The Mafia Don’s little Con Artist

7- Big mistake, big, huge

After lunch, we venture off inside another store, this time it’s the store that the red dress is originally from.

I brought it along in hopes of exchanging it myself, if I couldn’t find a dress at the other shops, but saved it for last since it was the furthest from the house.

Both my companions take a seat in some chairs while I walk to the front desk.

Neither of the two slender women working even bothered to glance up. They continued to inspect their finger nails and tossed the pages of a catalog over.

“Umm excuse me?” I cleared my throat. “I’d like to return this dress please. Or exchange it.”

The one of the left was flicking through the pages and smacking on gum as yellow as her hair, when she asked me a question that I couldn’t understand.

“I’m sorry.. I don’t speak Russian.” I worried. “English?”

Maybe I’d have to get one of the boys to help me.

Both women gawked up at me, then shared a look with each other before rolling their eyes. The woman on the right, who was previously examining her polished nails, clicked her tongue.

“Where is receipt?” She inquired. The smell of cigarette smoke was heavier than her accent.

“I don’t have the receipt, but um it still has the tags on it, and I have an event toni-“

“No receipt, No Return.” The blonde interjects. Her eyes roam up and down my body painfully slow, and her brow ticks up at the end. She’s clearly unimpressed with my attire.

“But I really need to get a different dress. The store’s label is on the tag.” I show her, but they aren’t interested in the dress or me for that matter.

“I’ve never seen you here before, I think you are in wrong place. Maybe you steal dress, and hope to scam for money.” She acuses me.

“What? No! It was a gift! I swear-!” As I’m defending myself they both begin to laugh, and share private words in Russian with one another.

My heart and mind are freshly raw from this morning, and then sharing intimate information with Andre, so watching these women pick me apart hits harder than I anticipated. Under the circumstances I find it difficult to fight back. I feel so..tired and broken, but worse than that I feel exposed. These women know I don’t belong here. They know I’m nothing, and though I’m usually well equipped to handle these types of situations..I just feel helpless.

Tears of anger and irritation dance behind my eyes, but I hold them in, causing a tight knot to form in my throat.

I spin on my heels and walk away.

“Miss Sophie?” Ivan calls as I hurry past them.

“We’re leaving. I’ll get a dress somewhere else.” I declare. “Let’s go.”

They both follow me quickly, and beat me to the doors before I can exit the store. I’ve had enough practice to be confident that the tears won’t fall until I allow them to, but my face is a clear tell. I’m pissed. My jaw is clenched shut, causing my teeth to ache, and I can imagine the fire burning in my gaze, as I demand, “Move.”

“What happened little one?” Andre leans down and searches my eyes for an answer.

“They.. they won’t help me.” I gritted out. “Said I was in the wrong place, and probably stole the dress for money- can we just go?!”

Andre’s eyes darkened as he stood straight up, and snatched the garment bag from my hands.

I watched in shock as he stomped up to the counter and hurled the bag at the two women effectively knocking everything off the counter top. Their attention was on Andre in seconds, but their faces went from disgusted to fearful.

Andre begins to yell, screaming at the top of his lungs at the women, and though I didn’t understand a single word, I knew what he was doing.

“Andre no!” I tried, but Ivan gripped me gently by the shoulder and shook his head softly.

“They have no one to blame but themselves, miss Sophie.” Ivan chuckles.

But I turned back to the scene and watched as Andre swiped every remaining trinket from the counter onto the floor, making the women shriek. He pointed to the back of the store and made clear demands. One of the girls scurried away and returned with a well dressed man in his 50’s, who profusely apologized to Andre.

However, that wasn’t good enough, Andre grabbed the man by his collar and spoke a little less loud, and a little more direct. I feared he was going to hurt the man, so I spun around and shamelessly hid myself in Ivan’s chest.

Before I could process what I’d done, how childishly I was behaving, or how uncomfortable I might have just made Ivan, I felt his strong arm reach around and secure me to his chest. My shoulders immediately relaxed, just a bit, and I was able to notice that I had been shaking.

Ivan delivered soothing pats to my back in an attempt to console me, until I felt his hand grip my arm and turn me back around.

“What? Why-?” I whined, but I realized soon enough.

Andre had dragged the poor old man to my feet and shouted once more.

“I a- am s- so so -sorry miss C-c - Collins. Please for- forgive my staff!!” The man begs. “We will find for you a su- s- suitable gown I swear!” He stands hesitantly and snaps orders at the two women in Russian before disappearing and returning with champagne for me.

I accept the glass, and down the alcohol in two gulps. If I didn’t absolutely need a new stupid dress for this stupid dinner, ball whatever, I would beg to go home this instant.

I tell the old man my size, and request a red colored gown. “I don’t care what else it looks like, only that the back is high and it won’t drag on the floor when I walk. I’m 5’4” just get me something quickly.”

The blonde worker approaches warily holding the champagne bottle out to me.

Part of me almost wanted to pity her for what she endured just now.

Almost.

A larger part of me rather enjoyed that she was struggling to look me in the eyes.

I know her intent was to refill it, but I snatch up the entire bottle from her and trade her for my flute glass.

She had the audacity to allow a hint of annoyance sneak into her expression to which I raised a very sharp eyebrow at.

Her mouth fell slightly open as if there were words on the tip of her tobacco stained tongue begging to be loosed, so I kept my stare, challenging her.

Her lips clamped shut and her chin fell down once more, and I couldn’t help but smirk triumphantly.

I quickly found that Ivan and Andre had also witnessed our little encounter, and it seemed that they were..proud of me?

That thought alone sent prideful flutters through my stomach and heart.

Which I then scolded myself for. Just because I have mommy and daddy issues doesn’t mean I need to be so god damn obvious about it.

Within an hour I was presented with three options that fit the description I’d given the old man, and I was immediately drawn to one of them.

“Does this one come in black?” I asked him, as my fingers grazed the fabric.

“Y-yes Miss C-Collins. Just a m-moment.” He stuttered, and walked away.

He returned with the same gown but in the shade ‘onyx’ and my eyes lit up with excitement.

“We’ll take that one.” Ivan says.

The old man packages the new gown with great care before handing the box to Andre.

A great big smile is plastered on my face while I can’t stop thinking about the beautiful dress I get to take home. The pain I felt a short while ago is long gone, replaced by genuine glee and anticipation. I’m sure the champagne I was served was a culprit to my good mood, as well as the ice cold vengeance I was allowed.

My bottom lip is between my teeth as I skip up to Andre. “Thank you.” I squeal, staring at the box in his hands.

“This is how you should be leaving stores, always.” He tells me.

I roll my eyes because we both know that this type of thing isn’t going to happen for me forever.

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” I joke.

“He is right, Miss Sophia.” Ivan adds. “If you are to be the boss’s fiancé, you cannot run from disrespect. It shows weakness.”

My smile falls, and I suddenly feel like a scolded child, but I know that they’re right. I signed up to play a role that has no breaks. This con isn’t just to fool their boss’s family. If I want to be convincing I need to be ready to fool everyone at all times. Including store clerks.

“I know. I don’t usually fold like that..I don’t know what happened, but I’ll do better.” I promise them.

“You did well with the blonde.” Andre huffs, referring to my little stare down with her.

Another stupid smile creeps up at the praise that I’ve been given.

As we reached the car I wondered aloud, “I was going to get a red dress to hopefully ease Morozov’s disappointment that I’d not be wearing the one he chose for me. But when I saw this one in black..”

Ivan huffs a short laugh and Andre shakes his head.

“Little one, no one could be disappointed seeing you in this dress.”

My cheeks blush hot at the comment, and for some reason..I believed him.