At the cash register, Daphne and Imogen stood side by side and some of the spectators who wanted to see the drama unfold till the end stood a few meters behind them.
“Miss Ross the bill racks up to five million,” the sales associate said with a polite smile.
The confident smile that adorned Imogen's face immediately dropped at the price.
“What's wrong,” Daphne asked, feigning concern at her sister's troubled expressions.
“I'm paying for only the dress,” Imogen whispered but unfortunately the sales associate didn't hear her quiet mumble.
“Pardon”
“I said I hope you are aware I'm paying for only the dress,” Imogen repeated in anger which everyone else in the store heard and strings of laughter floated around the store.
“Yes ma'am I am aware. The dress alone cost five million although it drops to four million without some of its accessories ,” the associate responded, still maintaining her professionalism.
Imogen was so embarrassed that she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. How could she possibly accept a discounted price, that was a slap to her face.
Daphne was well aware that the limit placed on Imogen's card would not be able to cover the dress as her immediate family has not been doing too well and have been depending heavily on Ethan.
On the other hand Imogen was still silent as she thought of a way to get out of the situation. She could use Ethan's card but that would give Daphne something to talk about.
“Daph, what's going on,” Mira's voice rang out as she made her way to the center of the comotion.
“Nothing much, my darling sister has decided to pay for this beautiful dress as a way of extending an olive branch to me,” Daphne said.
Mia mood immediately dampened at the mention of Imogen. Her eyes finally landed on the woman in question and her anger intensified.
She looked back to Daphne who was calmly watching the scene unfold before her, she wondered how she was able to keep her composure.
“Well get on with it, Daphne and I have somewhere to be,” Mira said with a frightening scowl which made Imogen involuntarily shiver.
Mira could be terrifying when provoked almost as bad as her brother.
“Well, I…I”
“Can't suddenly speak?” Mira said, completing her words for her.
Imogen clenched her teeth in anger as she so badly wanted to retort Mira's taunt but knew better than to provoke the only heiress of the Cy's.
“Can you not afford a measly ten million?” Daphne asked, finally speaking.
“It's five million”
“Same difference,” Daphne responded nonchalantly.
“You're embarrassing the entire Ross family and by association, me. What about your fiancé? Can't he help you out? You're acting like it's 5 billion,” Daphne said, taunting her and as she predicted Imogen embarrassed herself more.
“I just realized I forgot my card,” Imogen blurted out.
“How convenient,” one of the spectators scoffed.
“It seems like you need an olive branch filled with olives way more than I do,” Daphne said gently pushing Imogen to the side.
She then pulled out her platinum card to pay for the dress.
”You don't have to spend your benefactor's money to prove a point,” Imogen said with her voice laced in venom.
“Well then I must be lucky to have a benefactor who bears the same name as myself,” Daphne said in reference to her name clearly written on the card.
“Your order exceeds 10 million, will you like a bonus for the…”
“Just swipe the card,” Daphne responded in irritation, already feeling overstimulated at that point.
Once the payments were made Mira and Daphne made their way out of the store to Daphne's car with the back seat filled with shopping bags.
Courtesy of Daphne's impulsive buying habits and Mira's obsession with purses and clutches.
They drove for about forty five minutes before stopping at a familiar place.
Daisy's
They made their way in and ordered some ice cream.
“It's been a minute,” Daphne said with a nostalgic smile.
“When I was locked away I always thought I would never be able to visit here”
“Like I would ever let that happen,” Mira replied with a small smile and the pair fell into a comfortable silence.
“Anyways, Daphne Emerald Ross, you are a better woman than I am. I would have jumped that witch on sight,” Mira said, breaking the spell of silence and was met with the sound of Daphne's laughter.
“I'm not joking. By the way, aren't the Ross' part of the “big four”,” Mira asked, laying emphasis on the big four by air quoting as she always found the name to be ridiculous.
“Grandfather obviously cut them off but not for long though,” Daphne replied.
“What do you mean, it's a good thing right? Don't tell me you're going easy on them,” Mira asked looking genuinely offended.
“I'm not a sentimental fool. An eye for an eye,” Daphne responded.
“What do you mean,” Mira questioned eagerly.
“Eat your ice cream or it will melt. In due time all lines will fall into place,” she responded.
“I don't know if I should be impressed or scared,” Mira said amused, ending the conversation.
After their blissful outing Mira decided to return home cancelling her initial plan to tour Daphne's new house.
As she walked in her house she was surprised to find her brothers.
“You're right in time for some cake,” Elizabeth piped up when she saw her daughter.
Mira greeted her parents barely acknowledging her father and conversed with her brother ... .well her brother since Quinn as usual was unresponsive.
“How was your day,” Edward asked, ignoring his daughter's blatant nonchalance towards him.
“It went well,” Mira responded in the most generic way she could as she knew it irked her father.
Edward's placid expression instantly fell noticing the tension between the pair Elizabeth immediately stepped into diffuse the situation
“How about you tell us what you did,” Elizabeth asked.
“Does it matter and by the way don't you already know considering the fact I was being tailed by your not so concealed guards who no doubt reported my whereabouts to him,” Mira said.
“They couldn't have possibly seen or heard everything,” Elizabeth asked.
“How would I know what to share, I don't know what they have reported to you. I don't want to bore you or rather waste your time with mindless chatter on matters you know already,” Mira replied not mincing her words.
“Are you really going to fight your father because of some outsider,” Edward finally spoke as her words stung him.
“The only stranger here is the man who kidnapped his own child,” Mira said.
“Have you forgotten your manners Mira,” Edward asked, his voice booming through the dining room.
He was already agitated by her insultive jabs.
“I might have left them on the island you shipped me off too,” Mira fired back.
“That is enough if you won't behave then get out of my table,” Edward said in anger.
“With pleasure,” Mira responded.
YOU ARE READING
STEEL CITY
RomanceDaphne Ross was a rising star in Steel City and was taking Hollywood by storm but her shiny life and career crashed down after she was betrayed and framed by her stepsister and a man who swore he loved her to the moon and back. After being unjustly...
