Chapter 41: The Black Card

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Black Card

"Please, pretty, I am begging you. I only need you to allow me pay your bills," the stranger said.

Flora picked up an expensive perfume and checked the bottle.

"Is this the last one?" she asked the attendant.

"No, madam. We have more in the other section," the attendant replied politely.

"Good. Bring me two more."

The stranger stared at her in disbelief.

"Hello, please listen to me. You don’t have to reject my offer. I only need you to shop with this," he said showing Flora his master card.

Flora slowly turned to him.

"Did I ask you to follow me around the store?"

"No, beautiful, but—"

"Then stop disturbing me. I came here to shop, not to listen to your pleas."

Her voice was cold and direct. The stranger lowered his head in embarrassment. Some customers nearby started watching them.

Simon was standing almost at a close distance away. He could see everything.

He understood that Flora hated being disturbed, but the stranger was attracting attention. He decided to move closer to them.

Flora saw him coming and looked at him. She wondered why he was coming. She did not call him.

Simon stopped beside the stranger and looked directly into his eyes. His face was calm, but his eyes were warning.

"Is there a problem here?" Simon asked.

The stranger looked Simon up and down.

"And who are you?" he asked.

Simon held his gaze. "I am the driver telling you to leave her alone."

The stranger laughed.

"Are you talking to me?"

"Do you see anyone else standing here?"

A few customers stopped shopping. The attendant holding Flora’s basket also turned to look. No one expected a driver to speak so confidently.

The stranger adjusted his expensive jacket and moved closer to Simon.

"Listen, young man. I don’t know who you think you are, but you should learn how to speak to people like me."

"People like you?" Simon asked.

"Yes! Do you know how much an outfit costs here?" the stranger said, spreading his arms. "I am not someone you should speak to carelessly."

Simon almost smiled. He had met many people who thought clothes made them important.

The man brought out a few pounds from his pocket and stretched it toward Simon.

"Here. Take this for your lunch. I understand driving can be exhausting. You probably need something to eat. Don’t embarrass yourself," he said proudly.

Simon looked at the money and said nothing.

The stranger thought he had silenced him.

"Take it. Buy yourself lunch. No need to embarrass yourself in front of all these people," he insisted.

Simon slowly raised his eyes.

"Put your money away," he said quietly.

The stranger’s smile disappeared.

"What did you say?"

"I said put your money away and walk out of this store."

The man’s face tightened.

"Do you know who you are talking to?" the stranger said exercising his prowess.

Simon slipped his hand into his shirt pocket. Flora stopped checking her perfume and watched him with curiosity. She could only see his back.

Simon brought out a black Mastercard. He held it between two fingers. He did not wave it or explain. He just let the stranger see it.

The card was black and elegant. The design was premium. Only trillionaires own that type.

The stranger glanced at it. At first he looked confused. Then his eyes widened. The black card has a name engraved in pure gold across the front with a small silver emblem sitting above the card logo. The lettering catches his eyes..

"Where did you get that?" he asked quietly.

Simon put the card back in his pocket.

"That is none of your business."

The stranger swallowed hard. Moments ago he thought Simon needed lunch money. Now he realized he made a serious mistake.

"Look, I didn’t mean to offend you," he said softly.

"Then stop offending people. Pick up your things and leave," Simon replied.

The stranger looked around. Customers were watching. The store attendant was staring.

His pride would not let him apologize properly, but he did not want to argue again.

"Fine," he muttered.

He picked up his shopping bags and walked quickly out of the store.

The store became unusually quiet.

"What just happened?" the attendant whispered to another staff.

"I have no idea. He was so confident. Why did he leave suddenly?" the other replied.

Flora heard the whispers but said nothing. She walked up to Simon, her eyes narrowed.

"Why was he suddenly afraid of you? Hope you didn’t harass him?"

Simon looked at her calmly.

"No ma’am..Perhaps he realized he was constituting nuisance."

"That is not what I asked you," Flora said.

"I know, madam."

"Then answer my question."

"Perhaps he understood I wasn’t going to let him disturb you," Simon said and lowered his head slightly.

Flora stared at him. She was not satisfied, but she did not want to question him inside the store.

"Bring me the remaining perfumes," she told the attendant. "Include the limited edition."

"Certainly, madam." The store attendant said.

Simon gently turned to go back to his seat. the customers stared at him.

"Who is this driver with such audacity?" one whispered.

"Can’t you see? The rich guy ran at the snap of his fingers," the other replied.

They turned and continued shopping.

Flora continued shopping. She picked swiss skincare products, imported cashmere coats,designer silk scarves, and luxury gift boxes. Her hands were busy, but her mind kept going back to Simon.

"I know you are protective, Simon. Maybe you thought he was a scammer, but you should know your boundaries," she thought. "I employed you as a driver, not as someone who scares people away."

Across the store, Maya had watched everything. She saw the money the stranger offered.

But she did not understand why the stranger felt threatened by Simon and left suddenly. Could it be that Simon knew him before?

She watched Simon return to his position and sat quietly, as if nothing happened.

But Maya kept wondering, _Who are you, Simon?_

Upstairs, the staff had no idea what had happened downstairs. They were busy shopping.

Grace had told everyone it was almost time to stop. Earlier, she had given them time to look around first before deciding what to buy. But she made sure no one picked up anything at first, so they would not greedily try to buy the whole store.

Now, everyone’s shopping cart was filled to the brim.

The housekeeper bought skincare products and fashion accessories. Zoe picked chocolates, Italian shoes, luxury handbags and more. The gardener picked watches, shirts, shoes, perfumes and tailored outfits. Grace herself bought new beddings for her room, her toiletries, perfumes, clothes and luxury wigs.

She was at the counter paying. The store attendant was so happy.

"Thank you so much for shopping with us, ma’am," the attendant said with a bright smile.

Grace nodded and brought out a card to pay.

When the attendant saw the card, she froze. Her eyes widened. It was a black elite card. The kind only billionaires use.

She stared at it, then at Grace. She could not believe it.

"Is... is this yours?" the attendant asked, her voice shaking slightly.

Grace smiled calmly. "Just swipe it."

The attendant’s hands trembled as she collected the card. She had only seen this card on the internet. It had no limit. She quickly started scanning all the items. The machine beeped non-stop.

Just then, Zoe came running to the counter.

"Grace, hurry up," Zoe said. "We need to go meet Madam downstairs."

The attendant overheard her. So the card did not belong to her. It belonged to her boss. That made more sense. She looked at Grace again. What kind of billionaire gives her staff a card like this to go shopping?

She continued scanning. The total kept rising.

"Your total is coming to almost a ￡300,000," the attendant announced, shocked by the figure herself.

Grace did not even blink. "Go ahead."

The attendant swiped the black card. The payment went through instantly. Approved.

She printed the receipt with shaking hands and handed it to Grace.

"Ma’am, please... who do you work for?" the attendant asked curiously. "I wish I could work as a staff for whoever this billionaire is."

Grace chuckled. "I am sorry, I can’t help you with that,I understand how you feel,if she needs someone, she will find you herself."

The attendant smiled nervously. She wanted to ask more questions. What kind of work do you do? How can I apply? But before she could speak again, she saw her supervisor walking straight towards the counter.

She was startled. She immediately straightened up and became professional again.

"Thank you for your patronage, ma’am. Please come again," she said quickly, handing the bags to Grace.

Everyone carried their bags and left.

The supervisor arrived at the counter and looked at the receipt. Her eyes almost popped out of her head.

"Who pays ￡300,000 for a staff shopping spree?" she asked.

The attendant swallowed and pointed towards Grace and the others leaving.

"They did. With a black elite card," she whispered.

The supervisor was speechless.

The supervisor checked the system again and again. She could not believe it.

Meanwhile, the store attendant politely asked her supervisor for permission.

"Ma’am, please can I have a few minutes to use the restroom?" she asked.

Her supervisor nodded without looking up from the screen. "Go ahead."

The attendant did not go to the restroom. She quietly sneaked into the changing room.