Anissa pushedher weight against the heavy, gold-handled glass door of the Harry Winston flagship store.
Ablast of heavily air-conditioned floral -scented air hither face instantly. The interior of the store was silent, insulated from the chaotic noise of Fifth Avenue. The glass display cases glowed with harsh, brilliant white light, refracting off millions of dollars worth of diamonds.
The moment her stiletto heel clicked against the polished marble floor, the senior sales manager practically sprinted across the room.
He didn't look at her clothes. He looked straight at her face, recognizing her immediately from the heavily circulated society photos. He stopped three feet away and bowed at a perfect ninety degree angle.
"Mrs. Snow,” the manager said, his voice trembling slightly with professional reverence. "It is an absolute honor to have you in our store. Please, come this way."
Clara walked in right behind Anissa She was swingingthe unmarked black shoppingbag from her fingertips. She paused, looking over her shoulder throughthe glass door, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. Outside on the pavement, half a block down from where Trent and his girlfriend had just been left completely humiliated, Connor Snow was standing frozen
He had been watching the entire exchange from the shadows of an awning making sure to stay completely out of sight He had secretly slipped back into New York on a commercial flight just two days ago, defying Aurthur Snow's initial exile decree, a reckless gamble that cost his mother the last of her hidden assets and put them both on a countdown clock before Harding's security inevitably found them. His return was a secret k ept even from his most loyal sycophants, a fact that would have mortified Trent Vance had he spotted himon the street. His face was flushed a dull, angry red. He had seen the manager bow. His male ego, already bruised and battered from his exile, flared with toxic pride. He gritted his teeth, grabbed Lexi's arm—an aspiringsocialite he had recently picked up to stroke his fragile ego—and dragged her through the heavy glass doors right after them.
0.0% 1535 N4)
Š Che: #5 +120 Points at most The manager straightened up. He saw Connorenter.
A microsecond of pure unfiltered disdain flashed inthe manager's eyes. The retail world of the Upper East Side was brutally realistic. Connorwas a disgraced exile with frozen accounts. But professional courtesy demanded a response The manager snapped his fingers, summoninga. juniorassociate from the back.
“Assist this gentleman,” the manager ordered coldly, before tuming his back entirely on Connorto focus on Anissa,
Lexi didn't notice the insult. She was vibrating with excitement. She practically threw herself against the nearest glass display case
“0 h my god, Connor’ Lexi gasped. She pointed a manicured finger at a thick blindinglybrightdiamond collar I want this one. It's perfect for the charity gala
Connorst epped up behindher. He looked down at the tiny white pricetag resting on the black velvet
$150,000
A cold bead of sweat broke out on the back of Connors neck His stomach dropped. His family had cut him off. His personal credit cards Were maxed out. He barely had enough liquid cash left to pay his hatel bill.
He reached up his fingers nervously tuggingat the collar of his shirt He cleared histhroat loudly.
“It's too flashy, Lex,” Connor lied, trying to sound authoritative. "The design is incredibly tacky. Lets look at something more understated. Maybe some entry-level crushed diamonds."
Lexi's excited smile instantly collapsed . Her face went completely flat. She looked at the $150/000 necklace, then looked at Connor's sweating face. She wasn't stupid. She knew exactly what “understated” meant. it meant he was broke But she desperately needed to hold onto the illusion of beinga billionaire’s gilfriend. She forced a stiff, painful smile onto her face.
“You'reright baby," Lexi fied through her teeth. ‘It is a little tacky." Across the store, Anissa didn't even look at them.
The manager had escorted her into the ultra-exclusive VIP suite in the back The walls were lined with dark mahogany. Anissasank intoa plush velvet sofa. A waitress immediately placed a crystal flute of vintage 246% 1536 N84
Cement 2% +120 Points at most champagne on the glass table in front of her.
“Iam not looking for women's jewelry today,” Anissa said, her voice calm and flat. I want to see your highestgrade men's accessories. Cufflinks and watches.”
The manager nodded frantically . ‘Right away, Mrs. Snow.”
He disappeared into the vault. Two minutes later, he returned carrying a black velvet tray with both hands. He set it down gently on the glass table.
Resting in the center of the tray was a pair of custom-cut, de ep ocean- blue sapphirecufflinks, set in heavy platinum.
Anissa reached out and picked one up. The metal was cold against her skin The blue stone caught the light, Instantly, an image flashed in her mind She saw Harding standing in the penthouse wearing a sharp, dark charcoal suit, The blue of the sapphire perfectly matched the cold, calculating d epth of his eyes.
Her chest gave a strange, tight flutter_ It was exactly what he would wear.
“I'll take them,’ Anissa said without hesitation. "And add a matching black diamond platinum bracelet of the same tier."
The manager's hands began to shake. ‘Excellent choices, Madam. The total for both pieces comes to four milion, five hundred thousand dollars."
Before the manager could even pull out his tablet, the heavy wooden door of the VIP suite was pushed open.
Connor stood in the doorway. He had abandoned Lexiat the cheap counters. He had seen the tray of sapphiresthroughthe glass partition. “What are you doing Anissa?" Connorsneered, his voice drippingwith ugly mockery. ‘Buying men's jewelry? Are you planning to pawn it for cash later?
Anissa didn't move. She didn't even blink.
Connor st epped fully into the room, his chest puffed out, “Donit pretend you have that kindof money. Hardingis a businessman He is never going to give a charity case like you a five-million-dollar allowance. Your card 1 s goingto decline, and you are goingto embarrass yourself."
Anissa slowly turned her head. She looked at himwith absolute, freezing boredom.
488% 1536 NI
SC 8 +120 Points at most She reached into her Hermes bag. She pincheda thick matte -black piece of metal between her index and middie fingers.
She ficked her wrist.
The Black Centurion card hit the thick glass coffee table with a sharp, heavy clack. The sound echoed loudly inthe quiet room “Run it, Anissa told the manager, her eyes never leaving Connor's face. “No PIN required”
The manager picked up the heavy metal card with both hands. He slid it into the wireless terminal.
Connor stared at the machine. He held his breath, He waited for the red light. He waited for the machine to reject her.
Be ep.
The screen flashed a bright solid green. The receipt printer instantly buzzed to life. Four and a half million dollars, deducted in a single second.
Connor flinched backward as if he had been physically struck His shoulder slammed hard into the wooden doorframe. His eyes bulged out of his skull. He grew up in the Snow family. He knew exactly what that specific black card meant. It meant infinite, unrestricted access to the empires core accounts.
Clara leaned against the back of the velvet sofa, She let out a loud, theatrical sigh “Oh, wow," Clara mocked, her voice drippingwith venom. “Four and a half million for a little weicome-home gift. And to think your pathetic ex is out there practically drooling on the glass because his credit cards are frozen dust. Tragic."
Out in the main store, Lexi heard every single word. She stared at Connor's pale, humiliated face. A wave of pure toxic resentment washed over her.
Anissa stood up. She smoothed the front of her white suit. The manager handed her the beautifully wrapped shoppingbag, bowingso low hisnose almost touched his knees.
Anissa walked toward the door. Connorwas blockingher path.
She didn't ask himto move. She st epped right up to him forcing him to
press his back flat against the doorframe to avoid touchingher. As she passed him Anissa leaned in. 717% 1536 NI
sa š +120 Points at most "Youaren't even qualified to be his stand-in” Anissa whispered her voice alethal, freezing blade.
The words surgically removed Connor's last shred of male dignity. His face turned the color of bruisedliver. His entire body began to shake with impotent rage.
Anissa walked out the front doors of the store, the security guards holdingthe glass open for her. The brightafternoon sun hit her face. She looked down at the Harry Winston bag in her hand. She was goingback to the penthousetonight It was time to end this ridiculous cold war 00.0% 1537 NI
< Mang My Es Powerful Bllonaie Un. #2 4120 Points at most