Novel Full Chapter 170: How Do You Know We Can’t Afford It?
Chapter 170: Chapter 170: How Do You Know We Can’t Afford It?
"This..." The young girl in the store had clearly never encountered such an unreasonable customer before. She was left speechless by their absurd demand.
However, a more senior and experienced colleague in the store heard the commotion outside and rushed over to handle the situation.
Her tone was gentle yet firm. "I’m sorry, but anyone who enters our store is our customer. We have no right to ask a customer to leave."
Arabella Donovan raised an eyebrow, her eyes brightening slightly.
’I like this sales associate! She’s respectful yet firm, and so polite. How cool is that!’
Eugene Jennings paused, instinctively turning his head to glance at the sales associate who had just come over.
While Arabella and Eugene were pleased by the sales associate’s attitude, the couple she was confronting completely lost their composure.
"What is that supposed to mean? We just spent six hundred thousand! What did these two paupers buy? Nothing! Are you sure you want to offend major customers like us for their sake?"
"We are very grateful for your appreciation and love for our store’s products. Everyone here will do their utmost to provide you with the best possible service."
"Then kick them out for me!"
"As I said, we have no right to ask customers to leave. Anyone who walks through our doors is our most honored guest, regardless of who they are or their social standing."
The subtext was clear: whether or not Arabella and Eugene ended up buying anything, in the eyes of the staff, they were customers, no different from Mr. Sterling and his companion.
These words sent the woman into a rage. "Fine, fine! You’ve got some nerve! Aren’t you afraid we’ll file a complaint against you?"
The associate’s expression didn’t change. "Our company has a fully open internal complaint hotline. If you are dissatisfied with the quality of the merchandise, we can process a return and refund for you at any time. If you are dissatisfied with my service, you can file a complaint against me personally at any time. My employee number is 9201. When you file the complaint, please remember to clearly state the reason. People from our head office will personally review the security footage to understand the full story."
As she spoke, the associate even raised a hand to gesture toward a nearby security camera. "Your complaint will then be processed. You should have a result within three business days. Please wait patiently."
The associate’s move was a direct, all-out counterattack. Not only did she show zero fear of a complaint, but she also subtly threw shade, implying that a six-hundred-thousand sale was no great achievement in their store. If they wanted a refund, they could have one anytime, so there was no need to keep bringing it up.
The couple really thought that spending that little bit of money gave them the right to lord it over other customers and turn the sales staff into accomplices in their insults. It was... a little too much self-importance!
Arabella had just finished listening to the associate’s words and couldn’t help but applaud and cheer for her internally.
’This associate is amazing. Look, their faces have turned green, hahahaha. But since she’s been so supportive, I can’t just be a dead weight, right? In a situation like this, I should...’
Arabella felt the small card in her pocket, a plan already forming in her mind.
"You... you... you..."
"What ’you’? Following your logic, if we spend money in this store, and our total spending is higher than yours, we can have you kicked out too, right?"
The woman was stunned for a moment, then reacted as if she’d heard the world’s greatest joke. "A couple of paupers who can’t even afford a mall membership card dare to dream of spending money in this jewelry store, and even think of outspending us? Why don’t you just go home and lie down? You can have anything you want in your dreams."
"How do you know we can’t afford it?" Arabella glanced at her calmly, then turned to the sales associates. "These ones you’ve taken out, plus this one, this one, and those earrings over there. I’ll take them all. Please wrap them up."
As soon as Arabella said this, not only the arrogant couple but also the sales associates were stunned.
The senior associate was the first to recover. She asked tentatively, "Miss, are you certain?"
"I am."
"Of course. Please wait a moment." Without another word, the associate and two other staff members went to package the items.
The troublemaking couple finally reacted. "You really believe she can afford all that? A single bangle costs six hundred thousand! The necklaces, earrings, bangles, and brooches she was looking at must add up to one or two million. How could a slip of a girl who’s barely grown up afford that much money?"
Unfortunately for her, none of the associates paid her any mind.
Feeling ignored, the woman’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. She even reached out to grab the senior associate. "Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!"
Even for a seasoned professional with a good temper like the associate, this was too much, and her displeasure began to show. "Ma’am, please do not interfere with my work."
But the woman acted as if she didn’t understand, pointing at the associate and spouting off, "You don’t believe me, is that it? Fine! I’d like to see how you’ll clean up this mess when she can’t cough up the money!"
Arabella watched the two of them talking completely past each other, feeling deep sympathy for the associate’s plight.
’Seriously, what the hell does it have to do with you whether I can pay or not? Is this the tragedy of the modern-day worker? If she weren’t on the clock, I bet the associate would love to slap her a couple of times. Ugh... dealing with such an unreasonable, bizarre customer during work hours must be truly soul-crushing!’
Eugene: "..." ’Good grief, can you tone it down a little? Your "just here for the show" attitude is a bit too obvious!’
Three associates packing together were very efficient. Soon, a row of beautifully packaged gift boxes and bags appeared in front of Arabella.
"Here are all the jewelry pieces you specified you wished to purchase. This includes one gold necklace and two Kashmir sapphire necklaces, with a total value of three million; two pairs of gold bangles and one pair of glass-type jadeite bangles, with a total value of two and a half million; one pair of natural emerald earrings, one pair of Heart of the Ocean sapphire earrings, one pair of pigeon’s blood ruby earrings, one violet gemstone pendant, one blue diamond brooch, and one pair of orange-gold cufflinks, with a total value of four million, seven hundred and ten thousand."
The associate took out a calculator and did the math. "The total value of all items is ten million, two hundred and ten thousand. With my authority, I can only offer you a two percent discount, so after rounding, the final total is an even ten million. Will you be paying by card, or... cash, Miss?"
"Ten million!" Before Arabella could say anything, the woman beside them couldn’t help but cry out in shock.
When she realized everyone was looking at her, her expression twisted. "Hmph, she couldn’t afford that much even if you sold her!"
Eugene was also taken aback by his little cousin’s extravagance. He didn’t say anything, however, merely calculating internally that if Arabella was short on funds, he would step in and help pay.
Arabella ignored the woman and casually pulled out a bank card. "Thank you. I’ll pay by card."
"Of course, Miss." The associate took the bank card with a calm smile. Just as she was about to swipe it, Arabella seemed to remember something and quickly stopped her. "Wait!"