~ 2 ~

LILA'S POV

It didn’t feel like a month since I started at KAI-Apparel, but the numbers on the report in front of me said otherwise. Thirty days had passed, and in that time, I had grown comfortable in my role. The store ran smoothly, the team had settled into a rhythm, and even the regular customers had started recognizing me as the manager.

The transition had been seamless. Almost too seamless.

I glanced at the monthly inventory list spread out on my desk, my pen tapping lightly against the paper. We needed to restock a few items—some high-end suits in the men’s section, a few seasonal dresses that had practically flown off the racks. Other than that, we were in good shape.

Just as I was about to make a note to place the orders, a sudden noise from the store yanked me from my thoughts.

It wasn’t the usual murmur of customers browsing or the occasional laughter from my team. This was louder. Sharper.

A commotion.

I pushed back my chair and strode out of my office, my heels clicking against the floor as I approached the checkout section.

The moment I stepped into the main store, the source of the noise became clear.

A well-dressed woman stood at the checkout counter, her voice sharp and cutting as she berated Jordan. Her manicured nails drummed impatiently against the glass countertop. Around them, customers glanced over, their expressions ranging from mild curiosity to discomfort. The tension in the air was thick, pressing against the normally relaxed atmosphere of the store.

Jordan, to his credit, looked calm but firm, his jaw tight as he attempted to explain something to the woman.

I moved forward, catching the last part of their exchange.

"Ma’am, I understand your frustration," Jordan said evenly, "but your card isn’t being accepted. I’ve tried it three times now—"

"Oh, that is absolute nonsense!" The woman snapped, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Do you even know who I am? My card works everywhere else, and I will not be embarrassed in this store!"

I stepped in then, placing a hand lightly on the counter. "Is there a problem here?"

Jordan exhaled, relieved by my presence. "Miss Grayson, this customer’s card is being declined, and I was explaining the situation to her."

The woman’s gaze flicked to me, her lips pressing together in a tight line. I recognized her type immediately—the entitled elite who assumed the world revolved around them.

"Are you the manager?" she asked, her tone laced with irritation.

"Yes, I am," I said smoothly. "Lila Grayson. How can I help?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if assessing whether I was worth speaking to, then she squared her shoulders. "Your employee is trying to tell me that my card doesn’t work. Which is ridiculous because I used it this morning at the Beverly Luxe store. You should be training your staff better."

I caught the way Jordan’s fingers twitched slightly at his sides, his patience clearly wearing thin.

I turned to him. "Jordan, what’s the system saying?"

He gestured to the screen. "It’s coming up as declined, and I even tried running it manually. Same result."

I nodded, then turned my attention back to the woman. "I understand this is frustrating, but there might be an issue with your bank. Sometimes fraud protection can block transactions unexpectedly. I’d be happy to hold your items while you check with them."

The woman’s face darkened, clearly unsatisfied. "I don’t need to check with my bank. I have more than enough money, and I refuse to be treated like a common thief!"

I heard the murmur of customers growing around us. This wasn’t good. The longer this dragged on, the worse it made the store look.

I kept my tone even. "Ma’am, no one is questioning your ability to pay. These things happen. We can try another card, or you can use an alternative payment method."

Her nostrils flared. "I shouldn’t have to!"

I resisted the urge to sigh. Some people just wanted to make a scene.

Then, an idea struck me. I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "Would you like to step aside for a moment? We can run a final check on the system without drawing too much attention."

The subtle suggestion that she was making a spectacle of herself worked. She hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Fine. But I expect this to be resolved immediately."

I nodded, then signaled Jordan to pause the transaction.

"Why don’t we step over here?" I gestured toward a quieter section near the customer service desk. As we moved away from the main checkout, I could feel the tension in the store ease slightly. Customers resumed their browsing, and the lingering stares dissipated.

Once we were in a more private space, I softened my approach. "I understand this is frustrating. I really do. If you’d like, I can have our system checked to ensure there’s no issue on our end. But in the meantime, would you like to try a different card?"

The woman crossed her arms, clearly still irritated, but she pulled out another card and handed it to me.

I walked over to the nearest register and ran it through. A moment later, the transaction went through without a hitch.

I turned back to her with a small smile. "Looks like that one worked perfectly."

She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Oh. Well… of course it did."

I handed her the bag with her purchase. "We appreciate your business, and I hope to see you again soon."

Her expression flickered, as if she wasn’t sure whether to feel victorious or embarrassed. In the end, she gave a stiff nod and walked away.

As soon as she was out of sight, I let out a slow breath before making my way back to Jordan.

"You okay?" I asked.

Jordan exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "Yeah. Just wasn’t expecting that first thing in the morning."

I patted his shoulder. "You handled it well. Some customers just need a little extra… patience."

Ethan, who had been nearby watching the whole thing unfold, let out a low whistle. "That was impressive. You didn’t even break a sweat."

I laughed. "You’ll get used to it. Welcome to retail."

Mia, who had been in the women’s section, wandered over. "Please tell me that woman isn’t a regular."

Sophie grinned from her spot at the welcome desk. "If she is, at least we know Lila’s got it covered."

I rolled my eyes but smiled. "Alright, let’s get back to work. We’ve got a store to run."

With that, the moment passed, and the store returned to its usual rhythm. But as I walked back to my office, I couldn’t shake the lingering feeling that today was only the beginning of something bigger.

Something that would test my patience far beyond entitled customers.

----

Mr. Harris sat behind his desk, his hands folded over the store's revenue report. His office, though smaller than I’d expected for a man in his position, was sleek and professional. Dark wood shelves lined the walls, filled with binders, financial reports, and a few framed certificates.

“You’ve done an impressive job, Lila,” he said, looking up at me with a small, approving smile. “I had my reservations about hiring someone young to run one of our prime stores, but you’ve exceeded expectations.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “Thank you, Mr. Harris. That means a lot.”

“Your team seems to be working well together, and sales have been consistent. The numbers speak for themselves.” He tapped a finger on the report. “KAI-Apparel has a standard to uphold, and so far, you’re holding up your end.”

“I plan to keep it that way.”

“Good,” he said, nodding. “Keep this momentum going. Oh, and the new inventory list looks solid. I'll forward it for approval. If there are any adjustments, I'll let you know.”

I smiled, relieved. “Sounds great.”

As I turned to leave, his voice stopped me.

“One more thing,” he added. “Word of advice—stay adaptable. Change is inevitable in this business, and sometimes, it happens faster than we expect.”

His words lingered as I stepped out of his office.

Change? I wasn’t sure what he meant, but I didn’t dwell on it. The stress of the morning’s chaos had faded, and now, with this meeting wrapped up, I was ready to finish the day on a strong note.

I walked through the hallway leading back to my store, my heels clicking against the polished floor. But before I could reach the entrance, a sudden burst of movement made me stop.

People rushed past me in different directions, murmuring in hushed but excited voices. The energy shifted.

I frowned. What now?

I groaned internally, not ready for another problem. The day had already tested me once, and I wasn’t in the mood for another crisis.

As I approached the store, I noticed my employees clustered near the entrance, peering out as if witnessing something unbelievable.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping toward them.

Mia turned, her usual confidence momentarily replaced by awe. “Lila, you’re not going to believe this.”

Sophie practically bounced on her toes. “The CEO is here! Like, right now. He’s on the floor below, doing a routine check.”

Her words sent a jolt through me.

The CEO?

We all knew about him—the man behind KAI Group. Ruthless in business, mysterious to the public, and rarely seen at the retail level. The employees whispered about him like he was some kind of legend. And now, he was here?

A strange pulse ran through me.

I quickly composed myself. “Alright, back to your stations. We don’t want to be standing around when he arrives.”

They scattered, though the excitement still lingered in their eyes.

I moved to the checkout counter where Jordan stood, leaning against the counter with an unreadable expression.

“This is unexpected,” I murmured.

Jordan smirked. “Guess today’s full of surprises.”

I exhaled, trying to push away the tension building in my chest. It’s fine. He’ll probably just do a quick walkthrough and leave.

And then, I felt it.

A shift in the air. A presence so strong it seemed to command attention before even stepping into the room.

My pulse picked up.

The sound of footsteps approached. Confident. Unhurried. Purposeful.

Sophie straightened at the front, her voice professional yet bright. “Welcome to KAI-Apparel.”

And then, I turned.

A group of six entered—five men in tailored suits, exuding power and authority, and a striking woman in a sleek dress walking beside them.

But I only saw him.

My breath caught.

For a moment, the world faded into a dull hum. The store, the employees, the conversations—everything blurred into the background.

His presence sucked the air out of the room.

The years hadn’t changed him much. If anything, he looked even more untouchable. His suit fit perfectly, emphasizing the broad shoulders I remembered tracing with my fingertips. His jawline was sharp, his features composed. The slight scruff on his face only added to the commanding energy he carried.

Three years.

Three years since I’d last seen him. Three years since I woke up to an empty bed, to a goodbye I never got.

I forced my lips to move, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Lucas.”

His head tilted slightly, his expression unreadable. And then, his gaze met mine.

Recognition flashed in his eyes. A pause. A flicker of something unspoken.

And just like that, everything I had buried, everything I had locked away, came rushing back.