"Picking so many clothes? How embarrassing when you can't afford them!"

The snarky saleswoman hurried behind Jenna Roland and hissed at the younger associate, "Are you stupid? Can't you see she's just some broke nobody? If these clothes get wrinkled, you think you can pay for them?"

The young salesgirl hesitated, glancing uncertainly at Jenna.

"Checkout." Jenna's voice was ice.

Reluctantly, the associate gathered the armful of designer pieces and headed to the register.

Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd. "That's at least eight hundred grand worth."

"Some are limited edition—I saw one piece in Vogue priced at over a hundred thousand."

"Think she can actually pay?"

"Let's watch the show."

The cashier finished tallying. "Your total comes to two point three five million."

The boutique fell dead silent. Every eye locked onto Jenna.

The rude saleswoman sneered. "Stop pretending! No money? I'm calling security!"

Without even lifting her gaze, Jenna slid a black titanium card across the counter. "Run this."

Beep. Payment approved.

The cashier's eyes widened. The nasty saleswoman's face drained of color.

"She...she must've blown her life savings!" the woman spat, forcing a laugh. "Pathetic!"

Jenna casually added two handbags and two pairs of shoes. "Ring these too."

"Seven hundred thousand," announced the cashier.

Another successful swipe.

Jenna turned slowly to face her tormentor. "I don't need to prove anything to you." Her words were daggers. "But remember this—" She enunciated each syllable. "Judgmental. Bitch."

The saleswoman trembled with rage.

Then Jenna gave the cashier an apologetic smile. "Actually, these don't suit my style. I'd like to return everything."

The silence was deafening.

Just then, Ethan Roscente strode in, his long legs eating up the distance. He draped an arm around Jenna's shoulders. "Done shopping, darling? Let me get that."

He produced a matte black card edged with subtle gold filigree—one of only three in existence.

Gasps erupted. "That's...Ethan Roscente from HM Group?"

"Oh my God! It's really him!"

"They say there are only two of those cards in the entire country..."

"He called her darling?"

Every expression in the room transformed. The nasty saleswoman turned ghostly pale, her knees buckling.