She chuckled. “I prefer to think of it as revenge, and that can betonsof fun,” Charlie said.
His friend was as sweet as they came but if you hurt someone she cared about, watch out. And she cared about Leo, who in turn had feelings for Cammie. Charlie was on his side.
“You’re a little scary sometimes,” he told her.
She shrugged. “So I’ve been told.”
“Leo,” his sister called out.
He turned around to see Jenny approaching. She was nearly as tall as him but that was where the physical attributes they shared ended. While his hair was inky black, hers was a rich mahogany, favoring their mother, along with her facial features and hazel eyes. Leo took after their father.
“Thanks for coming,” he said, giving his sister a brief hug. He’d filled both women in on the situation by text last night.
“I’m all for helping out after what you told me happened to your friend.” Jenny glanced past him and smiled. “Hi, Charlie.”
“Hey!”
Leo led the way as they entered the boutique.
The moment they stepped inside, Patricia, the owner, who Leo recognized from the description Cammie had given him, as well as by her nametag, came toward them, her eyes bouncing from Jenny to Charlie.
“Miss Watson, Mrs. Sterling. It’s nice to see you both,” Patricia said, all saccharine smiles and fake charm.
“Are you the owner?” Leo asked, his tone blunt but needing to confirm he had the right person.
“Yes, I am,” she said with a warm but fake smile, keeping up her overly accommodating act. “Patricia Harding, at your service.” She held out her hand and he stared until she dropped it, her smile fading.
He had no intention of shaking the hand of a woman who hadn’t bothered to offer Cammie the same welcoming gesture. “Leo Watson.”
“You must be related to Jenny!” Patricia glanced back and forth between them.
“She’s my siter. And I’d like to talk to you about something that happened when my girlfriend came into this store to buy a dress.” He let the comment settle before adding, “She wasn’t treated very well.”
“Your girlfriend?” Patricia sounded genuinely confused.
He pulled out his phone and showed her the picture Cammie had taken of them in Bryant Park. Leo watched as Patricia’s face lost all color, her smile bleeding away as she stared at the photo.
“Oh… umm, yes,” she stammered. “I believe we met briefly…”
“Yesterday,” Charlie said, stepping up beside him. “when you not only refused to help her, but you deliberately insulted her, as well.”
Patricia put her hand on her chest, her jaw opened in mock outrage. “I would never treat a customer that way!”
“Enough,” Leo barked.
“You treated her like dirt because you took one look at her and didn’t think she could afford your clothing,” Jenny said, frowning. “And as someone who shops here, I’m not happy about that at all.”
Patricia’s gaze darted everywhere but at Jenny and Leo, and for good reason. His sister had deep pockets and Patricia made a lot of money from Jenny purchasing her clothing here.
“I can’t say I’m pleased either,” Charlie agreed.
The owner pulled at her collar, clearly trying to come up with an explanation they’d accept.
Leo enjoyed seeing her panic. She’d torn Cammie down, and now she was going to find out the repercussions for fucking around with someone Leo cared for.
“I… I think there was some misunderstanding,” Patricia said at last. “It was my fault. Please, let me make it up to her. Sand her back in today, and I’ll help her personally.”
“Absolutely not,” Leo said. Cammie deserved respectbeforehe and the women had shown up and demanded it for her. “She won’t ever come back into this store again.”
