top of her lungs and caused yet another commotion. It was exhausting to bear witness to it all, and I felt second-hand embarrassment for the clueless brat having her temper tantrum.
“Why wouldn’t I? Did you really believe that I would allow you to come into this boutique and harass the employees here to do your bidding even after our divorce? I let it slide before because we were married, but as it stands, we have nothing to do with each other. You’re forever banned from here, so get your shit and get the fuck out.” Leon gave one stern look to the manager, who immediately ushered her people to escort Sadie out of the store sans the items she wished to purchase. “Retrieve all of the items that she touched and have them sanitized. I don’t want our clients to catch anything because she touched them.”
“Yes, sir!” As the workers ran around like chickens with their heads cut off, I looked up at Leon, waiting for him to sense my gaze before he shifted his attention towards me, and I simply quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Yes?”
“Are you always this much of an ass?” I asked him, resulting in Kenzie bursting out with laughter.
“Only when I’m working,” he replied and raised his brows.
“Mr. Von Doren, please allow me to attend to your guests personally,” the manager announced.
“There’s no need,” I said, putting a stop to this charade.
“I’m sorry?”
“We just wanted to browse around. If I need assistance, I’ll ask one of your friendly staff members for assistance. You may continue to attend to Mr. Von Doren,” I replied with as much courtesy as I could. It was obvious she didn’t want to help us, and she was only doing so to get back into Leon’s good graces. This kind of shameless customer service is one I couldn’t stand, and neither could Kenzie.
“Hey, Mrs. Henderson, right?” Kenzie spoke to the manager, who nodded as she listened. “A word of advice, if one customer is unhappy with other guests in your store and demands to have said guests kicked out, you may want to assess the situation prior to taking their word for it. Have you ever heard of vetting your sources? I suppose not because you were literally about to ask us to leave, and had Mr. Von Doren not stepped in, you would have dismissed us without considering that we visited your store with the intent to purchase. I know it’s common practice to judge a book by its cover in these types of establishments, but you shouldn’t. Regardless of whether our appearances misled you to believe we wouldn’t be able to afford the items in this boutique, we are both highly respectable doctors with the level of income your staff would salivate over. And my friend here? Well, let’s just say she could easily buy out this entire store in a single day if she chose to.”