Eight

“Good day, sir. Welcome to Becky Luxury stores,” the attendant greeted. She was recently employed and she didn't mind his poor clothes. She was eager to treat her customers well, be in their good books and earn a good commission for the clothes and jewellery she sold. 

Jake looked at the stunning young woman in front of him and at the store too. It screamed wealth, classy, exclusively for the wealthy! Finally, he was wealthy and could buy things from this shop now. Impressive. With the attendant as his right hand man, he selected some clothes and finally went to the jewellery section. There was this very nice and lovely masculine chain that caught his attention. The price tag on it was $12,000. He gasped when he saw the price but when he remembered that he was a rich man now, he heaved an inward sigh of relief and smiled to himself. He even owned the Becky stores for it was under his conglomerate! 

“Give me that,” he ordered, pointing at the chain. 

“Okay sir.”

“That would be all. Package all the items I bought.”

“Alright sir. Thank you for choosing Becky Luxury stores sir,” the attendant rambled on and hurried to do the packaging. He bought more goods than anyone had in the past few weeks and she was very happy with him. She was already calculating her commission and thinking of how she would smile to the bank on pay day! She packaged everything and handed his bags to him. A familiar perfume fragrance difussed it's way into Jake's nose. He didn't need to turn to know who owned that unique scent. It seemed the person even saw him before he turned. 

“Ahaa. Look who we have here,” Sky said in a voice laden with mockery. She was at the luxury store with Vincent. His hands were hooked around her waist and she stuck close to him like a leach. Vincent was angry when he saw Jake. He could never forget the wounds Jake inflicted on him that evening at Sky's house. 

“Do you work as an attendant here now? Don't they look at the workers they select?” he sneered. But Sky looked down and noticed the shopping bags in his hands. 

“Don't tell me you are here to buy clothes,” she said. She noticed that people were looking and she wanted to degrade Jake all the more. 

“Are you aware that even the bag used to package the clothes worth more than everything you are putting on? And that chain in your hands is enough to pay your salary all your life with an extra and you treat it as though it is the rags that you wear!” she spat, her voice laced with contempt and disgust. Then, she turned to the attendant. 

“You, did you look at the person you sold expensive clothes to? Maybe you are tired of your job here.”

It was then that she looked at him. It seemed everyone did too, for a loud laughter erupted in the store. The young lady frowned her face and glared at Jake. How dare he crack such expensive jokes? Jake cleared his throat and looked straight at Sky. 

“And who says I can't pay for what I bought?”

“It’s clear. Tell him his bill, Miss.”

The attendant turned to Jake and said, 

“The bill is $650,000 sir.”

Everyone gasped. Who spent such money on clothes? Whoever did that must be a very rich man but the poor fellow before them was the owner of the bill. 

“Sir, will you pay with cash or card?”

“Card,” Jake answered flatly. 

“You are still listening to this poor ass? Take these clothes and return them to where they belong!” Sky yelled at the attendant. But Vincent thought otherwise. He wanted to further humiliate Jake. 

“Please, bring the machine let him pay. I want to see him pay Six hundred thousand dollars.”

The attendant took out her machine and said to him,

“The card.” The respectful tone was no more. She spoke to him like an ordinary man which he was. Jake took out his card from his pocket and inserted it in the machine. 

“The card was declined sir,” the attendant said with much disdain. “Please, leave this store or I'll get the security to throw you out.” 

“The card can't be declined. Check your machine.”

“Sir, leave now! How dare you come here to waste my time?” she snapped. 

Sky and Vincent's joy knew no bounds. 

“I knew it that this poor fellow was out to cause a scene. Get out!”

In the midst of all these chaos, a man entered the store with body guards. He was the manager of the store. Vincent recognised him as soon as he walked in. He quickly went closer and introduced himself.

“Hello sir. I'm Vincent winters, of Winters group.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.” The manager replied and shook his hands. 

“What's happening here?” the manager asked. After the attendant had explained herself, Jake said,

“I asked you to check the machine. Who says I can't pay?”

The manager turned and looked him. He studied him carefully with an amused expression on his face. 

“You? Why are you causing trouble? Do you think you can afford the goods here? How much is his bill again?”

“$650,000 sir.”

“That's a whole lot. Why will you sell goods to a pauper? Who even let him in? Well, young man, I'll advise you leave this shop while I'm being nice.”

“Check your machine. The fault is from your machine not my card. This is an insult to me.”

Sky laughed, loud enough for him and everyone around to hear. 

“Fine. Give me the machine. And as for you, let me see the card. I will not tolerate a low life causing a scene at my mall,” the manager finally said. He took the card from Jake and when he looked at it, his mouth fell open. He suddenly lost all his initial composure and courage. 

“How…how did you get this card?”