Chapter Seventy Eight
Chapter Seventy Eight
Celeste’s POV
“Bring me Rosemary right this instance!” Julie screeched, Rosemary branded box shaking in her vice like grip.
I gathered my nerves and squared my shoulders. Whatever we’d done to piss her off had to be rectified without delay–Julie was a wealthy client we couldn’t afford to lose,
“I’m Rosemary–we met at Celine’s party.” I said, stepping over the spilled coffee. “Is there a problem with your order?”
Julie ripped the box open and slammed a necklace on the counter, causing Grace and I to flinch. The links of the chain broke fronṛthe impact.
“Do you expect me to accept this junk as the five figure bespoke necklace I paid for? It’s not even made from the mokume–gane metal we agreed on.” She fumed.
I picked up the chain, carefully studying the crude workmanship and inferior materials. An icy shudder ran through my body–it wasn’t the necklace I’d spent hours hunched over designing and crafting from only the finest materials.
This was some generic costume jewelry you could pick up at any retail store.
“Julie, you have every right to be upset.” I said, in an even tone, passing the box to Grace. “But I’m uncertain if your anger is being directed in the right place–this is definitely not my work.”
Grace studied the box and necklace, her forehead lined with worry.
“The necklace has been swapped out for a fake,” she said, mouth agape with shock.
“What do you mean it was ‘swapped out‘? This is the exact necklace I received in its original packaging. Look at the handwritten note!” She shoved the card I’d written in our faces. “Do you take me for a fool?”
“Of course not, Julie.” I quickly reassured her. “The packaging is the same, but the necklace is different.”
Grace nodded, chewing her lip with worry. “Your butler accepted the order from me this morning. Perhaps he would know how this necklace got here?”
We all knew what she was insinuating.
Julie scoffed. “Do you think I’ll let you palm off the blame so easily?”
She whipped her phone out of her designer purse and held it out to us, ringing on loudspeaker.
“Good evening, madam.” A gruff voice filled the space between us.
“James, you know you have always been a valued and trusted member of my staff.” Julie said pleasantly.
There was a pause before he responded. “Of course, madam”
“You wouldn’t do anything stupid like, I don’t know? Tamper with one of my deliveries, would you?”
“No! Never, madam! I respect your family and the kindness you’ve shown me far too much to wrong you in such a despicable manner.” He sputtered adamantly, panic clear in his voice.
She glared at us with contempt. “That will be all, James.”
“He must be lying-” Grace started.
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+25 BONUS
Chapter Seventy Eight
“Enough!” Julie’s voice boomed throughout the studio. “This is outrageous. I expect a full refund for my order.”
She stuffed her phone back into her purse and cut me a withering glare.
“Celine said Rosemary would be the next big name in jewelry.” She said, disgust dripping from her voice. “She’s never been more wrong.”
With that, Julie turned on her heels and stormed out of the studio.
The silence that enveloped us was deafening. I looked at Grace, but she was staring at the box she clutched in her hands and shaking her head.
“I can’t believe I screwed up this big.” She whispered, voice filled with remorse and self hatred. “It was such a ridiculous oversight not to hand deliver such an important client’s order. What a fuckup.
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A computer’s ping sounded sharply as I took the box out of her hands and placed it on the counter. Grace finally looked up, her eyes glossy from unshed tears.
“Don’t speak like that.” I said, wrapping my arms around her..
“But, Celeste, this is all my fault-”
I pulled back to hold her gaze, ignoring the pings coming from her office.
“This isn’t your fault.” I said, leaving no room for argument. “You delivered the order to the correct address and ensured it was safely inside before leaving. You did your part.”
She shook her head. “I should have given it to Julie myself.
“No, Grace, all you did was fall short of excellent customer service. The person who swapped the necklace is at fault.” I said firmly. “And my money’s on the butler.”
She bit her lip. “He’ll never confess to stealing such an expensive piece.”
“I’ll just have to go down there tomorrow morning and make him.” I said, voice hard as stone.
Grace took a shaky breath, nodding as another series of pings sounded.
“I should go check what that’s all about,” she said, pointing a thumb towards her office.
She headed inside, shoulders slumped, and I sighed at the mess I’d made with my espresso. Fetching the mop, unbidden memories of Ryan cleaning my last broken cup turned into a dull, confusing ache as I wondered where he was.
My business had just lost a major client and here I was worrying about my assistant’s new girlfriend. I shook my head viciously and set to work cleaning my mess with a laser focus.
“Celeste, we’re in hot water–scalding hot,” Grace said, face ashen as she left her office.
I looked up from our sparky clean tiles. “What’s going on?”
“Julie posted a complaint on our I***a page, bashing Rosemary. The comment section is filled with people swearing off our brand.”
My knuckles turned white on the mop handle.
“Julie isn’t that influential, is she? Surely Celine’s excellent reviews hold more weight than her complaint.” I asked, voice strained.
Grace shook her head, crushing my last glimmer of hope.
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Chapter Seventy Eight
+25 BONUS
“The studio’s order system nearly crashed.” She swiped a hand over her face before ripping off the bandaid. “Our clients are canceling their orders, Celeste. One after another”
