lm, quickly recovered her bravado. "What's the matt

es associate, who was now hovering awkwardly nearby.

rightly colored dress Chloe was wearing. It

ia said, her voice even. "I'll take

fell into a s

, her mouth slightly agape

breaking glass. "Aria, are you insane? Do you have any idea how much th

er echoing Chloe's. "She's bluffing," Mo

ot hear me?" she asked, her voice dropping a degree, becoming

sudden authority in Aria's tone that was imposs

is to end in spectacular humiliation for Aria. Chloe crossed her arms, a smug,

s and garment bags, piling them on the checkout counter. She announced the total,

backpack, Aria

e, no Visa or Mastercard logo. In the center, there was

r seen a card like it. It look

e woman took it, her skepticism obvious

for a PIN. Aria shielded the k

n read: P

loe was practically vibrating with anticipation, ready to

hoed through th

pt began to spool

TION AP

ing on her face. Morgan an

t her internal system monitor. Next to the authorization code, a flashing red warning h

ount - Repor

ribs. This wasn't just a wealthy custo

tly, passed the card and the receipt back to Aria, her han

a pre-written note with her hotel's address to

d to face the

rner of her mouth lifted i

weight of a death sentence. "That dress is now my proper

al humiliation. Chloe's face went from pale to

and walked out of the store, her b

internal phone, her fingers fumbling as she dia