Summer’s POV
The sales associate’s professional voice cut through the tension like knife. “I apologize, Miss Taylor, but there seems to be a misunderstanding. These shoes were already selected by Mr. Stark. And since you haven’t made a payment yet, it’s only fair that we prioritize Mr. Stark’s request. Here at Stuart Weitzman, we treat all our customers equally, even if they are from the Taylor family.
The associate’s gaze remained steady, never wavering as she met Victoria’s increasingly hostile glare. I caught the subtle curl of her lips, the slightest hint of satisfaction in putting an entitled customer in her place. My sister’s face flushed with barely contained
rage.
“Mr. Stark, I ventured cautiously, “should I try them on?”
Brandon’s dark eyes found mine with unerring accuracy. “If you would, Miss Taylor.”
“Let’s just forget about it,” I said softly, trying to defuse the situation before it could escalate further. The last thing I needed was Victoria making an even bigger scene. “There’s no need to-”
“Please try them on,” Brandon cut me off smoothly, his voice carrying that gentle authority that never failed to make my pulse skip.
Victoria’s voice shook with fury. “You…” She seemed to choke on her own anger for a moment before recovering her usual haughty tone, “Get your manager. No, get your regional director. I want to see who dares treat me like this in Manhattan!”
The sales associate’s smile never wavered, though a knowing glint appeared in her eyes as she glanced at Brandon. “Of course, I’ll fetch our manager right away. Please wait a moment.”
Brandon turned to me, his expression softening imperceptibly. “Is something wrong?”
Watching Victoria seethe, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety My sister had never been good at handling public humiliation. “Mr. Stark, really, it’s not necessary to-”
“Try them on, June.” His voice dropped lower, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
–
The moment I settled onto the plush leather seat, Brandon’s presence seemed to fill the entire store. His movements were precise and elegant as he watched me slip off my uncomfortable heels. The new shoes fit perfectly of course they did – but as I stood to test them, my ankle wobbled traitorously.
Brandon’s hand shot out to steady me, one arm wrapping around my waist while the other caught my elbow. The contact sent electricity dancing across my skin, and I found myself clutching his shoulder for balance.
“Shameless!” Anna’s voice dripped with venom. “Throwing yourself at any man who shows interest. I guess old habits die hard!”
र
Heat flooded my cheeks as I quickly pushed away from Brandon’s support. “Thank you,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper. But even as I tried to create distance between us, I could feel the lingering warmth of his touch.
His dark eyes studied my face with dangerous intensity, a muscle ticking in his jaw at Apna’s comment. “Are you alright?”
Before I could respond, hurried footsteps announced the manager’s arrival. The moment he caught sight of Brandon, his eyes widened with recognition, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
“Mr. Brandon Stark!” The manager’s voice carried equal parts surprise and deference. “I didn’t realize you were visiting personally!”
I caught Anna and Sophie’s frantic whispers:
1/3
Chap
“Why didn’t you tell me he was the Brandon Stark?
I told you he was a Stark!
“You idiot! You made us call for the manager! Do you even know who Brandon Stark is?*
“He’s just from the Stark family, right?”
“You have no idea what you’ve done!
“You must be joking!” Sophie’s voice rose slightly in panic. “Taylor family or not, Alexander is your fiancé – how can you not know about the Stark family hierarchy?”
The manager’s professional smile never wavered as he turned to Victoria, “What seems to be the problem, miss?”
Victoria drew herself up, her chin lifting defiantly despite how her hands trembled slightly, “I want to buy those.shoes, and your staff is refusing to sell them to me! Do you know who I am? I have more than enough money, yet you won’t let me make a purchase – what kind of service is this? And your sales associate’s attitude is completely unprofessional!*
“Actually,” the associate cut in smoothly, a slight smile playing at her lips, “I was just explaining the situation. Mr. Stark doesn’t need to pay anything he selects is automatically his. Though it’s understandable this young lady wouldn’t know, since Mr. Stark owns this entire shopping complex. If he wanted every item in the mall, they would all be complimentary.”
The manager nodded sagely. “The situation seems clear – just a simple misunderstanding. It’s perfectly natural that this young lady wouldn’t recognize our owner. Very few people have the privilege of knowing Mr. Stark personally. Since these particular shoes are spoken for, perhaps we could show you some other styles?”
I watched understanding dawn in Victoria’s eyes. The realization that nearly every high–end retail space in Manhattan operated under Stark Group’s umbrella seemed to hit her like a physical blow.
Sophie tugged urgently at Victoria’s sleeve, her expression tight with concern. “Remember who you are about the paparazzi! We need to leave before this gets worse.”
–
you’re a movie star. Think
Throughout the entire exchange, Brandon maintained his elegant bearing, his attention focused solely on me as if the others didn’t exist. The weight of his gaze made my skin prickle with awareness, and I couldn’t help wondering if he’d orchestrated this entire
scene.
Brandon’s only response was to reach for my hand, his touch sending warmth spreading through my chest despite my concerns. The gesture felt oddly protective, even as it marked me as definitively his in front of everyone present.
Victoria’s face had gone through an impressive array of emotions – from shock to understanding to a kind of horrified realization. Her perfect facade had crumbled completely, revealing the ugly truth beneath: the mighty Taylor family, for all its prestige, was nothing compared to the power Brandon Stark could wield with a single word.
As Sophie practically dragged Victoria toward the exit, I caught my sister’s expression in the store’s mirrors humiliation, rage, and something that looked unsettlingly like calculation.
“She’s going to hate me even more now,” I couldn’t help murmuring.
–
a complex mix of
“She’ll hate you anyway.” One of Brandon’s finger traced along my jawline, the touch so light I might have imagined it if not for the electricity it sent dancing across my skin.
“You don’t understand. Victoria isn’t someone who just lets things go… She’ll find a way to make me pay for this humiliation.”
