บท 10: I am 'Kind'

The boutique of Costa Dresses was located in the third floor of Costa Shopping Centre, occupying the whole floor. Inside the boutique was three individual VIP waiting rooms, a lounge for other customers, a coffee shop for those who wanted to sip coffee or tea while waiting, and another VIP waiting room that provided 180-degree view on the skyline of Costa City.

When the wind chimes sounded, the people inside the boutique turned their heads to the direction of the entrance. Even those in the middle of conversations stopped talking when Ria Zhang took a step inside. A customer gasped when she realized what the woman who just went inside was wearing.

"It's the Summer Solstice," the customer exclaimed under her breath.

Some people turned around when the voice of that customer reached their ears.

"Summer Solstice? As in the Summer Solstice of the XT Collection? Is that the dress designed by Mira Cheng?"

"Omg. Seriously? Who is that woman?"

"She looks familiar," another customer commented, glancing at Ria Zhang from head to toe.

Another woman sneered. "If it is not Sierra Co."

Sierra Co? The looks of admiration among the women was replaced with disdain. Who does not know about the desperate woman who clung to Marvin Kang as if she was a snake?

"How come she was wearing that design?" a woman with brown hair asked. Her parents were rich but she cannot even get that dress. The woman glared at Ria Zhang who was in a pastel yellow dress.

"No matter what, she still belongs to the powerful Co Family," someone muttered from the bystanders.

The women fell silent. Indeed, life was unfair. Just because this Sierra Co was born into the Co Family, even how many times she disgraced herself, she can still get up.

However, the woman in question was not paying attention to her surroundings. Ria Zhang darted her eyes back and forth from the display of dresses. No one took a step towards her to offer assistance but she preferred it over those hovering sales ladies.

"Young Miss," Lulu whispered. "These people are too much."

Ria Zhang raised her shoulders in half-shrug. "Ignore them. We are here to shop," she said as she took little steps, running her fingers on the fabric, feeling the softness.

A sales lady saw what Ria Zhang has done. She pressed her lips, squinting her eyes. "Excuse me. You are not allowed to touch the dresses if you are not going to buy it."

The boutique went silent. Everyone's eyes fell on the woman in yellow dress, waiting for a drama to unfold. The Costa City knew how Sierra Co behaved like a bitch.

The sales lady sneered inwardly. With this, she would be able to show the whole city how stupid Sierra Co was. And then, she can gain a favor from Kara Lu. However, the sales lady missed one thing. She was dealing with Ria Zhang.

And Ria Zhang was anything but a pushover.

"Is that so?" Ria Zhang's mouth curved into a smile. She opened her sling bag and pulled a sleek black card. "Then, please account the dresses I touched and charge it to this," she extended her hand towards the sales lady.

The eyes of the sales lady widened as she stared at the black card. Even if she wanted to reach for it, she cannot.

The Costa Dresses has also its own rules. The sales ladies are divided into three groups. The first group catered to the ordinary customers. The second group focused on noveau riche families while the third group catered to the old rich families.

The black card known as the 'Old Rich' Card was only available to the members of the old rich families. And even among them, only a few have access on it.

Even the other customers caught their breaths when they realized what they saw. Was the woman the same as that Sierra Co? Although the Costa City knew that Sierra Co belonged to the Co Family, she was not seen with them in the public.

However, the black card was enough display of status. The Sierra Co in front of them was not one to mess up with.

One of the sales ladies who saw what happened walked fast towards Ria Zhang. She was aware of what happened but they are not allowed to interfere with the clients of the other sales ladies.

The sales lady bowed in front of Ria Zhang. "I am sorry for the inconvenience, Young Miss," she said. "I am Misa and I will be your personal assistant during your shopping here at Costa Dresses."

Ria Zhang inclined her head. She was not kind. She never claimed to be one. Therefore, does the sales lady cowering in front of her black card thought that she can just get away with what she did?

"How about her, then?" her hand pointed towards the sales lady.

The sales lady called Misa pressed her lips before smiling. "Pardon her, Young Miss. She was a newly-hired sales assistant here and was not –"

"Teach her manners, then. Not all customers are 'kind' like me," Ria Zhang said mockingly. "If I am other customers, I would have thrown a fit and make her face a rag," she further said, smiling.

Lulu almost puked when her Young Miss' words reached her ears. Kind? Her Young Miss must be imagining things.

Misa turned around and glared at the sales lady, indicating for her to apologize.

The sales lady trembled before lowering her head. "Young Miss, I'm so sorry."