Chapter 5; Clash Encounter

HER Breath caught when the man Bella talking to faced her. He's very tall that she could barely look up to see his face. His eyes were cold as ice.

When she met his gaze her heartbeat suddenly quickened, as if she just run few miles away. So very far that make her feel like her heart went up to her throat.

For a split of second, she forgot everything. All she can hear is her heart beating wildly in her ribcage and all she can see is this man standing in front of her. Everyone and everything around them vanish in thin air. Leaving them alone, staring each other intently.

He cleared his throat. "Are you the manager here miss?"

"Huh?" She ask with her mouth open like she's an idiot.

"Are you deaf?"

"Y-yes ...I-i mean n-no. Of course I am not." She stammer, feeling her check burning up in shame. He makes her feel nervous and conscious the way he look at her. No, he was staring at her intently. As if he was reading what's on her mind. His baritone and mascular voice was very familiar to her. The voice she couldn't forget.

"Crazy." The tall handsome man murmured to himself but loud enough for her to hear.

"W-what did you just s-say? I'm w-what?" She feel insulted and humilliated. Who the hell this bastard calling her crazy? But whoever he might be, he have no right to insult her face to face without shame.

He just look at her weirdly.

"What?"

"Are you the manager here?"

"Yes. May I know why?" Her blood started to boil in annoyance because of this rude and shameless man.

"Where did you get the gowns?"

"Gowns? Why? You like them?" She looked pass him to take glance on the gowns displaying neatly behind him.

"Damn! Just answer me woman."

She was a bit startled by his sudden outburst. "If you have no intention of buying any—"

"Do you know the clothes you are selling are stolen?"

"What?!" Her eyes widen. Did she hear it right? "Mr. Whoever you are I don't have any idea what you're talking about." She compose herself, but feeling a little bit nervous.

"Your selling stolen gowns."

She was about to argue more, tell him that his joke is not funny but she notice some of their customers looking at them curiously. Some of them started murmuring to each other.

She clear her throat and look up to him. "Let's talk to my office." Her guts were telling her this man is telling the truth. He look like his not kind of person who roams around just to tells lies, he actually far from it. "Follow me." She turned her back on him and went to her office. It's located on the left corner of the boutique. "Have a seat." When the two men sat down, she seat down as well.

"Wow, nice office, huh." The man wearing a blue t-shirt said while looking around at her office.

"Shut it Takashima. We're not her to have fun."

"I know, I know. You don't have to be angry."

She look at the two men in front of her weirdly, then shook her and before clearing her throat to get they're attention. "I'm Danielle Riccardi. I'm in charge here and the owner of this Boutique. So what can I do for you two?"

"Like I was saying earlier. The gowns you were selling outside are all stolen."

"Did you expect me to believe you?" She laughed not believing this rude man. "How can I believe what a stranger man who seems just passing by says?" She asked calmly.

"My company own the clothes I'm referring to Ms. Riccardi. I'm Mikael Quinlin. I own the famous Quinlin Clothing Line."

Should she believe what this man has telling her? He look deadly serious and base on his very strict, cold and emossionless face, his not just an ordinary man out there. Yes, his wearing a simple white polo shirt and pants but it's from a branded name.

"What he is said is true. By the way, I'm Bricks Takashima. This rude man's personal lawyer."

She accepted the business card handed to her by the man who identified himself as Bricks. "Mikael Quinlin. CEO of Quinlin Clothing Line." She was beyond shocked to read what has written on the business card she was holding. "H-how come?" She's confused. "I-I know my co-owner's purchase those clothes legally." God, what she and Macky got into?

Mikael's eyebrows farrow of what she said. "Where did your co-owner buy it?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. All I know is he meet her in the party he attended to. I think it's more than a week ago. Macky did not mention her name."

"I want to talk to the co-owner you we're referring to."

"I'm sorry. But h-he just left to Canada few days ago."

"Damn it."

"Take it easy Mikael." Bricks patted his shoulder.

"I will hold you responsible and I will close this Boutique by selling our stolen clothes elligaly without consent from my company."

"No! That's absorb!" She stood up, feeling scared, nervous and angry at the same time. "You can't close my Boutique. I don't have any idea those gowns were stolen. If you want I will return all the clothes you we're claiming and I will pay all the gown we already sold."

Mikael stared at her for a moment and stood up as well. "Just wait for the warrant of arrest that I will send Ms. Riccardi. Good day." He turned around and left her office followed by Bricks who smiled slightly at her before leaving.

"You can't do that to me!" She shouted angrily, couldn't control herself. She was angry and nervous at the same time.

For the next two days Danielle work herself without resting and she lacked of sleep for a few days now. She needs to finish the gown of her famous actress costumer in just three days. Her son, Rainier were sick and he need her more than ever but she had to stay in the Boutique longer than usual to personally manage it because of Macky's absence. And to add to her already full plate of problem, the threat from the Quinlin Clothing Line Ceo, Mikael Quinlin.

What a bastard of a man!

She leaned back on her seat and squeezed her aching forehead.