Chapter 2

"Because I'm the assistant manager here. How dare a kid like you talk back to me? You think I can't put you in your place?" Bonnie snapped, her voice full of arrogance.

She stood with her hands on her hips and her chin raised, looking so proud and domineering that she seemed more like the boss than just the assistant manager.

Dana's eyes welled up with tears as she lowered her head, clearly intimidated by Bonnie's outburst.

Bonnie got even more fired up, jabbing her finger hard at Dana's head and lecturing her from above. "Who do you think you are? Go ahead, keep talking back! If you get even a single cent of commission this month, I'll consider my job as assistant manager a joke."

I couldn't take it anymore. I smacked Bonnie's hand away without a second thought and shot her a cold look. "So what if you're the assistant manager?"

Bonnie was caught off guard by my sudden boldness. Her face froze for a second, then twisted into an even more mocking sneer.

"At least I can afford clothes, unlike you," she sneered.

I almost burst out laughing at her words.

Just as I was about to say that the pajamas I had on probably cost more than half a year of her salary, Dana gently tugged at my sleeve. "Let it go, hon. Maybe you could try a different shade? This one's really pretty too."

Watching her do her best to hide how upset she was while still recommending lipstick to me, I made up my mind not to bother with any other counters.

"Forget it. I'm not trying any—" I said.

But before I could even finish, Bonnie immediately jumped in, gloating. "See? I knew it. You're broke. Dana, why are you even talking back to me? Has she bought a single thing after all this time you spent on her?"

I just smiled, looked her right in the eye, and started listing the shades of lipstick, blush, and other products I'd just tried and thought would go with anything.

"Everything I just mentioned..." I paused, then added, "Give me twelve of each."

Instantly, Bonnie's smug grin froze right on her face.

Her eyes went wide in total disbelief. "Wait, what?! You... no way! There's no way you can afford that! Are you just putting on a show or something?"

I let out a small, amused laugh, didn't even bother looking at her, and casually fished a card out of my pajama pocket, handing it straight to Dana. "Swipe it."

Dana stood there, stunned, not quite sure what to do. She blinked a few times, then asked, "Are you really... sure you want all this?"

I shoved the card into her hand.

"If I wasn't buying, why would I have kept you with me for so long? Quit spacing out and go get my stuff. My boyfriend's picking me up for dinner soon," I said.

That seemed to snap Dana out of it. Her face, which had been all sad and defeated just a second ago, lit up with a huge smile.

Bonnie, who had been standing there totally stunned, finally realized I wasn't joking around.

She suddenly turned all smiles, sidled up to me, and snatched the card right out of Dana's hand. "Oh wow! If you were going to buy this much, you should've told me earlier. She's just started, doesn't know the ropes yet. I'll take care of it for you."

Dana started to say something, but Bonnie shot her a glare. "Can't you see what's going on? Go get the lady a glass of water, now!"

But I just smiled and pulled my card right out of her hand. "No need. I don't want any water, and I don't need you fetching my stuff. I want Dana to help me. As for you, maybe keep your distance from this 'broke girl' so I don't mess up your high-class image."

Bonnie's cocky attitude vanished in an instant. She gave me an awkward smile and shamelessly tried to cozy up. "Oh, I wasn't talking about you. Just forget any of that."

I snorted and didn't bother replying. Instead, I looked straight at Dana. "Go grab my things. Everything I buy today needs to count toward your commission."

Hearing how firm I was, Dana realized I was backing her up. She rushed off to get my stuff, so nervous her hands were shaking.

Before long, the whole counter was piled high with makeup.

Seeing all that commission about to go to the new girl, Bonnie was getting restless, practically spinning in circles beside me.

She kept sweet-talking me, all while talking down about Dana. "Hon, let me help you. Look at her, she just started here, and she's so slow.

"You're gonna end up late for dinner with your boyfriend."

I shot her a lazy, mocking glance. "Honestly, I preferred it when you were rolling your eyes and calling me a broke girl. Why don't you keep that up? Just don't bother me."

Soon enough, Dana finished calculating the total for my haul.

Her voice trembled as she said, "Miss, it's 62 thousand dollars. Are you really going to buy all this?"

I nodded, about to tell her to swipe the card, when a familiar male voice came from behind me.

"Salena, are you done shopping?"

It was my boyfriend of three years, Arnold Woodward.