Chapter 10

The bell above the boutique’s entrance chimed as Scot walked in, the sound echoing in the luxurious, marble-floored showroom. His entrance had been less than dignified, his earlier humiliation still fresh in his mind. Despite the situation, he was determined to make a statement, to reclaim a fragment of his shattered self-respect. The store was a sanctuary of high fashion and opulence, with every inch meticulously curated to reflect sophistication. But today, the elegance of the space did little to soothe Scot’s wounded pride.

The boutique manager, a middle-aged man with a silver streak in his neatly combed hair, approached Scot with an anxious expression. His suit, though expensive, seemed to constrict with the gravity of the situation. "Mr. Frankenstein," he began, his tone laced with an earnestness that cut through the tension, "I’d like to extend my sincerest apologies for the behavior of my staff earlier. It was entirely unacceptable."

Scot looked up, surprised by the manager'