Chapter 26: The Price of Luxury
Quinn felt the cool fall air on his skin as he stepped out of his apartment, the city streets buzzing with the usual chaos of New York. Today, he had set out with a mission—buy a new car. The visit to his parents had reminded him of how convenient it was to have a vehicle of his own. He didn't want to rely on taxis or public transportation anymore.
Lisa walked beside him, chatting casually about their plans for the day. Quinn, on the other hand, was already picturing himself behind the wheel of a powerful machine. He had his eyes set on something luxurious, something that matched the level of success he'd achieved. As they approached the luxury car dealership, he knew exactly what he wanted.
Stepping into the glass-walled showroom, Quinn's eyes immediately fell on a sleek black Mercedes-Benz G-Class parked near the entrance. But this wasn't just any G-Class. It was a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon Brabus. The vehicle stood out with its custom bodywork, enhanced engine, and powerful presence. It was a beast of a machine, and the moment Quinn saw it, he knew this was the one.
"That's it," he muttered to himself, his eyes locked on the car as he strode toward it.
Lisa followed his gaze and smiled. "So, you've made up your mind?"
Quinn nodded. "Definitely. This is the one."
They entered the dealership, and a young saleswoman named Cammy approached them. She appeared to be in her mid-20s, with a warm smile and nervous energy that suggested she was new at the job.
"Good afternoon!" Cammy greeted them brightly. "How can I help you today?"
Quinn didn't waste any time. "I want to buy that Mercedes G-Wagon Brabus."
Cammy blinked in surprise, but her smile stayed fixed. "Of course! Right this way, sir. I'll show you one of our G-Class models."
She led them across the showroom to a standard G-Wagon model. It was impressive, but it didn't have the Brabus customizations Quinn wanted. Quinn frowned, glancing at Lisa, who gave him a small shrug.
"This isn't what I'm looking for," Quinn said flatly. "I want the same model as the Brabus I saw outside. Can you show me that?"
Cammy hesitated, clearly flustered. "Oh, um… I don't think we have another model exactly like that one in stock."
Quinn's frown deepened. "Are you sure? I want that exact one, and if it's not available, I'm willing to pay extra to have it shipped here."
Cammy's face turned pale as she processed his words. Her hands twisted nervously in front of her, and she suddenly looked like she was about to panic. "I—I'm really sorry, sir! I didn't mean to—please don't complain to the manager! I'm still new, and I promise I'll do better!"
Quinn blinked, stunned by her reaction. He hadn't even raised his voice, but now Cammy seemed terrified that he was about to get her in trouble.
Lisa chuckled softly and leaned in to whisper to him, "I think she misunderstood you. She probably thinks you're going to complain about her to the manager."
Realization dawned on Quinn, and he sighed. "Look, I'm not going to complain," he said, speaking a bit more gently. "I just want the car, and if it's not here, I'll pay to have one shipped in. That's all."
Cammy's face flushed red with embarrassment as she realized her mistake. "Oh… oh, I'm so sorry! I misunderstood. Let me call the manager right away!"
Her voice was shaky as she fumbled with her phone to contact the store manager. Meanwhile, Quinn crossed his arms, looking slightly annoyed but also a bit amused at how the situation had spiraled.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, a tall, middle-aged man in his late thirties emerged from the back office. His suit was sharp, and he carried the air of someone used to dealing with wealthy clients. His expression was polite but curious as he approached Quinn and Lisa.
"Good afternoon. I'm Mr. Jordan, the manager here. My associate mentioned you were looking for assistance," he said, extending a hand.
Quinn shook his hand firmly. "Yeah. I'm interested in the G-Wagon Brabus you have outside, but it seems there's some confusion about whether you can get another one. I'm willing to pay extra to have the same model shipped in if it's not available in stock."
Mr. Jordan nodded thoughtfully, glancing at Cammy before turning back to Quinn. "Ah, I see. Let me clarify something for you. The G-Wagon Brabus you saw is not a regular model we can just order from Mercedes. Brabus is a custom-tuning company based in Germany that takes standard Mercedes-Benz vehicles and modifies them. They design the enhancements and performance upgrades specifically for each model. We can help arrange for a customization order through Brabus, but it's not something we keep in stock."
Quinn stood there for a moment, processing the information. Then, the realization hit him, and his cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. He had been asking for something as if it was a regular car model, not realizing Brabus was an entirely separate customization company.
Lisa, standing beside him, stifled a laugh as she noticed his reaction. "So, you're telling me I can't just pick one up here today?" Quinn asked, trying to keep his tone even despite feeling a little foolish.
Mr. Jordan smiled politely. "Unfortunately, no. It's a more involved process, but we can certainly arrange it for you if you're serious about the purchase. It might take some time, though."
Quinn shook his head and chuckled softly at his own misunderstanding. "Alright, I get it now. Thanks for explaining." He turned to Lisa with a sheepish grin. "Guess I'm not as much of a car guy as I thought."
Lisa smiled and squeezed his arm. "It's okay, we all make mistakes."
Cammy, who had been watching the exchange in nervous silence, finally spoke up again, her voice apologetic. "I'm really sorry for the confusion, sir. I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," Quinn said, cutting her off gently. "You don't have to apologize. Just a misunderstanding."
Her face, still flushed, relaxed a little as she smiled gratefully. "Thank you for understanding."
Mr. Jordan, sensing that the situation had been resolved, offered a reassuring smile. "So, would you like us to start the process of ordering the Brabus for you? Or would you prefer to look at some of our other models?"
Quinn thought for a moment, then nodded. "Let's go ahead with the Brabus. It's what I want."
"Very well," Mr. Jordan said. "We'll get the paperwork started, and I'll keep you updated on the timeline for the customization. It may take a few weeks, but we'll make sure everything is exactly to your specifications."
Quinn and Lisa both nodded in agreement, and with that, Mr. Jordan left to begin the process. Cammy, still looking a bit embarrassed but relieved that things had gone smoothly, thanked them again before showing them out.
As they left the dealership, Quinn glanced at Lisa with a grin. "Well, that was more complicated than I expected."
Lisa laughed softly. "At least you didn't buy something impulsively. You'll get exactly what you want."
Quinn smirked. "True. And next time, I'll make sure I actually know what I'm talking about before I start throwing money around."
Lisa nodded, teasing him, "Good idea."
With that, they walked back into the busy New York streets, the promise of a new car on the horizon and the start of another chapter in Quinn's fast-paced life. The Brabus would be his soon, and once it arrived, it would mark another step in his journey of success.