10:00AM at Berry's Beauty Company...
The Stylist Unit...
"Which of the bags do you think would suit the birthday client, Team Leader?" one of the staff asked.
"Her dress is all white..." Aliya paused as she browsed through the images of the bag on her iPad. "Get her this red bag with diamonds if she can afford it. The second option is the black box-shaped bag," Aliya said.
"I will do so, Team Leader," the staff responded.
Aliya continued checking the heels' wardrobe, as she had been doing before the staff interrupted.
"I don't see the heel with the green pattern under it," Aliya said to Emily.
"Oh, yesterday, a client demanded it just for a one-day event. She couldn't afford to buy it, so she paid a fee for the duration she needed it, which is half of the shoe's price," Emily responded.
"Did you also have her sign a contract stating that any damage she causes would be at her own cost if she wants to buy the heel? It's a designer shoe for events, so she won't be the only one needing it. It's only if the client chooses to buy it that it would be off the market," Aliya explained.
"Yes, I am aware, and she signed the contract," Emily replied.
"We need the blue dress to go with these white heels. Send the samples to the fashion design team and show them the register—I want to highlight that it's for one of our top VIPs. She's hosting a housewarming party and needs a blue dress designed to match these white heels she's chosen to rent," Aliya told her.
"I will do so right away," Emily responded.
"Team Leader, a VIP actress is here. She's returning the heels that were sent to her yesterday, per her instructions," one of the staff said immediately as she entered.
"Why is she returning what she ordered?" Aliya asked as she followed her out of the shoe wardrobe room. As soon as she arrived, the actress slapped her hard, drawing attention from staff members who couldn't believe their eyes.
"How dare you send what I didn't pay for to me and ruin the present I had gifted to someone? You should see my friend's face when she opened this gift... a pair of orange heels?" she angrily asked, raising her hand to slap Aliya again. However, Aliya held her hands.
"Let go of me! How dare you grab my hand with your filthy hands? Do you know who I am?" the actress retorted.
"I'm sorry, miss. I must have mixed up the shoes I was told to send yesterday," one of the junior staff apologized, bowing her head.
"Isn't that reckless? Aren't you supposed to cross-check what you're sending instead of making a lame excuse?" the actress asked, removing her hand from Aliya's grip and pointing it at the junior staff.
"Shouldn't you slap her, too, or drag her hair after finding your culprit? You're good at it," Aliya said, looking at the actress.
"What did you just say?" the actress asked, looking stunned, as were the people present.
"You should slap her, too," Aliya said as she dragged the junior staff closer to the actress. "Aren't you good at slapping, or should I post a clip of you slapping my staff? I bet your fans will have something to say," Aliya told her, her tone more serious this time.
The actress scoffed as her manager, who had come with her, stepped in. "You shouldn't talk to a client like that, especially if you know who she is and what she can do to you," her manager said.
"You should stay where you are, like you always do, because no one noticed you until now. You see, you're just like me. Imagine what I will do if you don't leave now so she can send your orders. Since no one is apologizing, I have nothing to lose, but you have everything to lose," Aliya said, grinning.
"Did you just threaten me? You all heard it, right?" the actress asked.
"No, what they heard is me telling you to quietly go back so your orders can be sent, even after you slapped me and refused to apologize," Aliya replied.
"Let's go. I'm sure she's intentionally making a scene; she's not worth it," the actress's manager whispered.
"I'm going to get you fired," the actress said, pointing fingers.
"Do come again, ma'am," Aliya said with a smile.
The staff couldn't believe their eyes; none of them had the guts to do that.
"Sorry, Aliya. I should have looked more carefully into it since you weren't around," Emily apologized. "Thank God the secretary stepped out before this," she added.
"You all should be more careful than just being sorry. Yes, I know we have a lot on our plates, but being cautious with clients should be our top priority. Sorry or not, you're still going to get fired eventually," Aliya told her.
"I will keep that in mind, Team Leader. At least the client will know you're not someone to mess with," Emily said, giving her a hug.
"Don't do that," Aliya said as Emily freed herself.
"I forgot—you don't like being touched," Emily said with a smile.
"What's wrong with her?" Aliya asked, glancing at her as she left.
"Send the package to the actress and include an apology note, as always. Whether they read it or not, the company sent one," Emily instructed the junior staff.
Reuben's office...
"Come in," Cece said when they heard a knock on the door.
The secretary came in holding a bouquet of flowers. "This came for you," he said.
Reuben, dazed, stared at the flowers and then back to CeCe, who was also looking confused, as Reuben had never received any flowers before, not even from his fans.
"A flower for Reuben?" CeCe said, getting up.
"Yes, manager," the secretary responded as he moved closer to her, handed her the flowers, and then stepped out.
"Could it be Mum?" CeCe asked, inspecting the big flower to see if there was any note on it.
"Mother would never do that, even in her dreams," Reuben said.
"Here are the love letter notes," CeCe said, pulling them out from the flowers while grinning.
"The person who sent you these flowers doesn't care about you, but you do," CeCe read, looking confused. "What the heck is this message?" CeCe asked, more confused. She stared at Reuben and caught him smiling.
"You're smiling? You never smiled before," CeCe said, dazed. Reuben quickly masked his smile.
"I am not," Reuben denied.
"I swear you were," CeCe said, stepping closer. "So you do know the sender," she added.
"Not your concern. Leave the flowers on that table over there and go buy me a vase," Reuben said.
"What? For real?" CeCe said in disbelief.
"Yes, for real," Reuben responded.