Chapter 4 #2
Before any of the four of us got a word out, Carlos scampered up to us.
“Hello, ladies, how may I help you today?” He flashed his best smile. Undoubtedly, he was picturing a big sale.
“Are you the manager?” Patricia asked.
“I am.”
“Good. Then I’d like you to know that these two women are offending us. They’re eavesdropping on a private conversation. We’d like them fired,” Linda demanded.
I’d heard enough. My annoyance turned to anger, and I was now on the verge of rage. How dare they attempt to get these hardworking ladies in trouble?
“Go see what those other customers need,” Carlos ordered.
Brenda cast me a beseeching look. I wanted to say something, but it could wait until after we dealt with the manager and the three bitches.
I didn’t want them to listen to our conversation.
I glanced over at Cormac and shook my head.
He frowned, but remained silent. I thought I noted a glimmer of pain in Brenda’s eyes, then it was gone.
Without another word, the two of them went to the farthest side of the room.
Once they were out of earshot, I let the four before us have it.
“How dare you try to get them into trouble? They were doing nothing but providing exemplary service,” I growled.
“Sean is right. Cyndi and Brenda spent the past two hours helping us find wonderful, unique gifts. And why the hell any of you would ever even joke that these gifts are for you is ludicrous. We would never buy you anything,” Cor snapped.
“I, we, but you…” Maureen sputtered.
“Sean, you and your brother can’t mean this.
We were just trying to have a conversation with you, and it was a joke when we asked if those were for us.
We didn’t want a couple of losers listening to us.
It’s not their business. We want to ask you out tonight.
Let’s go back to the club we were at last night.
Or we could go somewhere else. Our apartment or yours sounds good,” Linda purred, batting her fake lashes.
“My cousins really like you guys. You’d be a fool to turn them down. Men fight to spend time with and to be with them,” Patricia defended.
“And how many fight to get away and have you leave them alone permanently? A lot, I’d say. Let me be blunt. We want nothing from you. We sure the hell don’t want to fuck you,” I growled.
Their gasps and the blushes on their faces didn’t stir me. I glanced over at a hovering Carlos. He watched the interaction with astonishment, clearly written on his face.
“And we’re already pissed about the way you treat your people.
Then you go and dismiss our right hands.
If it weren’t for those ladies, this store wouldn’t have made a damn sale.
Don’t you dare fire them because of these bitches.
Even if the commission doesn’t pay out to you, the shop’s overall status has improved.
You had O’Sheerans in here. You can’t buy that kinda publicity.
Your business will significantly increase,” Cor added on.
What he shared was the truth. Any business we frequented or shopped at would see a surge in its sales following our visits. It was one reason we got little flak for shopping in a variety of places. Usually, they went overboard on the fawning, which we could do without.
“I-I-I don’t know what to say. I’m only trying to ensure that all my folks stay and do their jobs. I meant no disrespect,” Carlos blustered.
Turning my back on him, I faced the three socialites. Only one met my gaze—Linda.
“Sean, I need you to hear me. We meant no harm. All we want is time alone with you. Come out with us tonight. We can talk through this. I know if you give us a chance, you’ll see how terrific we can be together.
If you don’t want to go to the club, we can hang out at our place or yours,” Maureen offered.
“You’re not coming into our homes, nor will we be seen with you. Get away from us. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll never come near us again,” I snarled.
They stepped away, then took another. “Fine, we’re leaving, but we hope you’ll reconsider,” Maureen said.
As we glared at them, they swung around and headed for the door.
On the way out, I saw them look over at Cyndi and Brenda.
I couldn’t see their faces, but their footsteps slowed and then sped back up.
As for our two gifted angels, they hadn’t bothered to glance up. They were straightening display cases.
“We want to speak to Brenda and Cyndi again. Don’t bother to follow us,” Cor warned.
“I won’t,” the manager muttered.
With all the irritants removed, we wasted no time moving over to stand before the women. Slowly, they raised their gazes to us.
“Ladies, sorry for the interruption. We want to say thank you so much for all your help and patience. We can’t thank you enough. We dreaded shopping, thinking it would take days to find something. You must allow us to repay you,” I informed them.
“We were merely doing our job,” Cyndi answered. Her tone was polite without inflection.
“You did more than your job. You have to let us thank you,” Cor insisted.
“How?” Brenda asked. Her voice was pitched low.
“Allow us to take you both to dinner. We know an excellent restaurant that we can guarantee has some of the best food you’ve ever eaten. Will you please go with us?” I asked. I made sure to give them my best smile. It made ladies swoon and do whatever I asked.
Both their heads shook. “We can’t,” Brenda stated.
“Okay, if you’re busy tonight, then give us your numbers, and we’ll give you ours. We can talk and arrange something for another night soon,” my brother offered.
“That’s not necessary. You don’t owe us anything. Besides, it’s against company policy to share our numbers with customers. We hope your mom and sister-in-law enjoy the gifts,” Brenda replied in a polite, though distant way.
We spent the next five minutes trying everything we knew to get them to change their minds.
In the end, they remained adamant. At a loss for what to do, I was contemplating picking Brenda up, tossing her over my shoulder, and walking out with her.
I’d take her somewhere private, and I’d work on her until she relented and allowed me to see her.
My gut was telling me to do it. Fear raised its head.
If I left, I’d never forgive myself. However, the frosty chill in the air made it clear that if we did something like that, we’d drive them further away from us.
What the fuck had changed? Surely the brief break to speak to the Allman cousins hadn’t done this.
“Sean, let’s give them a chance to think over our offer. Here are our numbers. Please reconsider, and you can call us day or night. These are our direct numbers. We would love to take you both out,” Cormac told them.
He placed each of our business cards down and briskly scribbled our personal phone numbers on them.
He pushed them closer to the women, who stared at them as if they’d bite.
Needing to go before I went all caveman, I gave them a curt nod and then walked off.
The short walk outside to our waiting car passed in a fog.
In the car, I remained silent. I had to be alone with my thoughts. I needed to process the experience I just had. The emotions it stirred in me were overwhelming and confusing. By the looks of it, my brother was in the same boat.