Chapter 465
“Isn’t she just Caitlin?”
Piper knew who Caitlin was–Sebastian’s ex–wife—but so what? Why was Mike looking so shaken?
“Are you out of your mind? Do you know she’s from VERA headquarters?”
Mike was well aware of Caitlin’s identity. He had seen her during internal meetings. She wasn’t just a designer she was the founder of VERS
“From headquarters? What, she’s HR or something?” Piper finally began to sense something was off. Was Caitlin someone high up in H2, and that’s w
she dared to fire her?
“Not just HR. The entire VERA brand belongs to her! She’s the owner!”
Mike rushed forward with a deep bow. “Caitlin, I sincerely apologize. It’s our failure in oversight.”
“It certainly is,” Caitlin said coolly, though the aura she projected was enough to send chills through the room. “Your recommendation brought in store employees with such poor conduct. Are you trying to destroy my brand’s reputation?”
Piper’s mind went blank. She turned to look at Caitlin and saw Mike and the other executives bowing in respect.
She was the owner?
Impossible. How?
An icy jolt ran up Piper’s spine. Her legs went weak.
Toni was just as stunned. Neither of them had ever imagined the VERA boss would be this young, elegant woman. They had assumed the owner was some foreigner.
Ulyana stood in awe, not just shocked but overwhelmed with admiration. Caitlin had built a globally recognized brand and owned her own corporation. She was everything women dreamed of becoming.
Mike cleared his throat. “Caitlin, how would you like us to proceed?”
Caitlin looked directly at Piper. “Fire her. She’s unfit to be the store manager.”
Without hesitation, Mike turned to Piper. “You’re no longer the manager of this store. Pack your things and report to HR for termination.”
Piper’s face turned deathly pale. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground.
Caitlin’s eyes landed on Toni next. “Fire her too.”
“Of course!”
Mike waved Toni off like a fly. Toni broke into tears and dropped to her knees in front of Caitlin. “Please! Caitlin, I beg you, just give me one more chancel I’ll do better! Please!”
Piper followed suit, sobbing and crawling over to plead. “Caitlin, I was wrong. Please forgive me. I’ll change–I swear! I’ll treat every customer the same from now on. Please don’t fire me!”
“People don’t change so easily. It’s not about second chances. It’s that I can’t trust you anymore.”
Caitlin’s voice was cold and resolute. “You two are out. I’ll have two trained staff sent from HQ. As for the store manager role–Ulyana will take over.”
“What?” Ulyana gasped, unable to believe what she’d just heard. She had just started here, and now she was being promoted to manager?
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Paper and Toni were equally shocked. They hadn’t expected Caitlin to hand the position to a newble
“Caitlin, you can’t make her store manager) She hasn’t even passed her probation period!” Toni protestad
“Ulyana may be new,” Caitlin replied calmly, “but she has proven herself through her actions. She treats every customer with respect with a smile, and upholds our brand’s values. When my friend was being accused of theft, she was the only one who stood up for the brigh, that’s integrity. That’s what you both lack. That’s why I chose her.”
Her words left Piper and Toni speechless. Ulyana, on the other hand, was moved to tears.
Coming from a humble background, always being ignored at work, this recognition meant everything to be praised and promoted by Caitlin herself fele like a dream.
Mike clapped first. “Congratulations, Ulyana You’re the new store manager. You’d better thank Caitlin!”
“Thank you, Caitlin! Thank you so much!” Ulyana said tearfully. The promotion meant more than just status–it meant a better salary, and she had a family to support. Caitlin had just changed her life.
Mike barked out, “Piper, Toni, what are you waiting for?”
The two were left with no choice but to pack up and leave in disgrace.
For Piper, the blow was devastating, Her dreams of being promoted to district manager were shattered.
As they walked out of VERA, fuming, Piper muttered, “It must’ve been Ulyana. She probably ratted us out to HQ to get that promotion!”
Toni added, “We should expose them. Post everything online. Let the public tear them apart. If we’re going down, they’re coming with us!”
But Piper had more sense. “Are you insane? If this goes public, we’ll be the ones humiliated. Don’t forget–she has those recordings of us talking trash.
Toni hesitated. As much as they hated it, they couldn’t risk getting exposed. Caitlin had them dead to rights.
Back inside, Ulyana changed into her manager’s uniform. Two new staff members arrived from HQ to stabilize operations, and everything quickly returned to order.
Mike and the executives took their leave. Caitlin stayed behind to help guide the staff in reorganizing the store displays.
Customers began trickling back in. Everything was falling into place.
Just as Caitlin received a message from Sebastian and was about to leave, Jillian and Reese walked back into the store.
Ulyana and the others greeted them warmly, but Reese marched straight to the counter and slammed her shopping bag down with a loud thud.
The sound made several customers glance over.
Reese scowled. “What the hell are you people selling?”
Caitlin turned her gaze toward the counter. Ulyana quickly stepped forward. “Miss Nguyen, is something wrong?”
“See for yourself.” Reese crossed her arms, face full of disdain.
Jillian stepped in to explain, “My friend just bought this dress for $100,000 from your store earlier. But now it’s got issues.”
“What kind of issues?”
“The quality is crap!” Reese snapped. “I barely wore it and look–completely ruined! I want a refund!”
Ulyana pulled out the dress and examined it. “Miss Nguyen, this appears to be torn by force. The damage looks intentional–it doesn’t reflect a quality issue.”
Chapter 465
“What do you mean it’s not quality related? Look at this garbage you’re selling! You pass this off as high end? fou think this is Grassy
Reese glared. “If you don’t give me a refund, I’ll post this all over the internet and get your store shut down!
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