Though I had never met her before, it was obvious that she knew who I was. Being in Gavin’s pack, most knew who I was by now, and plus, she could probably smell her Alpha all over me. Someone who isn’t from the same pack wouldn’t know that familiar scent… such as Kerris.
“That would be great—” Irene started to say, but I cut her off.
“Actually, we were just leaving. It seems we aren’t wanted here.”
Sasha’s face fell, and Irene looked utterly confused as she turned to look at me.
“W…what?” She asked.
“Are you seriously still here?” Kerris asked, finally remembering that we were standing right there. She didn’t hear Irene’s shocked breath. “Didn’t I tell you that you aren’t wanted—”
“Kerris?” Sasha snapped. “What is the meaning of this?”
“My discount jeans turned her off,” Nan said, rolling her eyes. “And apparently Judy’s pregnant belly will require extra fabric that we supposedly cannot afford.”
Kerris’s face paled as she looked at me, then Nan, and then at Irene’s shocked and angered face.
“Did you seriously tell my friends that they can’t shop here?” Irene asked, her blue eyes turning into icy slits. “To their faces?? In front of me?”
“There was a misunderstanding,” Sasha said, trying to dismiss the situation. “Kerris isn’t right in the head right now. Clearly, she’s not well.”
“I…I don’t understand. You know them, Miss Irene?” She asked, glancing at me and then back at Irene.
I just raised my brows, not wanting to get into it with someone who thinks they are better than us.
“Know them?” Irene asked. “Judy is marrying my father and carrying his baby. Of course, I know them.”
Kerris gasped and covered her mouth with her hands.
“Wait, what?” She quickly turned to look at me, her eyes wide with alarm. “You’re Gavin Landry’s rumored mate??”
I shrugged and turned away.
“Does it matter? You’ve made your stance quite clear. We aren’t wanted.”
“It was a mistake!” She nearly screeched. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean for—”
“Is this how you treat all your customers?” Nan cut her off, holding her hand up to stop her rambling even further. “Because as we said earlier, this is not it.”
“Please don’t let her incompetence turn you off from my boutique,” Sasha said nervously. “I don’t want this to get back to Alpha Landry in any kind of way. He could have my entire business shut down in seconds.”
“I wouldn’t want to do that to you, Sasha,” Irene said, folding her arms across her chest. “But I can’t believe you’d hire someone so stupid as your assistant… and not educate her on matters like this. She should have known who Judy was as soon as she walked in the door.”
“Yes, of course. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again…” Sasha said before turning to a teary-eyed Kerris. “You’re fired.”
“W…what?!” Kerris gasped. “It was a mistake! You can’t fire me over a mistake!”
“I just did. Pack your things and leave.”
Kerris started to cry uncontrollably and begged for her job as Sasha walked towards her office. Sasha was furious and needed a moment to gather her thoughts, but Kerris was determined to keep her job.
I would have laughed if I weren’t so worried about Irene. The second we were alone again, Irene’s shoulders slumped, and she let out a breath. “Sorry you girls had to deal with that,” she sighed. “It should have never happened.”
“It’s fine,” Nan said. “Just glad it was dealt with. Now, let’s go through these amazing outfits.”
She began to browse the racks of gorgeous dresses, hoping to find the perfect maid-of-honor dresses and bridesmaids’ dresses.
Irene looked a bit lost as she stared at the ground.
I stepped closer to her, concern evident on my face.
“Hey,” I said softly, drawing her attention to me. “Everything okay? You seem off?”
She nibbled on her lower lip, and then she nodded.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” she said softly. “I don’t want to ruin your day.”
Now I was really concerned; my chest tightened.
“Is it Chuck?”
She thought about it for a moment, and then she finally nodded, tears filling her eyes.
“What is it?” I asked her, trying to get her to talk to me.
“We got into an argument,” she said softly, giving me a small shrug. “He said he won’t be able to talk to me for the next few days because work and that he’s calling to tell me that he loves me. I was upset and we got into a small fight over it, resulting in him hanging up on me.’
“Oh, Nan… I’m so sorry. I know what it’s like to argue with a mate. I don’t wish it on anyone,” I said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“That’s not it…” she whispered weakly. “I called him back to apologize and a woman answered, Said Chuck was in the shower now and couldn’t talk.”
My heart slammed into my stomach.
“What?” I gasped, not believing what she was saying.
“I think Chuck is cheating on me…”