Chapter 23
Izzy
“What do you think of this dress?” I pull it from the rack to show Viv, and her nose goes right up. “Okay, never mind.” I shove the hanger back on the rack.
“What about this one?” She pulls a beautiful sparkling dress off the wall. It’s absolutely stunning, and I’m positive it’s out of my price range.
“All of those crystals are Swarovski,” the clerk says as she comes up to us. “We only have the one in the shop. Looks like it would fit you.” She looks toward me, smiling. It’s gorgeous, but I don’t want to even look at the price tag.
Nope. I shouldn’t have looked. Eighteen hundred dollars.
“This would look so good on you, Izz. You should try it on.”
I shake my head, trying to signal for her to check out the price tag.
“Which dress is Swarovski?” asks a woman from behind us. She practically shoves me from behind and I have to grab the rack next to me to catch myself from falling.
“Excuse you,” snaps Viv as she moves in to help me.
“Which dress?” the rude woman ignores my friend and asks again.
“That dress she’s holding is one of a kind,” the salesclerk states, looking irritated by the woman’s rudeness.
“Well, I’d like to try it on,” the bitch mutters as if she’s going to snap her fingers and get her way. I finally get the rack situated and the dresses properly rehung, then turn. It’s her. Alex’s wife. The rude bitch from the restaurant. She’s even worse than I thought.
“Oh, I’m sorry. It looks like this lady is going to try it on right now. But if she decides not to get it, I’ll bring it to you. Here.” She turns. “Let me show you to a fitting room.”
I’m not going to be getting the dress, but after the way Alex’s wife acted, I wish I could. She’s horrible. No wonder he wants to divorce her.
The clerk leads us to a fitting room, and as soon as we’re locked inside, I turn to Viv.
“Oh my God. That’s her,” I whisper. “Alex’s wife.”
“I know. She’s such a bitch. Whether this looks good or not, you need to get it. You can just return it later.”
“I can’t afford it, Viv.”
“Yes, you can.” She reaches into her purse, pulling out the envelope of money Alex had left me.
“I thought you were going to drop that at the hospital for me.”
“I tried. They said they don’t have an Alex Baker working in their emergency room, so I couldn’t leave it. After the way that woman just treated you, I think you deserve to keep the money, so she doesn’t receive it in the settlement.”
She has a very good point.
“Besides, you gave up a year of your life on that asshole. I think you’ve earned it.”
I look at the dress then back up at the door, hearing the rude voice from the other side.
“Are you almost done trying it on so I can buy my dress? I doubt they pay you enough at the steakhouse to afford it.” So, she recognizes me too. I’m surprised she’d remember anyone beneath her status.
“Give me that.” I reach for the dress. Viv immediately starts helping me into the beautiful gown. As soon as I turn toward the mirror, she gasps. Wow, it’s breathtaking. I feel like a princess.
“You look amazing, Izz. It was made for you.”
I wholeheartedly agree. I’ve never seen such a stunning dress.
“How does it fit?” asks the clerk who’s being harassed by the wretched snob on the other side of the door. The poor woman is just trying to do her job, and we had the dress first, but the bitch thinks she’s entitled to it.
“I’ll take it,” I call out, and Viv practically squeals. “It fits perfect.”
I get changed back into my clothes, delicately rehanging the beautiful dress, and exit the room.
“It’s stunning,” I tell the clerk. “Oh, and thank your husband for me.” I turn toward the bitch. “I’m using his very generous tip to get it.” I never wanted to be a homewrecker, but I honestly feel zero guilt toward this horrible person.
The look on her face is priceless. She can stew on the facts for a moment. Contemplate the reason her husband would spend so much money on me. I hope she goes back and asks him the reason. I almost want to reveal the truth myself so I can see the look on her face.
“I’ll get this wrung up and wrapped for you.” The clerk smiles, taking the dress from my hands. She then points the bitch with an evil grin. Even she’s happy that the witch isn’t getting her way.
It’s amazing how some people can be so rude. Thankfully, Karma is about to bite her in the ass by way of divorce papers.