Chapter 36

It took a minute or so before a young woman approached her. She looked younger than the other associates in the shop. "I'll be your sales associate for this evening. Is there anything in particular you are looking for?"

Kiera nodded at her in acknowledgement, "I would like to see some of your ruby sets."

"Our rubies are this way," she led Kiera deeper into the store, at another side were glass cases full of various necklaces, bracelets and earrings all with rubies of various shapes and sizes.

"Do you have a particular carat or cut you have in mind?"

"I would like something more delicate, but with good brightness."

"You wanted a set, is that correct?"

"If there is one, but I'm not opposed to matching it to something with a similar theme."

The associate led her to another end of the glass cases and proceeded to show her several choices. A necklace immediately caught Kiera's eye. 

The associate immediately presented it, "This is a new piece from one of our new designers called The Fantasy Ruby. The main stone 0.6 carats with a circular cut, surrounded by 7 other 0.5 carats princess-cut rubies. All of them are pigeon red with minimal secondary hues. As you can see all the rubies are of the same hue which is a rarity for a cluster. The white diamonds in between the surrounding rubies are 0.08 carats with a round cut."

Kiera immediately nodded her head. The design was whimsical and delicate at the same time and it would fit Veronica's desire for unique things.

"Unfortunately, this one doesn't come into a set."

"I'm fine with that. Maybe earrings and a bracelet of a simpler design but with the same color and cut as this one."

For a moment the sales associate could only blink at Kiera.

-----

Anne, was the youngest sales associate in the store and she usually had to deal with the least wanted customers who walked into the shop.

When no one moved to assist the young lady in the outdated black dress, she had stepped in not really expecting to make even a small commission.

But here was the lady, casually asking her for earrings and bracelet with pigeon red rubies and in circular cut. All the characteristics that make rubies more expensive. 

Even the necklace was already in tens of thousands despite the smaller carats of the stones. 

"We have several earrings here with the same cut and the same color but there are of more understated designs."

She showed the various designs that met the customers criteria.

This time around it took a bit longer for her to choose. Especially considering the need to match it to the necklace.

Just the fact that this customer didn't flinch when she mentioned the prices as she presented the jewelry made her giddy with excitement. Today would be a good day for her! The commission for this sale would be good enough to pay several months of rent.

"Would there be anything else you are interested in?" Anne asked as she carefully boxed the various jewelry.

"Can you show me to your diamond studs?" 

Anne had to fight the glee from showing on her face. Even the smallest diamond studs in the store would warrant a very good commission. Another several months of rent paid! "Kindly follow me." 

As they got to the diamond cases it was evident that some sort of conflict between customers was ongoing.

"How could some rookie like you able to afford real diamonds? Obviously, you've probably made some sponsors terribly happy."

Before anyone could react, the other woman had slapped the speaker. The sound of the slap seemed to freeze everyone in place. The speaker snapped out of her shock and took hold of the slappers long blond hair and yanked it.

From there an all-out cat fight ensued.

Several associates jumped into action. Some jumping forward to ensure the glass cases were safe and others trying to pull the two customers apart. Anne moved to help but the customer she was helping stopped her with a shake of her head.

"You would not want to be in the middle of that."

Security took several seconds to pull the two women apart. One of them had scratch marks all over her face another had a swollen cheek. Both of them looked like a mess.

The associates who held them back also seemed as ruffled.

Despite being pulled apart both women were still swearing at the other and doing their best to break from the security's hold.

"You bitch! You're not the only one in the world who can buy jewelry!"

"You slut! The diamonds would cry if someone likes you will wear them!"

Other people were looking at the fight in shock and a generous amount of amusement. 

Anne watched on with worry. The two women were in the middle of the way and they needed to pass them to get to the diamond jewelry her customer was interested in. She did not want several months of rent go down the drain.

Anne steeled herself to move between the women while they were pulled apart but before she can move forward her customer calmly walked before her and Anne trotted close to her. Prepared to bodily block any of the women in case they get loose from the security.

"We're just passing through. Excuse us for a bit." Her customer walked in between the two fighting women.

This seemed to shock them both as they stopped screaming for a moment.

Her customer smiled at the two women and said, "Thank you for letting us pass. Go on ahead with your business." 

That brief pause enabled security to get a better grip on both women and they marched them off out of the store. Several other security personnel went around to other customers and tried to persuade them to delete any footage they might have taken. 

Anne was still in a daze as to what happened when her customer tapped her shoulder, "Which ones do you suggest for everyday wear? Something for someone in their mid-twenties."

Anne shook her head to clear her thoughts. It wasn't time to think about unnecessary things; she needs to focus to completing another sale for the sake of several more months of rent.