re you really con

deways, his expression clearly implying, If

ce:

k, Alice kept her professio

let or a necklace instead. Rings carry a special mea

a flash of impatience i

s. Hawthorne

k something women

.

deep affection and total indifference? Not that it wa

the help of the sales associate, she settled on a p

d, and he gave a sligh

rea, he glanced at Alice and hand

help. Pick someth

e card back with both hands. "That's really not

adable, his tone as flat as ever. "Choosing a

oud, but it left n

should be earned. Helping him pick a gif

reply, when her phone

step aside, still holdi

filed the initial trade partnershi

e second drawe

when Alice quickly stopped him-how shou

of gossip, but William was grounded and trustw

ust accept it. Consider it overtime pay. He's not sho

e same calm tone, she said, "Th

wo years they've been married, she's never visited him on her own

was st

rne was personally picking out a gift

t of GrandVerse Group-a man whose time w

wn marriage, this seemingly all-powerful Mr

uxury home he'd prepared for her, but s

n would turn down

feel curious about thi

n. "Stop overthinking it. Just use the card

ich people preferred to settle things

Secretary

ed on his phone, so she quietly made her way to the third-

gave her a once-over. Noting her casual outfit, hi

ning the items. A sleek black tie caught her e

denly cut

h. These items are

Not far away, another clerk was

looked at Lucas. "So he gets to try

the means to purchase. I can't say the same for you

though her eyes were cold. S

o you know

e are either wealthy or well-connected. Look at you-your entire out

er pieces to know better. She usually dressed the part for work, but today wa

at dressing down would

n customer service and don't even know how to treat people with basic respect, then mayb

on't get to lecture me. If you've got the guts, buy

ow slightly, the smir

still sound this confid

d hit play. Two distinc

o you know

d or important, and you-your whole out

nge had been recor

d straight at Lucas. Her gaze was s

ing a detailed discussion with them about your store's practices-let's see if this is how you u

everyone knows what's happening. Don't worry-I won't edit a thing. Whatever you sai

smug look on Lucas's face van

pletely out of line. I apologize, r

he'd be fired on the spot. And if it went

, a faint smile on her

atch that. What d

led. He practically choked on his word

on of nearby shoppers. Whispers brok

ain. "Sorry for

efused to let you see the items, and I definitely shouldn't have told you

or manager hurried over. After a round of sincere apologies a

ortless. "Well, I'll let it slide this time. I hope you learn fro

like a truck. That kind of card required spending millions an

like he was about t

l, she could hear the manager still yelling at Lucas in pure rag

utely god-tier for moments lik

trance, a tall figure lean

the entire scene-and how Alice handled it. One brow r