Chapter 28 Archer #3
I react without thinking, taking my free hand to grab and twist his, positioning it behind his back in the blink of an eye.
He yelps and drops to his knees. "They don't pay me enough for this, really. Let me go, please."
"Sorry about that." I release him instantly, helping him to his feet. "Let's start again."
The doorman dusts off his legs and shoots a look into the store, no doubt hoping no one saw that happen.
"I'm Archer Sin. I don't have an appointment. Could you please check and see if they have an opening for me?"
His eyes widen and he averts his gaze, turning toward the door and unlocking it. "I'm sorry, sir. I had no idea. Please, come on in. Someone will be right with you." He pushes a button on the walkie-talkie attached to his collar. "Archer Sin is here, team. Please be advised."
By the time he's unlocked the door, four salespeople greet me inside, one of them taking the bags from my hands and another offering me a glass of champagne.
"I'm not thirsty," I tell him and scan the other clerks. "You." I settle on a rather timid, short female, not appearing quite as ravenous as the other three. "The rest of you, leave us be."
She blinks a few times and swallows harshly.
I snap my fingers at the person who has my bags from the other store. "Those stay."
The guy circles back, dropping them onto the counter before slipping into another room, out of sight.
"What can I help you with, Mr. Sin?" the woman who remains says.
"First, call me Archer. Second, I'm not going to hurt you, so whatever they told you in the twenty seconds it took to get me in the door, forget that. Third, what's your name?"
"Faith," she tells me.
"Well, I have faith that you're going to help me, Faith." I point to a display that catches my eye. "This here. Do you think it would go with this?" I grab the garment bag, unzipping it to reveal the dress I purchased for London.
"I think that would be a fine choice," she says reluctantly.
"Be honest, Faith. I won't be upset." I try to keep my tone even but I'm not exactly great with talking to other people.
Faith walks over, tapping on the glass. "This is a great piece, it is. But I think with the necklace and fabric choice, you'd be better suited with something else…something like…" She scans the displays until she finds what she's on the hunt for. "This."
I settle my eyes upon the case, knowing damn well I made the right choice when I picked her to assist me.
There, in all its glory, is a beautiful necklace fit for a princess.
"Tell me about it," I say, not knowledgeable about jewelry at all but confident this is the one I'm going to get.
"This is the Flowerlace necklace. It is rhodium-plated eighteen-carat white gold with over four hundred stones, totaling over twenty carats. With the lace and silhouettes of flowers, it combines nature and couture for a timeless look."
"I'll take it."
"Sir, I must mention that it's two hundred twenty thousand dollars." She holds her breath like I might die at hearing the price tag.
"Yeah, that's fine. What else do you have that would go with it?" I peer into the case. "What about that ring and earrings, too? Oh wait, do you have any bracelets?"
"Yes, we do." She pulls the items out of the case for me to take a closer look at, not quite realizing that I've already decided to buy them all.
"There isn't a matching bracelet for this collection, but there's one I think would go lovely with it…
" Faith goes to another case, pulling out a bracelet that sparkles brighter than anything in this room. "Over thirty-six carats."
"I'll take that, too."
She clears her throat softly. "It's more expensive than the necklace."
"How much?"
"This piece is three hundred ninety-seven thousand."
"Oh. That's fine. I thought it would be more." I pull my phone out of my pocket, checking the time and notifications littering the screen. "If you don't mind, I'm in rather a hurry."
"Of course, sir. I'll get those together for you. If you'll give me a moment." Faith carries everything into the back, leaving me out here alone with every camera in the building focused on me.
I'd take offense to it but I can only imagine the shit these people would be in if I robbed the place. I have no issue paying for it on my own, I'll leave my sticky fingers to the people who deserve to be taken from.
Faith returns a long moment later, a large bag in her grasp and a male sales associate on her heels. He's older, at least twice her age, and I hate how fucking close he is to her, her body language tense like she doesn't like it either.
He sets a small device on the counter. "Good day, Mr. Sin. I expect Faith has taken great care of you?"
I step toward him and he flinches. "Do you work on commission?" I tilt my head in Faith’s direction.
"Why, yes, Mr. Sin. All sales associates at Van Cleef & Arpels do," the man confirms.
"What's your name?" I ask him.
"Ransom, sir."
"Ransom," I repeat, inching closer. "Do you know who I am?"
He nods stiffly, his entire body tense.
I keep my voice low. "Then you know what I'm capable of, right?"
He nods again.
"If Faith doesn't make her entire commission, I'm going to hunt you down for a little visit. Do you hear me?"
"Y-yes, sir."
I allow some space between us, giving him a chance to alter the course of his future.
He chooses the right path, taking the device into his palm, pushing a sequence of buttons, and handing it to Faith.
"That'll be seven hundred fifty thousand one hundred forty-eight dollars and seventy-five cents." She lays the thing on the counter while hiding a grin.
I tap my black Amex, my phone ringing a second later. "Hello?"
"Mr. Sin, this is Gretchen from American Express calling. We flagged potential suspicious activity on your account."
I cut her off. "That's me. I'm purchasing a gift for a friend. Approve the purchase, please."
Typing on a keyboard comes through the speaker. "I have approved your purchase. Thank you, and have a great day, Mr. Sin."
The line disconnects and the card reader dings, alerting us to the transaction going through.
I focus on the man again while reaching for my bag. "And stop standing so close to her. It's making us both uncomfortable." I leave the store, shoving everything into one arm to bring my phone back out to check London's whereabouts.
Her location pings at the bakery still, giving me a little more time for one more task.