by Shawn Keys
It would take a few minutes to be certain of the results. Sally North might be the highest end retailer on the block, but its computer systems were severely outdated. They were fragile and needed some serious upgrading. But that was money, and as long as people like Rick could keep the current system limping along, it was money that no-one seemed interested in spending.
While waiting, Rick decided to give himself a break from crawling around inside the cabinets. He stood up, then stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders. “Well, that wasn’t comfortable.”
He was standing in a square-shaped space large enough for about four salespeople people to work. Two cash registers were set up, each on opposite sides. On the other two sides of the square, there was enough open counter space for at least two more customers to browse and be shown various bits of merchandise from behind the glass display cases.
At the moment, only Trevor was there. Brenda was also working that station, but she had been drawn off to assist with another customer on the floor. Sally North was laid out like a compact version of a larger department store. There were three levels, connected by escalators, but all the individual sections were a little smaller, more like individual boutiques. The idea (Rick had heard described to him by the marketing types) was to give the customers the chance to browse from one section to the next, but to make each experience unique, like walking through a marketplace of designer shops. Of course, nothing in the place was top-shelf, like what you would see on LA’s Rodeo Drive, but there were enough designer names and expensive price tags to make a person feel special that they were able to shop here.
Or… that’s what the marketing people said, anyway. Rick wasn’t the expert, and maybe he was missing something. He was just there to help keep the lights on.
It was just after eleven in the morning. Trevor had caught a merciful break in the Black Friday rush. Sally North’s rush wasn’t like Grayson’s. Only a few dozen people had been waiting by the doors calmly, and the store had seen maybe a grand total of a few thousand total customers wander through that day. But that was amazing foot traffic for a high-end place like this. The flow had been steady, with at least a couple always waiting for the attention of the sales people.
Trevor leaned against the counter, tugging at his suit’s French cuffs. He was the perfect image of the slick, charming sales rep. His suit was probably a good month’s wage for a minimum salary worker, but he would be the first to say that he needed to look the part to make sales in this place. And it wasn’t like he was making minimum wage, anyway. Not much more, but enough to lord it over his friends who were employed by less upscale companies. He brushed his styled flop of hair to one side and flashed Rick an impudent smile. “Almost done? You’re cramping my style out here, Rick.”
Rick was in the same open-collar blue shirt and black trousers he had been wearing that morning. More than enough for a computer jockey earning his way. Company policy insisted that he wear something presentable, even though he spent most of his days ‘in the back’, specifically for the reason that was occupying him now: once in a while, he had to come out onto the floor to do a little technical investigation when a problem couldn’t be solved in the back room. He couldn’t look too disreputable in front of the customers.
Smirking back at the Trevor, Rick asked, “Sales been good? You work on commission, right?”
Trevor wasn’t sure where this was going. “Well, partly. Salary plus a percentage.”
“Right. So, you want the data on that cash register to eventually make it back to the server that calculates your share, right? I mean, it would be bloody inconvenient if all that beautiful proof of purchases was wiped out by the whim of a malfunctioning computer chip. I’m sure the company could do an inventory and make sure it wasn’t missing anything, but… well, where’s that important proof linking those sales to you, personally?”
Trevor snorted, but he got the point. “Fine. Take all the time you need.”
“That’s the spirit. Never mess with the IT guy.” Rick found a good-natured smile. “Hey, don’t mind me. I’m nearing the end of my shift and I’m getting antsy. Can’t leave until this is rectified, but I have a tournament to get to this afternoon.”
“Oh, yeah. Golf’s your thing, right?” He didn’t sound all that interested.
Rick nodded. “Sure is. I’m not going to let this take a second longer than it has to. If this last fix works, I should be out of your hair in about ten minutes.”
Trevor nodded, then held up a finger to hold off further conversation. “Give me a sec. Sucker on the hook!” He said the last part softly, not about to say that sort of thing in front of a paying customer.
Rick could have called him on it, but he wasn’t that petty. Most of that sort of talk was just griping and blowing off steam. Customers could be irritating or frightfully misguided, but most were just looking for a good deal. Maybe he was being too kind-hearted, but Wanda’s willingness to meet him halfway earlier had put Rick in a good mood. Elenia had certainly made it much, much better. Together, his faith in the whole ‘goodness of most people’s spirit’ idea had been revived. Amazing. He didn’t even have to wait until Christmas this year for a boost.
With nothing to do but wait, Rick turned into a spectator for the sale about to happen.
He wasn’t disappointed. Approaching him was two people that could easily fall into the definition of a ‘power couple’, though they were still on the younger side. Perhaps, a potential power couple would be more accurate.
The guy was dressed as sharply as Trevor, though his suit was a class or two higher. The Yon-Hugh watch on his wrist cost a few thousand, and his shoes were hand-crafted leather, probably from some near-extinct animal to make him feel even more special. His hair was sculpted into a tousled mass of curls which he had taken great pains to look ‘wild’. His tanned Caucasian skin was the perfect tone: enough to kill his natural, pale color while not so much that it looked like he spent all his time lounging on a beach avoiding work. He had a cocky smile; he knew he was hitting the mark, and was arrogantly aware of it.
Walking next to him was a petite, boldly beautiful goddess. If he had to guess her heritage, he would have assumed Japanese, though he was no expert on genetic heritage traits. Her pearl skin had an undertone of olive, and her upswept eyes were gorgeous, with boldly applied makeup that drew attention to their flaring shape rather than minimizing it. Her hair was long, black, and starkly straight. She had gathered it through a tight hair-band at the crown of her head, then let it fall in a long tail right along the back of her neck until ending between her shoulder-blades. Her dress was gray, high-quality and all business. But it was also tailored to hug her curves, not hiding her femininity at all. It was a challenge to anyone who thought she couldn’t be professional and a woman all at the same time. Her skirt went to mid-thigh, beneath which her dark silk stockings drew the attention, ending in killer heels that matched the gray of her dress.
The woman was a little preoccupied, tapping away on her phone’s display while the man navigated them both through the small crowd and various displays. As they arrived at the counter, the woman hissed in displeasure. “I can’t believe this! They’re going to take the meeting with the kids out of the Sylvetic Institute! I told them a hundred times those amateurs aren’t ready to produce a viable prototype within the next two years!”
The man huffed in shared sympathy, though he didn’t add anything to the conversation. “Want me to get these things while you talk to your work, Yukiko?”
The woman seemed to have forgotten all about the fact that they were in a store in the first place. “What? Oh, thanks Paul. Sure. Here, use the card. I want the points.” She handed over her credit card and then wandered off, dialing a number on her phone and starting an animated conversation that was too hushed to hear, but her gestures were easy to follow as being clearly annoyed.
As Yukiko dove into her business, Paul sidled up to the counter and flashed a grin at Trevor. “How’s it going,
man?”
The casual question made Rick pause. It didn’t sound right, somehow. He couldn’t put his finger on why. Too friendly? Maybe that was it. But so what?
Trevor returned a knowing laugh. “Seems like it’s going to be a good day after all. Wasn’t sure you’d manage to shake her this time.”
Paul looked pleased. “I can always count on her work to piss her off at the right moments. She’s a manager of a hedge fund or venture capital group or something like that. Junior executives like her either make partner or get fired based on what a bunch of hopeful yahoos with the next innovative idea float across her desk. Fires like this start at least once or twice a day.”
Trevor smirked. “So, what’s she getting?”
Paul dropped a custom-made leather case with one of the latest tablets from Omishen inside of it. “We just picked this up from the service desk.” He tapped on the monogramed lettering and stenciled image of a stylized fox on the front. “Said we could pay for it at any counter. So, I came here, of course.”
Trevor extended his fist, which they bumped together.
Rick frowned. It wasn’t technically illegal to aim a commission like that. Sure, the technology section and the service desk for personalized items were both clear across the store, but nothing says a purchase couldn’t go through any cash register.
Trevor lowered his voice, nearly too low for Rick to hear. “So, what are you getting?”
Paul had been holding a second item wedged under his arm carrying his coat. He was keeping it neatly out of sight, though not putting it in a pocket where a security guard might accuse him of stealing it. It was box with a pair of Glaive-Gusham sandals inside. They were the latest style, but even out of season, they were worth almost five hundred dollars. “These, my good man. Oh, and why don’t you pick something out for yourself, hmm? Her treat.” He snickered, then slid the gold-plated credit card across the counter to his friend.
Rick’s mouth dropped open. He wasn’t hearing this straight, was he? For a long moment, he was too stunned to act.
Trevor shrugged and slipped a watch off the top rack of a nearby stand. “Had my eye on this Yon-Hugh S.E. ever since I saw you wearing it. And wouldn’t you know it, there’s a Black Friday sale on. $200 off.”
“I’m sure she’d be thrilled to get such a good deal.” Paul gave another small laugh.
Trevor joined in, then started to enter the items into his register quickly, rushing before Yukiko wandered back from her irritated phone call.
Rick had had enough. He stepped over and smacked a hand down on top of the shoe box right on top of the ID markings to stop the salesman from beeping it in. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Trevor darted his eyes around, making sure no one had caught the outburst. Still in the clear, he hissed back, “Hey! Be cool, man. This is just how things work. Nothing’s nothing, get it?”
Paul leaned in over the counter, his easy charm fully engaged, “Don’t sweat it, friend. My girl makes money to burn. The credit card is on auto-payment. I don’t think she’s even looked at the receipts in a year. Thousands of dollars channel through that card and she doesn’t care. I put a trip to Aspen on it without her batting an eyelash. Like my friend said, nothing’s nothing.”
Rick scowled at him hard enough to make Paul back off. Then, Rick shot Trevor a fierce whisper, “How many times have you helped this jackass? I don’t care what she can handle. This is fucking theft!”
Trevor faced him down. “Who’re you to say? If she doesn’t care, then maybe that’s good enough for me.”
Rick clenched his teeth. Fine, if he wants to play it that way. “Then maybe we should find out if she cares, hmm?” He called out over the counter, “Excuse me, Miss?” He waved, doing his best to catch Yukiko’s attention.
Trevor snarled at him, “What the hell are you doing? You’re crazy!” He reached for the watch, about to stow it back on the shelf.
Rick grabbed hold of his wrist. “Not so fast.” He leveled a glare at Paul, who was trying to slip the shoes off the counter as well. “You too, jackass. You’re not walking away from this.”
Trevor growled lowly. “Give it up, Rick. Let this go or I’m calling security to stop you from harassing the customers! Think about who they’ll believe.”
Rick glared right back at him. “I’m betting they’ll believe her! Excuse me, Miss!”
Finally, he managed to flag Yukiko down. She hung up the call and her heels snapped briskly as she trotted over to the counter. Her voice had no nonsense in it, though didn’t start off angry. Rather concerned, wondering why he had been so emphatic to get her over there. “What seems to be the problem?”
Paul started, “It’s nothing babe –”
Trevor talked at the same time, “Just a small misunderstandi –”
Rick cut off both of their bullshit. “– I’m sorry, Miss, but these two were about to make some large purchases on your card that I’m sure you don’t want. It’s not my place to say if you’re treating him to those sandals, but he was going to charge this watch onto your card for my friend here. Do you know Trevor personally?”
Yukiko stopped, trying to process what she was seeing. She shook her head, adjusting to the totally unexpected subject. “What? No! Paul, what were you doing?”
Paul tried again, “He’s seeing this all wrong, babe. He doesn’t know anything about us. We share everything, and he heard this whole thing wrong.”
Yukiko wasn’t fooled. “Share everything? We’ve been dating for… what?... five minutes?”
He tried to sound insulted. “Five weeks is more like it!”
“So that makes us as good as married? I trusted you to use my card! But you’re trying to steal from me?” She saw the sandals, grabbed them, and held them up in front of his face. “Is this your new job, Paul? You said you landed a good one so you could quit that lame position over at Junger Tech. Are you selling these things to pawn shops or something?”
“No! No! You got this all wrong, ba –”
She slapped him. Hard, and right across the face. That shut him up. “– call me that one more time and I’m going to cut off your nuts, Paul! I can’t believe this!”
The commotion had drawn out security, even without Trevor calling them. Rick recognized Carl from the break room. He seemed like the solid type, and Rick invited him into the fray with a wave. Carl boomed over them with his baritone, “What’s going on here?”
Yukiko fumed, “This asshole has been stealing from me.” She jabbed a finger at Paul. “This isn’t going to end here. You know my lawyer, Paul. She’s a shark, and you’re the blood in the water.” She glanced up at Carl. “He’s bothering me. Can you get him out of the store? I wasn’t finished shopping.”
Carl gave her a happy smile. “With pleasure, Ma’am.” He loomed over Paul. “Easy way or the hard way, pal?”
Paul objected, “What about hearing my side?”
Carl glanced over at Rick. “What’d you see, Richtar?”
The security guard always used the strange nickname for him. This time, Rick didn’t mind at all. “Getting tossed on his ear would be too good for him. He was trying to cheat her. I’d frisk him to make sure he isn’t stealing anything else.”
Paul started to protest, but Carl clamped a hand on his shoulder and started to guide him out… very deliberately.
Yukiko gave Rick a sharp smile. “Thanks, Sir.”
Rick jerked his head in Trevor’s direction. “He was in on this, Miss. What do you want me to do? I can bring the police in if you want.”
It was Trevor’s turn to bite back, “You don’t have a shred of proof for anything, you idiot. I don’t know what you think you saw, but you just broke up a totally happy couple for nothing!”
Rick smirked back. “Snivel all you want. She knows the truth.” His smile got colder. “And if I were you, I’d hope those security cameras we have didn’t pick up any of this. Though they probably did.” He focused on the beautiful woman acros
s the counter from him again. “Miss?”
Yukiko was watching the exchange. “Did he actually charge the card?”
Rick shook his head. “No. But I heard them. This wasn’t the first time they’ve done this. I’m sorry, Miss. They’ve been doing this for a while.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry to say I really don’t watch that card very well. I have fraud alerts set up, but they wouldn’t flag anything down if it was bought here. I love this store and shop here all the time.” Her eyes flared a little. “That might change, now.”
Rick answered honestly, “We’d be sorry to lose your business. I hope me bringing this to your attention offsets any hard feelings you have for the company.” He jerked his head at Trevor. Rick was still holding his wrist, fixing him in place. Trevor might be able to pull away, but not without causing a scene. “And him?”
“Does your company have a policy for all this?”
“Sure does.”
Yukiko nodded. “Tell his boss then. Not sure the police could prove anything, but maybe your boss can deal with him. Alright?”
Rick gave a firm nod. “I’ll take this to them right away.”
Yukiko found a trace of a smile, still unsettled by what had happened. “Thank you. I was so blind. I was just starting to trust him.” She shook her head. “I always do this. Falling so fast…” She drifted off, then blushed. “Sorry, that’s way too personal. I’ll leave you to clean this up. Umm, thanks. I mean it. Not many people would have stepped in.” She retrieved her card and then began to walk off. She glanced back a couple more times, her smile a little wider each time.
Once gone, Trevor risked making himself look like a fool. He jerked away from Rick, stumbling against the far counter to get his wrist back. “You are such a complete idiot! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?”