Chapter 33 Is He Going To Ruin The Shop?

I hadn't yet figured out how to explain to Antonio when the store manager let out a mocking laugh. "Sir, you probably haven't had the chance to familiarize yourself with our store's clothing. Each piece here is designed by internationally renowned designers, handmade in Italy, and retails for no less than ten thousand dollars."

The manager glanced at the mess on the floor, her eyes sharpening with irony. "There are at least twenty items here that have been damaged to varying degrees, the value is certainly no less than two hundred thousand dollars."

"Two hundred thousand is too much, darling. You know, Sienna is poor, she can't afford that much. What are we going to do?" Nadia went on. "Sir, as Sienna's boyfriend, could you help her pay off part of the debt?"

"No!" I blurted out instinctively. My reaction was too strong, drawing a sidelong glance from Nadia and a displeased look from Antonio.

I knew I was defying Antonio again.

Antonio had said that I didn't need to pay for living expenses, but this time I felt it was between Nadia and me, and I didn't want him to interfere.

And I didn't want to owe Antonio even more.

I unconsciously bit my lower lip, my face registering embarrassment and anxiety. I feared Antonio might confront me right then and there, so I leaned closer to him, carefully clutching his sleeve.

Our bodies pressed tightly together, through the fabric, I could feel his slightly elevated body temperature beneath his thin shirt.

He was tall, needing to bend down slightly to whisper in my ear. I heard him hum lowly, "It seems you'll have to explain your ex-boyfriend to me when we get back."

My body shivered sensitively.

"Money is not the issue, but I think Sienna isn't the only one who made a mistake," Antonio's gaze was cold as he spoke. "Is this lady planning to evade her responsibility?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, sir," Nadia stepped back fearfully.

"Our store's esteemed VIP customers come here for a peaceful shopping experience, it was your girlfriend who started shouting and hurt Nadia. Nadia was being kind not to pursue her responsibility," the manager protected Nadia, loudly chastising Antonio. "Stop your disrespectful behavior, sir, I can call security to escort you out!"

"VIP?" Antonio chuckled, he lowered his head to fiddle with his ring, licking his rear molars—I knew he was about to lose his temper.

Antonio waved over to Dante, whispering something in his ear.

Dante eyed the manager and Nadia, nodded quietly and replied, "Understood, boss," before stepping aside to make a call.

I gripped Antonio's sleeve tighter—was he planning to call more people to wreck the store?

The manager seemed to catch the warning signs too, she instructed her staff to call security.

But Matteo was quicker, stepping forward to snatch the employee's phone.

Security surged from the elevator, surrounding us with tasers and other weapons.

"They've damaged nearly two hundred thousand dollars' worth of property in our store and hurt our guests, they're trying to flee, I think the police should handle this!" the manager screamed, urging security to detain us.

Matteo dropped the phone, his right hand reaching behind him—I knew he was reaching for his gun!

Oh God, I didn't know what to do anymore, the surveillance here could capture our faces, a gunfight in a high-end luxury store would put me on the wanted list, and my mother and sister would see me in the news.

However, as both parties were at a standoff, an appropriately dressed but irate middle-aged man started waving his arms from a distance, yelling, "What are you doing! Stop!"

He was followed by several employees with anxious expressions, quickly heading this way.

The security chief's face went blank, "Pres... President?"

The middle-aged man roared furiously, "Take your people and get out now!"

The manager approached respectfully trying to explain to the man, "Mr. Garcia, it was this man and woman who destroyed the property in my store, we had to call security—"

"Idiot! Shut up!" Mr. Garcia hissed angrily.

Then he bowed respectfully to Antonio, a sycophantic smile on his face. "Mr. Luciano, I'm very sorry for the unpleasant shopping experience," Mr. Garcia, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his face, kept apologizing. "It's indeed a dereliction of duty by our store staff, I will surely deal with these people."

The manager was about to protest when Nadia, completely unaware of what was happening, screamed, "Uncle Frank, they are the ones destroying the store, Kelly was just helping me!"

Frank continued to wipe his sweat, his face flushed as he shouted, "Enough, Nadia! We have checked the surveillance; you are also responsible for today's incident. You will bear 80% of the store's losses, and we will revoke your membership! You will be restricted from shopping in all our malls for the next three years."

Nadia's face twisted, her eyes reddening as she screamed, "Why! I will tell my dad! He is one of your shareholders!"

"I will inform Mr. Bellini, or our board might consider revoking Mr. Bellini's shares," Frank continued.

Nadia was furious, but all she could do was stomp her high heels on the floor, losing control over the unfolding events.

I saw Nadia's embarrassed face, and it instantly made me feel much better.

Behind Frank, an employee had already listed today's damages on an iPad, which he reported to Frank.

Frank frowned at the amount of the damages, then said to us, "Based on our preliminary assessment, the damage to the store amounts to two hundred thousand dollars..."

Hearing the amount made it hard for me to breathe, while Antonio held me tightly.

I knew I had to take responsibility.