Elera's POV
The manager swallowed hard, her eyes darting nervously between me and Leona. She straightened up, suddenly unsure of how to proceed. "I... I didn't realize," she stammered. "Please, let me see what I can do."
Leona, oblivious to the exchange, continued to glare at me. "What did you say to her?" she demanded, suspicion in her voice.
I smiled, a cold, confident smile. "Nothing you need to worry about, Leona."
Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might recognize me. But the dark shades I wore kept my identity safe. She huffed in frustration, turning back to the manager. "Well? Are you going to sell me the dress or not?"
The manager hesitated, clearly torn. She turned to the salesgirl. "Please, bring the dress to this lady," she said, pointing at me. "Right away."
Leona's face twisted in fury. "What? How dare you! I offered more money!"
The manager's voice shook slightly. "I apologize, Miss Blake, but this dress is now sold."
Leona's eyes flashed with anger as she stepped closer to me. "You think you've won, don't you?" she spat. "This isn't over."
I leaned in, dropping my voice to a whisper. "Oh, it's only just begun."
The cashier's hands trembled as she swiped my card, the amount flashing on the screen: $3 million. The manager stood by, wringing her hands and mumbling apologies. I watched with satisfaction as Leona's face turned a shade of crimson, fury etched in every line.
"Thank you," I said coolly, retrieving my card and the receipt. I turned to leave, the manager still stammering behind me, trying to salvage her dignity.
Outside, I felt the warm breeze as I walked to my car, a sleek black vehicle that blended elegance and power. I was nearly at the door when I noticed Leona storming out of the boutique, her guards trailing behind like obedient hounds. She didn't even wait for me to get in the car. With a swift gesture, she signaled her guards, and I saw them approaching my car with malicious intent. I watched in disbelief as they slashed my tires, the air hissing out in angry defiance.
Fury erupted inside me. I got out of the car, my voice sharp. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Leona's smirk was venomous. "You see, I told you it wasn't over. You can't just humiliate me and get scot-free."
Her guards weren't done. One of them picked up a heavy object and smashed it against my car window, shattering the glass into a million pieces. The security personnel nearby seemed paralyzed with fear, their eyes darting nervously.
I clenched my fists, my patience at its limit. "You will pay for this," I said through gritted teeth.
Leona laughed, a cruel sound that echoed in the parking lot. "In your dreams," she sneered. She took a plastic cup of coffee from one of her guards, walked up to me, and with a flick of her wrist, emptied the remains over me.
"Go deal with that," she said, her laughter ringing in my ears as she walked away.
I stood there, drenched in coffee, the remnants of my car scattered around me. This wasn't just about a dress or a car. Leona had crossed a line.
My blood boiled as I approached Leona, my fists clenched. Her bodyguards, massive and menacing, immediately formed a protective wall around her. Leona sneered at me from behind their bulk.
"Looks like you haven't learned your lesson," she spat. "Deal with her."
The guards lunged at me, but I was ready. I dodged the first swing and slipped off my shades, my eyes locked on my targets. The fight was on.
The first guard swung a heavy fist towards my face. I ducked and landed a sharp punch to his gut, making him double over. Another tried to grab me from behind, but I twisted free and delivered a swift kick to his knee, sending him to the ground with a howl of pain.
Despite their size and strength, they were no match for my training. I moved swiftly, my body a blur of calculated strikes and evasions. One by one, the guards fell, clutching at twisted limbs and groaning in pain.
Within seconds, the fight was over. They lay sprawled on the ground, their faces contorted in agony. I spat on the ground beside them, my voice cold. "Never raise your hands to a woman again."
A small crowd had gathered, their faces a mix of shock and awe. Leona, for the first time, looked genuinely frightened. Her eyes darted wildly, filled with a recognition and fear that she couldn't quite place.
I smirked and sauntered toward her, my steps deliberate and slow. Her eyes widened as I drew closer.
"Have we met before?" she stammered, her voice trembling.
"We just did," I said, a wicked smile playing on my lips. I raised my hand and delivered a backhanded slap across her face. The sound echoed through the parking lot.
Leona whimpered and tried to flee, but I was relentless. Each slap landed with precision, my rage fueling every strike. This was for the betrayal, for the humiliation, for taking Williams away from me.
She stumbled, and I caught her again, my hand striking her cheek with satisfying force. She cried out, tears streaming down her face, but I didn't stop.
Finally, she dropped to the ground, her body curled in on itself. She covered her face with her hands, sobbing and cursing me. The guards, too, lay helpless nearby, moaning in pain.
I stood over her, breathing heavily, the crowd around us frozen in stunned silence.
"Remember this," I said, my voice low and deadly. "This is just the beginning."
Leona's face was a mess of tears and bruises. With one swift motion, I snatched her phone from her trembling hands. She gasped, but I ignored her, quickly dialing my number into her contacts.
"You'll need this," I said, shoving the phone back into her grip. "Call me when you've fixed my car."
Her eyes blazed with fury, but she was too stunned to respond. I motioned to her bodyguards, who were still writhing on the ground. Once I had the keys clutched in his hand, I bent down and yanked them from his grasp, glaring at him with contempt.
Without another word, I walked to Leona's luxurious car. The engine roared to life as I turned the key, and I glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing Leona struggling to stand.
"You bitch!" she screamed, her voice raw with anger. "I'll make sure you regret this. You can't mess with me and go scot-free. You'll regret ever laying your hands on me!"
I smirked, revving the engine for effect before peeling out of the parking lot. Her furious shouts faded into the distance as I sped away, feeling a rush of satisfaction.
Driving Leona's car felt like justice. Every mile I put between us was a victory. I had made my statement and now the ball was in her court. She thought she could push me around because of her bodyguards and supposed power. She had no idea who she was dealing with.