Chapter 3

The next day was Saturday. Mom dragged me out shopping, saying I needed some new outfits for work.

"Now that you're a company employee, you can't dress like you're still in college," Mom said as she drove. "I know a great shop. My friend is the designer there. Her styles are classy but not too old-fashioned."

We ended up at a high-end custom boutique on the top floor of the swankiest mall downtown. The place was quiet and classy, barely a soul in sight.

Mom slipped into the back to catch up with her designer friend, leaving me to wander the showroom, checking out the racks.

While I was running my fingers over the fabric of a pearl-white suit dress, a familiar, irritating voice rang out from behind me. "Well, well, if it isn't Victoria."

I turned around. It was Melissa.

She was decked out in the latest Chanel suit, swinging a Hermès bag, makeup on point, and tottering over in ten-centimeter stilettos, acting like she owned the whole boutique.

She looked me up and down, her gaze lingering on my plain T-shirt and jeans, then snorted, "A place like this? Can you even afford to shop here?"

I ignored her and kept browsing the racks.

But Melissa wasn't about to let it go. She followed me, her voice dropping to a sharp, nasty whisper. "Stop acting all superior. What did you really do in Lucas's office yesterday?

"Don't think you're safe because he's protecting you. I'm Mr. Langley's favorite. One word from me, and you're gone."

I stopped and turned to her. "Ms. Summers, it's the weekend. This is my personal time. I don't want to talk about work."

"Personal time?" Melissa snorted, "Sure, it's your personal time. Shouldn't you be worrying about keeping your job instead of hanging out in a place like this?

"What? Hoping to buy some designer clothes so you can catch the eye of another manager?"

Her gaze flicked toward the back room, her tone dripping with venom. "You really are slick, huh? Not only did you score a ride in Mr. Langley's car, but you've got his wife eating out of your hand, too?

"What? Going for Mrs. Langley's angle now? It's useless. Mr. Langley can't stand anyone trying to make a move on his wife."

Scoring a ride in Mr. Langley's car? Then it clicked. The day I came back, Richard had sent a driver and a company car to pick me up.

So Melissa had been acting this way because of that. She was afraid I was another one of Richard's mistresses, so she had a grudge against me, and she was in a hurry to get me out of the picture. I snorted inwardly.

"I want to try this one," I cut her off, pointing at the pearl-white suit dress I'd picked out. Turning to the sales assistant, I added, "Can you grab it in my size? I'd like to try it on."

The sales assistant smiled, "Sure, a moment."

Melissa's face fell.

She suddenly stepped forward, snatching the dress off the rack before the sales assistant could even react.

"I'm taking this," she said, lifting her chin and shooting me a defiant look. "Sorry, but I saw it first."

The sales assistant looked a bit awkward. "Ms. Summers, Ms. Quinn was the first to—"

"First, to what?" Melissa sneered. "Did she pay for it? Did she even try it on? If she hasn't paid, anyone can buy it. I'll pay double!"

With that, she whipped out her credit card and slapped it down on the counter. Everyone froze for a second.

Mom and her designer friend heard the noise and walked out of the back room.

"What's going on?" Mom asked, her voice calm as ever.

Melissa's face changed instantly.

She let go of the dress and flashed a professional, sugary smile. "Mrs. Quinn, what a coincidence. You're out shopping, too?"

Mom gave her a polite but distant nod. "Hi, Ms. Summers. Is there a problem here?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Melissa cut in, her voice suddenly syrupy and polite. "We happened to like the same dress, that's all. Mrs. Quinn, since you and Ms. Quinn are interested, I'll let her have it."

As she said this, she even smoothed out the dress and handed it to me with a professional, sugary smile. "Ms. Quinn, please, try it on."

Her face changed so fast that she could win the Best Actress.

Mom glanced at me, and I shook my head. "If Ms. Summers wants it, let her have it. I'll look for something else."

"Absolutely not," Mom said with a gentle smile, turning to her designer friend. "Ann, wrap this up for Victoria. Put it on my account."

Ann smiled and nodded, "Of course, Grace."

Melissa's smile froze for a split second.

But she quickly slapped on a sugary smile. "Mrs. Quinn, you're so generous. Well, I won't get in your way. I'll head out now."

She spun around and strutted off, her heels clacking loudly across the floor. At the door, she threw me a glare over her shoulder. That look was so venomous that it could've killed.