Chapter 209 - Rich In Friends~!

"Sorry for the late introduction," As the whole boutique fell into silence, Patrizio Moretti took up this chance to introduce himself. 

"I'm Patrizio Moretti. Pleasure to meet you, Miss...?" Offering his hand, Patrizio Moretti stretched his lips into a thin line. However, no one accepted his hands as the shock he had caused to them was overwhelming. 

"Anyway, I appreciate your concern. However, please be mindful of your words, especially if you're within our premises." Polite and professional as ever, Patrizio Moretti warned. 

After all, they were still their clients. Thus, he has to extend his patience. Moreover, Patrizio Moretti was certain Zoey didn't mind as it seemed she enjoyed it anyway. 

"You! Why are you still here?" Clueless on what was going on, Manager Tan caught Zoey's figure as she kept on giggling on the side. 

Earlier, she too was caught up with Patrizio Moretti's presence that she overlooked Zoey and Cora Ma. However, now that she had calmed down, she couldn't let these intruders cause trouble!

"I'm sorry, Mr. Moretti. I'll escort these two out—" 

"What are you saying?" Tilting his head to the side, Patrizio Moretti interrupted the manager midway. "They are my guests, the VVIP guests I had mentioned earlier." He added, sighing as he glanced at Zoey. 

Well, Zoey might not appear as someone who would be treated as VVIP. However, she still looks decent. He was relieved that Zoey didn't dress up in rags just to tease him. 

"G — gu — guest?"

"Patty, did you know Manager Tan was the one who sent me away like a beggar?" Seeing Manager Tan freeze up, Zoey slided her way to Patrizio Moretti's side and whispered, yet her voice was loud enough for Manager Tan to hear. 

"She didn't even want to entertain me cause I look like a beggar." Zoey exaggerated, hiding behind his tall figure appearing like a devil guiding a man towards the Evil road. 

"I —"

"Is it true?"

"No — I mean, I —" Stuttering, Manager Tan's complexion paled. Suddenly, she made a full bow with both her hands on her side. "My deepest apologies, Miss Zhou! I was just merely following our rules!" Expressing her regrets, Manager Tan exclaimed as her shoulder shook. 

"Z, stop teasing Manager Tan." Shaking his head, Patrizio sighed heavily as he knew Zoey was just teasing his employee. 

"Hihihi~" Giggling as she already had her revenge, Zoey patted Manager Tan's shoulder. "No worries, I'm just teasing you... no, I'm not. Fire her, Patty!" Pausing midway, Zoey's tone changed which caused Manager Tan who had just heaved a sigh of relief to almost collapse on the floor. 

"Miss Zhou..." In a brink of crying, Manager Tan looked up to Zoey, bearing her desperate and nervous eyes for her to change her mind. 

After all, Manager Tan had been working in the store for a year since it launched in the country. She had climbed up the ranks from being a sales clerk to the position of Manager. How could she accept that she'd get lay off because of one single mistake? 

"Don't worry, Manager Tan. She's just messing with you." Glancing at Zoey, Patrizio clicked his tongue as he widened his eyes to relay his silent warning. 

"Hehe, kidding. I told you before, right? I don't blame you." Holding her laughter in, Zoey winked at Manager Tan who was still suspicious if Zoey would renegade on her words. 

"Anyway, please lead the way as we have a gown to work on." Changing the subject, Patrizio Moretti clapped his hands as he reminded her. 

"Ah, yes! Please, this way." Snapping back to reality, Manager Tan straightened her posture as she raised her hand and showed them the way. 

Smiling, Patrizio Moretti then followed Manager Tan after he glanced at the mischievous Zoey. "Come on, Z. You said you don't have a whole day to spare for me." He muttered, nearly rolling his eyes as he had to reschedule his appointments for the day to meet Zoey's free time. 

"Yeey~! Time to do some dress fitting with the one and only~" As Zoey and Cora Ma followed Patrizio, she exclaimed in glee as she glanced at Clara Wei and Abi. 

"Oh ho~! How nice to be rich," Purposely slowing down in her tracks as she brushed by those two divas, Zoey giggled. "Rich not just in money, but rich in friends~!" Zoey clicked her tongue as she teased the obviously enraged Abi. 

"See you around, ladies~! Oh, my! I'm so excited what kind of masterpiece we're going to wear to the wedding~" Zoey skipped her steps, deliberately expressing her excitement in full volume as to incite more anger from Abi and Clara Wei. 

"That little—" 

"Sister Abi, please don't shame me further." Interrupting the enraged Abi, Clara Wei exhaled heavily as she recomposed herself. Yet, her contained emotions transferred onto her hand as her grip on the piece of note Manager Tan had handed to her, crumpled. 

Looking around, Abi gritted her teeth as she could see the ridicule plastered across the other ladies' eyes. 

"Let's go." Lifting her chin up, Clara Wei acted as if she was unaffected by the mocking gaze cast on them as she departed the premises with dignity. 

*****

Thirty minutes later...

"Pat, that dress outside, I want it. Let my sister-in-law use it." In the middle of their meeting, Zoey suddenly interrupted as the dress displayed outside wouldn't leave her mind. 

"Miss Zhou!" Out of instinct, Manager Tan shouted before she realized her reaction. Hence, she pursed her lips into a thin line as she believed her big boss wouldn't just give away the best creation he made so far. 

"Z!" At the same time, Cora Ma widened her eyes as she could not believe Zoey would request that out of nowhere. Even if they were friends, there had to be some boundaries!

"Sure." However, unlike the two women's reaction, Patrizio Moretti didn't even think twice before he agreed. 

Cora Ma and Manager Tan's jaw almost dropped. Manager Tan knew how many elites offered money to buy the dress, but the designer himself remained adamant that it wasn't for sale. 

Yet, he now agreed, just like that?! That easily?! 

"Nice." What rendered the two women more speechless was Zoey's reaction. She just gave him a thumbs up as if she was more or less happy about it. 

THE NERVE!!

"Manager Tan, please get the dress so Miss Ma can try it out."