Chapter 9

Steven looked composed. On the contrary, Haley and the other shop assistants were gaping at him in shock. Even women envied Rose's beauty and sophistication. They couldn't fathom how a beauty like her would fall for Steven. She had stooped way below her league. "He's your boyfriend. So what? We don't welcome drug addicts and gamblers here," Haley retorted. She continued her nasty remarks, "I was wondering how a gambling addict like him has the gall to show up at our store. It turns out he's become a gigolo, huh? "Miss, you better watch out. You have to be careful even if he's just a gigolo. Don't let him scam you," she remarked scornfully. "Enough! Why are you even working in Gucci as the supervisor?" Rose frowned. "Why, you ungrateful woman! What's your problem with me being the supervisor? It's none of your concern, really. What are you going to do if I'm not going to sell it to you? I dare you to file a complaint!" Taking advantage of her boyfriend's identity as the manager, Haley had no intention of backing off. She mocked Rose as well. Rose's expression hardened. "What am I going to do? I'll fire you," Rose announced. "Enough with the act! Fire me if you can. I'm dying to see how you'll do it!" Haley snapped. Rose took her phone out, but she asked Steven for his opinion first. "Do you want to teach her a lesson?" "Up to you," he said casually. Rose called her secretary right away. "I'm at Exalted Mall now. Tell the boss of the Exalted Gucci official store to come to me right now." "How pretentious. Who do you think you are? Do you think you can summon our boss with just a phone call?" Haley's disdain was palpable. Their boss, George Hammond, was part of the Elite Business Association in Levix City. He monopolized nearly all the distribution rights of several luxury brands in the city. As someone who was powerful and well-connected, he was certainly a big shot. Though Rose didn't seem mediocre, Haley figured it was impossible for her to summon George over with just a phone call. The other shop assistants fell into hushed silence. They didn't have Haley's confidence. Rose didn't bother to argue with Haley. As someone of her status, she wouldn't have dealt with this trivial matter personally if it weren't for Steven. Another customer happened to enter at the same time. A shop assistant approached her swiftly. "Steven?" It was quite a coincidence for them to bump into another one of Steven's acquaintances. It was Steven's ex-fiancée, Fiona Lurk. Steven glanced at her, yet he didn't utter a word. Fiona mocked him, "I heard that you were heavily involved in drugs and gambling. I thought you're dead, but here you are. You surely live long enough as an imbecile!" "Ms. Lurk, do you know him as well?" Haley inquired. Fiona was one of their VIP customers. As the supervisor, Haley was very familiar with her. "I'd recognize him even if he turned into ashes," Fiona sneered. "Oh? I didn't realize your feelings for me were that intense. You could recognize me even if I turned into ashes!" Steven quipped. "Don't be delusional! I hope you die soon. What's the purpose of your pathetic existence? You're merely a waste of space. I would've killed myself if I were you," Fiona ridiculed him. "You're absolutely right, Ms. Lurk." Haley felt affirmed. "Are you that bad with women?" Rose chuckled. "I should've checked my luck before I went out today… How unfortunate!" Steven sighed. "Who is she? Is she your classmate as well?" Rose asked. "She's my fiancée, and the daughter of the Lurk family, Fiona Lurk," Steven explained. "Hey, you better watch your words. No one's your fiancée," Fiona interrupted curtly. "There's nothing between us right now, so stop being delusional! Look at you. Do you think you're worthy of me? I'm extremely ashamed of our previous engagement." Realization finally dawned on Rose and Haley after listening to their conversation. "Well, I thought you didn't deserve him. What's so great about being the daughter of the Lurk family?" Rose retorted. Rose was well aware that a man's dignity and pride were of utmost importance, especially in a situation like this. When Steven was confronted by his ex-fiancée and his high school classmate who used to have a crush on him, she had to back him up. Fiona had noticed Rose earlier. She was envious of her looks and sophistication. She thought she was just another customer. "Who are you? Stay away from this and shut up." Fiona was already slightly jealous of Rose, but Rose's support for Steven fueled her jealousy and frustration. Overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions, she seized the chance to snap at Rose. She was determined to assert her status as the daughter of the Lurk family. Haley chimed in, "She's just some wealthy woman who's keeping Steven as a gigolo." Fiona let out a sardonic laugh. "Keeping this loser as a gigolo? Am I hearing things?" "You're not, Ms. Lurk! It's true. She brought him here to buy clothes. "I tried to be nice by warning her about him, but she was ungrateful. She even threatened to fire me, and claimed that she could summon my boss over with just a phone call." Haley vividly recounted to Fiona about what happened earlier. Fiona burst into a fit of laughter. "Are you nuts? What a waste of your looks to keep him as a gigolo! "Do you have any idea who the boss is? He's a big shot in Levix City. He might not show up even if I called him. Who do you think you are?" "Are you trying to defend this gigolo? I don't think you're capable of that," Haley chimed in. Backing each other up, Fiona and Haley reveled in mocking Rose and Steven. Their expressions were filled with sheer glee. However, Rose was unfazed. She smiled at Steven and asked, "Look, don't they resemble clowns, making a fool of themselves?" Steven shook his head. "They don't." "Hm?" Rose was stunned. "They don't look like clowns because they already are literal clowns," he said flatly, causing her to giggle at his remark. Fiona and Haley had made a fool of themselves in front of Rose and Steven. "How dare you!" Given her fiery personality, Fiona wouldn't allow herself to be insulted. "It's actually a compliment though. In fact, you're way worse than a fool to me," Rose hissed. She was equally unyielding in riling Fiona up with her insults.