"Unbelievable!" Layla stomped her foot in frustration. "You could have outbid her with ease. Why let her win?"
Charlotte led Layla out of the jewelry store, unfazed. "That sapphire was a fake. Since Mandy insists on being a sucker, why not let her?"
Layla's eyes widened in realization. "Oh! So you were bidding just to drive up the price?"
Charlotte nodded with a sly smile. "Consider it a lesson for her. The more she pays, the more it will stick with her."
Layla burst into laughter, her mood instantly lifting!
"Still..." Charlotte said, pondering as she glanced back at the jewelry store, "how could Garcia's Mall have such low standards for its vendors?"
Such a shady store actually managed to operate in Garcia's Mall... Garcia Group really dropped the ball on this one.
*****
Charlott
