Chapter 1 Shopping Spree

A red car pulled to a stop in front of the shopping mall. Cindy Williams, a young woman of twenty-four, stepped out and, after closing the car door, walked toward the boutique.

The click of her red high heels echoed on the pavement as she hurried toward the store, eager to find the perfect outfit for her best friend's birthday party.

The sun beat down, and Cindy frowned, realizing she had left her umbrella in the car. Reluctant to walk back in the heat, she pressed on.

"Phew!" Cindy sighed as she entered the cool air of the shopping mall.

She pulled a handkerchief from her red purse and dabbed at her forehead before looking around the boutique.

Cindy wore a long white gown that clung to her figure, accentuating her simple, feminine shape. She drew attention, a vision of effortless beauty.

Zipping her purse closed, Cindy surveyed the shop. A saleswoman approached her.

"Welcome, ma'am. What can I help you find today?" the saleswoman asked.

"I'm looking for dresses suitable for a birthday party," Cindy replied.

"Certainly, madam. This way, please," the saleswoman gestured, leading Cindy toward the selection of women's wear.

Cindy followed, her gaze drifting over the clothes and the other shoppers.

She passed the gowns without touching them, her expression neutral.

The saleswoman presented the collection and asked, "What length of gown are you considering, madam? Long or short?"

Cindy glanced around again. "I'm not sure. What do you think would suit me? I usually wear white."

The saleswoman smiled. "The white gown you're wearing looks lovely on you. Perhaps another white gown, perhaps longer or shorter?"

Cindy sighed. "Hmm. White is my favorite, but I was thinking of something different, like blue, yellow, or green. What do you think?"

"Let me see what we have," the saleswoman replied.

Cindy stood aside as the saleswoman pulled out gowns in various colors – yellow, blue, red, and green. None of them seemed to catch Cindy's eye.

Cindy frowned, disliking all the options. Feeling she had wasted the saleswoman's time and not wanting to be rude, she spoke.

"Do you have any white suits? I love white suits as well. Could I see what you have? The party is tomorrow, and I need something new."

"Of course," the saleswoman replied, remembering her manager's emphasis on customer satisfaction, regardless of how many items a customer rejected.

"Would you like to wait here, madam, or would you prefer to come with me to see the white suits?" the saleswoman asked.

"I'll come with you," Cindy replied, following the saleswoman.

They walked to another section, and Cindy's eyes immediately landed on a stunning white suit displayed on a mannequin.

Cindy admired the golden collar design of the white suit coat, which fastened with only two front buttons, and the sleek, pencil-shaped white trousers.

"Wow!" gasped another woman standing nearby, also admiring the suit as she negotiated the price with a different saleswoman.

Cindy instantly loved the white suit. Without hesitation, she pointed to it and said to her saleswoman, "I want that suit. Please wrap it up for me. I'll take it."

The woman who had initially wanted to buy the suit, still haggling over the price, glared at Cindy, irritated. The suit was priced at $10,000, which was more than she could afford.

She noticed Cindy's nonchalant and somewhat arrogant demeanor and grimaced, turning back to her saleswoman.

"Do you have another white suit like this? I really want this one, it's just the price," the woman asked.

"No, madam, this is the last one. Are you purchasing it now, or not? We have another customer who wants it," the saleswoman asked politely, but the words stung.

The woman's eyes narrowed at Cindy. She opened her purse and mentally calculated the money she had available, including her debit card balance, but it wasn't enough.

Cindy turned to her saleswoman. "What's going on? Why is it taking so long to package this suit? Do you not want to sell it to me? Should I just leave it?"

"No, madam, please wait. This lady was interested in buying it before you requested it," the saleswoman explained gently.

Cindy finally met the other woman's gaze, then looked away. "Then I'm leaving. I can't stand here waiting for you to sort this out. Do you know who I am?"

The woman, frustrated by her lack of funds, looked at Cindy with disdain, disliking her arrogant behavior.

She snapped, "Who are *you*, anyway? Just because you're rich, you think you can push people around? Do *you* know who I am?"

Cindy's jaw dropped slightly as she looked at the woman, who appeared to be a bit older than her, but she didn't respond.

Cindy turned back to her saleswoman. "Because I've wasted so much of your time today, I'll give you ten seconds to get this suit ready for me, or I'll leave and buy it somewhere else. But before that, let me see your jewelry."

The woman hissed loudly as Cindy ignored her. She knew she couldn't afford the suit.

She looked pleadingly at the saleswoman. "Can I put down a deposit on this suit? I'll come back later to pay the rest."

"I'm sorry, madam, but we don't allow deposits or credit," the saleswoman replied.

"Why? Is it because of *her* that you won't sell me this beautiful suit?" the woman asked.

"No, madam. I would sell it to you if my manager allowed deposits. You can see our policy clearly stated on the sign by the entrance: 'NO CREDITS ALLOWED,'" the saleswoman explained kindly.

"Hmm... Alright, then I'll come back another time. Or could you speak to your manager about ordering another white suit with the same design and size? I'll be back," the woman said.

"Okay, madam. I will inform my manager," the second saleswoman replied, while Cindy returned and asked, "Is my suit ready or not?"

The frustrated woman hissed again and walked away angrily, subtly bumping into Cindy as she left the boutique.

Cindy was startled but sighed and turned back to the two salesladies. "How much is everything I've bought? The shoes, necklace, diamond earrings, bangles, and the suit?"

The initial saleswoman punched the numbers into her calculator, totaled the items, and said, "Fifty thousand dollars."

"Hmm, no discount?" Cindy asked as she prepared to pay with her debit card.

"No, madam. That's the fixed price," the saleswoman replied, smiling.

"It's okay, package everything up. I'll take it," Cindy said, and the saleslady quickly packed everything into a white shopping bag and handed it to her.