CHAPTER- 8 - HOW DARE YOU

"Cia?" a familiar voice called out.

I whirled around, startled. "Ma'am? What are you doing here?"

"Finished my work early and was about to head back but saw you here and…," Ma'am replied, her voice calm and composed as always. But then she saw me - my eyes with tears at the edge and the slumped posture. Her eyes, which had been warm a moment ago, darkened like a storm cloud gathering.

"Tell me WHAT happened here?" she demanded, her tone laced with a newfound seriousness.

"That", I hesitated

Ma'am's gaze drifted towards the salesgirl. and with an icy cold tone, she asked, "You...What did you tell her?"

The salesgirl, who had been discreetly checking Ma'am out from head to toe and I am sure she believes Ma'am is like me and not a wealthy person.

Ma'am doesn't like to show off, today she was wearing a sky blue shirt, navy blue pants, and a blazer – a typical outfit for Ma'am, but I am sure that, they were expensive since all of them are custom-made by a well-named boutique which is her own personal shop for clothes.

The salesgirl scoffed, her voice laced with a hint of condescension, "Nothing, I just told her that she should go downtown since this place is not something she can afford",

Listening to the salesgirl, Ma'am didn't raise her voice. Instead, she simply reached out and cupped my face, her touch gentle despite the storm brewing in her eyes. "Don't waste your tears on someone like this, okay?" she murmured, her voice a soothing balm.

Then, with a swift movement, Ma'am released me and turned back to the salesgirl.

Her voice was cold as ice, her eyes were dark, and her face had no emotions on it. A cold demeanor that sent a chill down my spine. She never shows this side of her unless she is really angry and pissed off!

"What's your name?" she asked, her voice devoid of any pleasantries.

"What? Why should I tell you?", said the salesgirl with an unwavering attitude.

"Then, Can I get your boss's number?" Ma'am continued, each word laced with a subtle threat.

"Why?"

Ma'am's lips twitched into a humorless smile. "I just want it that's why," she replied, her eyes glinting with something dangerous.

The salesgirl crossed her arms and said in a firm voice, "No, why should I share information with a stranger whom I don't know."

"Oho…so you have a little punch of courtesy huh", said Ma'am with a smile that showed that she was enjoying her hunt.

The salesgirl felt offended and screamed, "WHAT??"

"So, you won't give me your boss's number?", Ma'am continued

"NO," said the salesgirl with a hint of anger in her voice.

"Mmm..then.." She pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"Hello? Aki, can you get me the number of xxx design shops located on the street xxx in Bali now?"

....

"Hmm..hmm…"

....

"Okay got it..thanks"

Ma'am hung up her phone. The conversation was brief.

"Cia, wait here for a moment," Ma'am instructed, her voice back to its usual calm, but with an undercurrent of suppressed anger.

My mind raced. What was she planning?

Ma'am walked out of the store and I stole a glance at the salesgirl, who now seemed genuinely apprehensive. The smugness was gone, replaced by a nervous fidgeting.

I wonder what Ma'am is talking about over the call now...I hope she is not doing what I am thinking!

A few minutes later, Ma'am reappeared, her face a mask of icy resolve. "So, Miss No Name" Ma'am began, her voice cold and controlled, "Pack your bags. You're fired."

"What?? haa..don't joke, Why should I listen to you?", she sputtered, a flicker of defiance reigniting.

"Oh, but I can, darling," Ma'am countered, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "This store," she gestured around us, "belongs to me and I don't need you."

"What the hell are you talki..." Before the salesgirl could finish her line, her phone buzzed from her pocket.

[buzz...buzz]

"You should pick that call up, I am sure it's your ex-boss",

"Hello?... What?? Boss?? Waitt..", The salesgirl's face drained of color as she answered the call - her ex-boss, no doubt, informing her of her swift dismissal.

"So, Did I make myself clear?" Ma'am asked, her gaze unwavering.

"No, wait..I am sorry…please don't do this to me…" The salesgirl, on the verge of tears, stammered apologies.

But Ma'am cut her off, her voice laced with a chilling finality.

"HOW DARE YOU?" she hissed her words like ice shards. "You made my Cia look like a fool and made her cry, And hope that I would forgive you? Some sweet dream you got there."

"No..I didn't know that she..", the salesgirl who was now terrified and trembling, could only whimper under the weight of Ma'am's icy scorn.

"So what? You low-life judge people according to the way they dress and all. So much for customer service," Ma'am's voice dripped with disdain. "That's a fine trick for a carnival, not a high-end store."

"That…", The salesgirl stammered.

"Your job," Ma'am continued, her voice hardening, "is to assist every customer who walks through these doors. Instead, you played this pathetic game, sizing up a potential client based on their clothes. Did you ever stop to consider they might work hard for their money, even if they don't wear designer labels? Or perhaps you think you can behave like this since you work on such a high-end carnival."

Silence hung heavy in the air, thick with tension. The salesgirl stood frozen, her face a mixture of guilt and defiance.

"Then why do you behave like this? Learn from this and leave now. And you two at the back, are also fired", Ma'am declared.

"What?? But we…", the other girls try to protest just to be cut off by Ma'am.

"You, who sit back and enjoy the show instead of stopping her?? Did you think silence would make you invisible?", she glared at the sales girl with her sharp dark eyes.

Shamefaced, the other salesgirls lowered their heads, unable to meet Ma'am's eyes.

"Salary would be credited to all of your accounts by the number of days you worked this month, which is of course today," Ma'am announced, her voice regaining its usual business-like quality.

The air crackled with unspoken authority. This wasn't just a dismissal, it was a lesson.

Ma'am's demeanor shifted dramatically. The icy chill in her eyes vanished, replaced by a warmth that sent a comforting tingle down my spine. "Cia?" she asked, her voice gentle.

"Yes, Ma'am?" I replied

"Which dress were you looking at?" she inquired.

I pointed toward the one that caught my eye. "That one," I mumbled.

Ma'am turned to the now-cowed salesgirl. "Bring that here," she ordered, her voice firm but not harsh. Then, a softer note crept into her tone as she addressed me, "Is it for you?"

"No, actually," I confessed. "I was looking for my sister."

Ma'am smiled. "It's a beautiful dress. I'm sure she'll love it."

"Yes," I agreed, a genuine smile returning to my face.

Ma'am gestured to the salesgirl. "Pack it up."

Later, as we walked back to the resort, I couldn't help but ask, "Ma'am, why did you do that? I could have easily found the dress elsewhere."

Ma'am stopped walking, her gaze turning serious. "No, Cia, what they did was unacceptable. No customer deserves to be treated with such disrespect."

"But…" I started to protest.

Ma'am took a step closer, her presence both comforting and intimidating. "No buts," she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "You are mine and no one dares to talk like that with my people, Got it?"

My cheeks flushed. "Y-yes, Ma'am," I stammered.

Ma'am retreated slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Good."

"But what will happen to the store?" I asked curiosity piqued.

"I'll decide later," she replied, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips.

As we continued towards the resort, my mind swirled with questions. How could she buy an entire store so casually? Sometimes, I am really confused about her…

As we reached the resort, lost in my thoughts, I couldn't help but be a little bewildered by Ma'am. Her warmth and icey nature turned a knot in my stomach. A feeling I am not able to put my finger on!

[Back at the resort]

Ma'am handed me a room key. "Here you go, Cia. Your room is right next to mine. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you, Ma'am," I replied

"Oh, and one more thing," She added. "A dress will be delivered to your room before the party. Wear it."

"Okay," I said, surprised.

"I'll come pick you up at six," she informed me, before heading towards her own room.

"Got it, ma'am," I confirmed.

The following hours were a whirlwind of showering, getting ready, and anticipation building for the party. As the clock struck six, a knock on the door startled me.

"Cia, it's Ryo," a voice called from the other side.

"Coming!" I hurried to open the door.

Ma'am stood there, looking impeccably dressed. But for a moment, she seemed speechless.

"Ma'am?"

"Huh…yeah?!!"

"Is something wrong?", I asked, concerned.

"YES, you're just breathtaking that I was lost for a second there"

A faint blush crept onto my cheeks. "WHATT??", I mumbled, "But don't you think, it's a bit too revealing?"

The dress Ma'am had chosen was beautiful but undeniably revealing, A short backless satin white dress with threads to tie at the back of my neck and two crystal water-like droplet chains on my left thighs, the dress revealed my back completely and it hardly reached my knees, exposing my legs way too much..The dress was elegant, but definitely more daring than what I usually wore.

Ma'am took a step closer, closing the distance between us, her gaze sweeping over me. Her hand reached out, a cool touch against my bare back. She trailed her fingers down my spine, sending shivers through me.

"You have been deceiving me this whole time with this hot body of yours?" she remarked, her voice low.

My cheeks burned. "NO….noo…. I stammered

Ma'am leaned in further, her voice a husky whisper near my ear. "Don't you want to know, what will happen if I pull this little knot from your back?"

She said this while holding the string at the back of my neck. My breath hitched. Ma'am's touch was electrifying, and the way she was looking at me sent a delicious mix of fear and excitement coursing through me.

"Ma'am, Are you a Sadist?". I pushed myself back slightly, in a desperate attempt to regain some composure.

Ma'am chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Wanna check it out?"

"No, thank you. We should go now or else we will be late.", Somehow I managed to say it out loud.

"Yes, Miss Hottie", Ma'am agreed, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Please stoppp…"

She laughed seeing me like this.

THIS PERSON….she knows how to make me feel all embarrassed. But as I was walking a few steps back from her….I was not able to take my eye off her...Ma'am hardly attends any party and in all these years of working, I have never seen her like this...

This is the first time I have seen her wear such a dress. Usually, she doesn't like to show much skin but this time her dress is quite revealing…she is looking so damn hot in that…

A black dress that reveals her stunningly round bosoms and the slit on her right side that lets you see her long but sexy legs as she walks. The back of the dress is also revealed, just like mine, but instead of being completely backless, it has a water droplet design that matches mine, but it's on the back rather than the thigh. Not to mention the subtle makeup that matches her and the outfit, It's as if she can easily entice anyone with a little will.

Like she is doing right now!