The mention of the scandal sent a ripple through the store. A few nearby customers paused, pretending to examine handbags but clearly eavesdropping. The sales attendants glanced at each other nervously, unsure whether to intervene.
Olaedo's jaw tightened, but she kept her voice steady. "You're still stuck in the past, Lydia. Maybe you should focus on your own life instead of mine."
Lydia laughed a high, grating sound that echoed through the store. "Oh, I'm very focused on my life, thank you very much. Married to a billionaire whose company isn't going through financially troubles like yours, living in a mansion, wearing the finest things money can buy."
She waved the shoe in the air. "This? Just another piece for my collection. You, on the other hand…" Her eyes flicked to Olaedo's hand, noting the absence of a ring. "Still alone, I see. Or did you scare off another man?"
The murmurs among the bystanders grew louder.
"Isn't that Lydia Osakwe? She's married to that oil tycoon, right?"
"And that's Anozie Olaedo… wasn't there a big scandal with her a few months back?"
"Poor thing. Lydia's really giving it to her."
Olaedo felt the weight of the stares, the whispers, but she refused to look away. "You sound very proud of yourself, Lydia. Is your entire personality based on who you married?"
Lydia's smile faltered for a split second before she recovered. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, darling."
One of the sales attendants approached nervously, her eyes darting between the two women. "Um, excuse me, ma'am," she said, addressing Lydia. "Should I ring these up for you?"
"Absolutely," Lydia said, shoving the shoes into the attendant's hands. She shot Olaedo a triumphant look. "Better luck next time."
The attendant hesitated, glancing at Olaedo, who still stood with quiet composure. Before she could say anything, the store manager appeared, his demeanor calm but authoritative. He approached the group, nodding politely at both women.
"Ladies, I understand there's some confusion here," he said. His eyes flicked to Adanna, who stood there, watching the scene with narrowed eyes. Recognizing her immediately, the manager straightened. "Miss Olaedo selected the shoes first. As per store policy, they are hers."
"What?" Lydia's voice rose, shrill and indignant. "Do you know who I am? I could buy this entire store if I wanted to!"
"And yet, you can't buy these shoes," Olaedo said quietly, her tone cutting.
The crowd gasped.
Lydia's face turned red, but before she could retort, a deep voice cut through the tension.
"Lydia, what's going on here?"
All heads turned as a tall, broad-shouldered man entered the store. Dressed in an expensive tailored suit, he exuded wealth and power. His handsome face broke into a charming smile as he approached Lydia.
"Darling, is everything okay?" he asked, placing a hand on her waist.
Olaedo felt her stomach churn. 'This must be Lydia's husband.'
"Of course, love," Lydia purred, her demeanor softening immediately. "Just a little misunderstanding. Nothing I can't handle."
But her husband wasn't paying attention. His eyes had landed on Olaedo, and for a moment, he seemed mesmerized.
"And who might this be?" he asked, his voice smooth.
"This," Lydia spat, "is Olaedo. An old… acquaintance."
Her husband extended a hand, his smile oozing charm. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Olaedo. I'm Kenneth Osakwe."
Olaedo hesitated before shaking his hand, his lingering gaze making her uncomfortable.
"Charmed, I'm sure," she said flatly.
Lydia noticed her husband's interest and bristled. "Kenneth, we were just leaving."
Kenneth ignored her. "Are you shopping for an event, Miss Olaedo? I would be happy to recommend some designers. My wife and I know all the best ones."
Olaedo gave him a tight smile. "I'm sure you do."
Lydia stepped in front of her husband, blocking his view. "Kenneth, let's go."
But before they could leave, Adanna spoke up, her voice ringing with authority. "Actually, Lydia, I would like a word with you."
Lydia turned, her expression smug. "And who are you?"
Adanna's lips curved into a cold smile. "I'm Arinze Adanna. And you're standing in my way."
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder. The Arinze name carried weight.
Lydia's smug expression froze, and her lips parted slightly as the weight of the name Adanna Arinze hit her like a truck. The Osakwes had riches, but the Arinze name carried not just riches but aristocratic power, especially among the elite circles Lydia desperately wanted to dominate.
"Arinze?" Lydia's voice faltered, her confidence flickering before she forced a brittle smile. "Ah, I've heard of your family. It's… quite prestigious."
Adanna's smile didn't waver, but her eyes gleamed with a dangerous edge. "I'm sure you have. But I would suggest you focus less on my family's prestige and more on how you're embarrassing yourself here."
A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. Some giggled behind their hands, enjoying the turn of events.
"Embarrassing myself?" Lydia snapped, trying to regain her composure. "Please, don't make me laugh. I was merely trying to claim what's rightfully mine."
Adanna crossed her arms and tilted her head, her voice laced with mock curiosity. "Rightfully yours? I thought you said you could have anything you wanted. And yet, here you are, fighting over shoes you clearly didn't choose first."
Kenneth chuckled, his hand sliding from Lydia's waist as he turned to Adanna with interest. "You have quite the sharp tongue, Miss Arinze."
Olaedo stiffened, recognizing the predatory look in Kenneth's eyes. She took a small step forward, positioning herself protectively between Kenneth and Adanna.
"Kenneth," Lydia hissed, her frustration evident. "Stop encouraging this nonsense. Let's go."
Kenneth ignored her, his eyes still on Adanna. "Are you shopping for the family ball, Miss Arinze? I hear it's going to be the event of the year. My wife and I would love an invitation."
Adanna's lips curved into a sly smile. "You? At the Arinze family ball?" She let out a soft, disbelieving laugh. "I'm afraid that's not possible. We're quite selective about our guest list."
The crowd erupted into whispers again, and Lydia's face turned redder by the second.
"You—" Lydia began, but Adanna cut her off.
"And as for these shoes," Adanna continued, addressing the manager without looking away from Lydia, "please ensure they're reserved for Olaedo. After all, we can't let an incident like this ruin our shopping experience, can we?"
The manager nodded quickly. "Of course, Miss Arinze. Right away."
"Excuse me?!" Lydia's voice was shrill now. "I'm a paying customer! I demand those shoes!"
The manager hesitated, glancing nervously at both women. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but… Miss Olaedo did select them first."
"This is ridiculous!" Lydia exploded. "Do you think I can't afford them? Do you know who I am?!"
A bystander near the back snorted. "We all know who you are, Lydia. And we know you're losing this one."
The crowd chuckled, and Lydia spun around, glaring daggers at the offending onlooker. But the damage was done. Her carefully curated image was cracking in front of everyone.
Kenneth finally spoke up, his tone casual but firm. "Lydia, that's enough. Let's not make a bigger scene than we already have."
His words should have been comforting, but the way his gaze lingered on Olaedo made Lydia's blood boil.
"Of course," Lydia said through gritted teeth, trying to salvage what little dignity she had left. "This was a waste of time anyway. Let's go."
But as she turned to leave, Kenneth paused, looking back at Olaedo one last time. "It was nice meeting you, Miss Olaedo. I hope to see you again."
Olaedo didn't respond, but her glare said enough. Lydia grabbed Kenneth's arm and dragged him out of the store, her anger palpable.
As the couple disappeared, the tension in the room dissolved, replaced by a mix of relief and excitement.
"Well, that was something," Nnenna said, breaking the silence.
"You handled that beautifully," Adanna added, giving Olaedo an approving nod.
Olaedo let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I just… I didn't expect to see her here. Or her husband."
Adanna frowned slightly, her sharp mind already analyzing the situation. "Her husband's interest in you wasn't subtle. Be careful, Olaedo. Men like him are dangerous."
"I know," Olaedo said quietly. "But I'm not the same girl I used to be. I can handle myself."
The manager returned, holding the shoes in a pristine box. "These are yours, Miss Olaedo. On behalf of the store, I apologize for the inconvenience."
"Thank you," Olaedo said with a polite smile, taking the box.
As they left the store, the whispers followed them, but this time, they were filled with admiration.
"Did you see how she put Lydia in her place?"
"That Miss Arinze is no joke. I wouldn't want to cross her."
"And Olaedo… she's not as weak as they say. Her scandal clearly couldn't bring her down. What a woman!"
Olaedo straightened her shoulders, her confidence renewed. She had faced her past, and she had won. But as they stepped into the bustling mall, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of her story with Lydia or Kenneth.