I knew Hannah was trying to help me out of a tight spot, but after seeing the gold jewelry Lavinia had brought in, something surged inside me—an impulse I couldn't name—and the words tumbled out before I could stop them.
"Are these really yours?"
The moment I said it, Lavinia's expression shifted.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
"If they weren't mine, why would I bring them in to sell?"
"What, you think I stole them? Is that it?"
"Just because you work at a jewelry store doesn't mean you get to look down on people! Do you have any idea who I am? Your entire year's salary couldn't buy one of my handbags!"
"Forget it. I'm not selling. You'll be hearing from your corporate office about this, you rude little nobody!"
Before I could respond, Lavinia snatched up the gold jewelry and stormed out.
Hannah sighed and turned to me. "Lucy, what's gotten into you today?"
"That woman clearly has a temper. If she actually files a complaint with headquarters..."
I cut her off. "Hannah, I need to take a personal day. Something urgent came up."
She barely had time to react before I was already running out of the store, chasing after Lavinia.
Something about her was off. I was sure of it.
The question I'd asked back in the store might have been out of line, but her reaction had been way too extreme—like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
She was furious, yes, but she was also rattled. I could see it.
I wanted to catch up to her and get a straight answer. Where had all that gold jewelry come from?
If it wasn't mine, fine. No harm done.
But if the pieces in Lavinia's hands were the same ones I'd locked away in the cabinet at home, then this was a much bigger problem.
Lavinia was driving a Mini Cooper. I was on my little electric scooter, pedaling for all I was worth.
Luckily she wasn't driving fast, or I would have lost her long ago.
About fifteen minutes later, her car turned into an upscale gated community.
Through the wrought-iron fence, I watched Lavinia park in front of one of the villas.
I hesitated, doubt creeping in.
If Lavinia could afford a place like this, she probably wasn't the type to go around stealing jewelry.
Maybe I was overthinking it. Maybe her pieces just happened to look like mine.
Then someone walked out of the villa, pulled Lavinia into a tight embrace, and the two of them laughed and teased each other before strolling back inside hand in hand.
I froze. The blood drained from my face, and a deafening buzz filled my skull like a bolt of lightning had struck me where I stood.
The man who had walked out of that villa was my husband, Derek.
I couldn't believe my own eyes. My hands shook as I fumbled for my phone and dialed his number.
He didn't pick up. A text came through instead: Babe, I'm in a meeting right now. I'll call you back when it's over!
I bit down on my lip so hard I nearly drew blood. Then I walked up to the security booth at the villa entrance and forced a smile.
"Excuse me," I said to the guard. "Quick question—the woman who just drove in, Ms. Dickerson. When did she move in?"
The guard eyed me warily. "And you are? We can't just hand out residents' information."
Before he could finish, I put on my most anxious expression. "I'm the manager of a jewelry store. Ms. Dickerson is one of our top clients. A new employee of ours just offended her, and I came all the way here to apologize in person. I was hoping to learn a little about her beforehand—no bad intentions, I promise."
