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Authors: Laina Turner
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business?”
“Well, yes.” I had dealt with many irate customers to know that this was not going to turn out well.
“Then I demand to be served. I want to see your necklaces.” His voice rose even higher. “I have money, and I want to spend it here.”
“Sir, I’m sorry but—”
He interrupted, yelling this time. “I want to see your necklaces!”
If it weren’t for the fact that he was making me more than a little uncomfortable, I would’ve laughed because a grown man was throwing a hissy fit over wanting to see a necklace. It wasn’t like we were the only store within a few blocks that sold high-end necklaces.
“Sir,” I said more firmly with confidence I didn’t feel.
“Is there a problem here?” I looked behind the man where the voice was coming from and saw Willie. I was so relieved. He walked over to us and pulled out his detective shield and flashed it. “What seems to be the problem?” his voice was calm but strong. I could tell he meant business and so could the strange man. “I was walking by and heard yelling.”
“No problem,” said the man. “I just came into this store to make a purchase and this, this woman, won’t show me any merchandise. What kind of store is she running that she doesn’t want to sell anything? It’s discrimination.”
“Is that true, ma’am?” Willie said to me.
I could see he wanted to downplay the fact we knew each other, and I could play that game. “Well, we are currently closed for cleaning, and I told this man to please come back tomorrow, and we would be more than happy to help him then with his selection.”
“Sir, is there a reason you can’t come back tomorrow? She isn’t refusing to help you. Just today, they’re closed for cleaning.”
“Fine, if this is how they treat customers I will take my business elsewhere.” With that, he turned and stormed out of the boutique like a petulant two year old.
“Wow, you have great timing,” I said to Willie relieved. “That guy didn’t seem like he wanted to leave. Wait a minute, why are you here?”
“I was in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by.”
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. “Really, in the neighborhood?”
“Okay, so I wasn’t exactly the neighborhood, but I did want to make sure you were all right. I knew you weren’t too happy about the cleaning, so I thought I would check on your progress. Looks great in here.” He glanced around the store.
”Yeah, I had help, and believe me it wasn’t easy.” Since I was by no means ready for our dinner, I told him he could either come home with me and watch TV or something, while waiting for me to get ready, or he could go away and come pick me up at seven, as we originally planned. He said he had a few more things to follow up on for the case and would pick me up in a bit. I was relieved, since my house was messy and in no shape for visitors. I needed to have at least a few minutes to shove things in drawers and the closet to make it look like it was reasonably clean and tidy. Especially for a first-time visitor I was semi interested in. Wouldn’t do to have him think I was a slob.
I ran home and jumped in the shower doing the whole routine of washing and conditioning the hair, shaving, exfoliating, the works. I took time to blow out my hair and just hoped the humidly lessened during the evening so it wouldn’t frizz. But what to wear? I didn’t want to overdo it. I was going for effortless chic. I didn’t want to look like I’d spent hours getting ready, though he had seen me after cleaning, so he would know this wasn’t how I always looked. I finally decided on my one pair of 7 for all Mankind jeans, and a simple scoop neck black burnout tee with a fuchsia tank underneath. I then added my favorite silver hoop earrings with matching bracelet and necklace. A pair of black peep-toe wedges completed my outfit.
I looked at my watch and saw I even had five minutes to spare, enough time for a glass of wine. I
“Well, yes.” I had dealt with many irate customers to know that this was not going to turn out well.
“Then I demand to be served. I want to see your necklaces.” His voice rose even higher. “I have money, and I want to spend it here.”
“Sir, I’m sorry but—”
He interrupted, yelling this time. “I want to see your necklaces!”
If it weren’t for the fact that he was making me more than a little uncomfortable, I would’ve laughed because a grown man was throwing a hissy fit over wanting to see a necklace. It wasn’t like we were the only store within a few blocks that sold high-end necklaces.
“Sir,” I said more firmly with confidence I didn’t feel.
“Is there a problem here?” I looked behind the man where the voice was coming from and saw Willie. I was so relieved. He walked over to us and pulled out his detective shield and flashed it. “What seems to be the problem?” his voice was calm but strong. I could tell he meant business and so could the strange man. “I was walking by and heard yelling.”
“No problem,” said the man. “I just came into this store to make a purchase and this, this woman, won’t show me any merchandise. What kind of store is she running that she doesn’t want to sell anything? It’s discrimination.”
“Is that true, ma’am?” Willie said to me.
I could see he wanted to downplay the fact we knew each other, and I could play that game. “Well, we are currently closed for cleaning, and I told this man to please come back tomorrow, and we would be more than happy to help him then with his selection.”
“Sir, is there a reason you can’t come back tomorrow? She isn’t refusing to help you. Just today, they’re closed for cleaning.”
“Fine, if this is how they treat customers I will take my business elsewhere.” With that, he turned and stormed out of the boutique like a petulant two year old.
“Wow, you have great timing,” I said to Willie relieved. “That guy didn’t seem like he wanted to leave. Wait a minute, why are you here?”
“I was in the neighborhood and wanted to stop by.”
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. “Really, in the neighborhood?”
“Okay, so I wasn’t exactly
”Yeah, I had help, and believe me it wasn’t easy.” Since I was by no means ready for our dinner, I told him he could either come home with me and watch TV or something, while waiting for me to get ready, or he could go away and come pick me up at seven, as we originally planned. He said he had a few more things to follow up on for the case and would pick me up in a bit. I was relieved, since my house was messy and in no shape for visitors. I needed to have at least a few minutes to shove things in drawers and the closet to make it look like it was reasonably clean and tidy. Especially for a first-time visitor I was semi interested in. Wouldn’t do to have him think I was a slob.
I ran home and jumped in the shower doing the whole routine of washing and conditioning the hair, shaving, exfoliating, the works. I took time to blow out my hair and just hoped the humidly lessened during the evening so it wouldn’t frizz. But what to wear? I didn’t want to overdo it. I was going for effortless chic. I didn’t want to look like I’d spent hours getting ready, though he had seen me after cleaning, so he would know this wasn’t how I always looked. I finally decided on my one pair of 7 for all Mankind jeans, and a simple scoop neck black burnout tee with a fuchsia tank underneath. I then added my favorite silver hoop earrings with matching bracelet and necklace. A pair of black peep-toe wedges completed my outfit.
I looked at my watch and saw I even had five minutes to spare, enough time for a glass of wine. I
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