Chapter 406 - Can we talk (15)

10 May, LY Store, City Y

Everyone looked directly at Lexi, and there was silence in the store, until sounds could be heard from the door, and a voice angrily said "What is going on in my store. Girls, get the trash out of here that is disrupting your work."

Before Karen could even respond, Lexi turned and snapped "Trash. Ha!" She turned back to Karen and said "Forget about the offer you made to them. Unlike my normal self I have decided not to be soft hearted to people I employ. Have them charged for embezzlement, fraud and whatever else you can do, get the team in to replace everyone, and open up recruitment for new staff, but offer the two girls over there a job, if they are suitable."

"How dare you," came the voice from the door "I own…"

Having had enough, Lexi turned and walked towards the woman, who clearly was a manager but thought she was more than she was. As she got near, she angrily said "How dare I. You have an inflated view of yourself. Own this store? What a lie. I own the stores and employ staff, no franchises, no staff ownership. No wonder the staff here thought lying to head office would simply result in a management shuffle, getting people benefits they thought they deserved, without a care about the damage done to all my hard work."

Somewhat more calmly, Lexi called out "Karen, have you called the police?"

Karen called back, "Yes Boss." When the woman at the door heard Karen's voice, Lexi could see the colour drain from her face. She knew Karen's voice and who she was.

Quietly the woman said, "Who are you?"

Smiling, Lexi calmly responded "Someone you cannot offend."

In that moment Lexi could see something dawning on the woman, who stuttered out "Lexi Yao…?"

"You have it in one." Lexi looked over at the young girls who were stunned at what they were witnessing. She hated having them witness this, but there was just something that made them both thing of her younger self and that despite their young age they would be good staff.

At that moment a male voice, said "What is going on here?"

Lexi looked over and noticed four security guards, and two men in suits. Pulling out her phone, she instantly sent a text message to Phillip 'In City Y, brother-in-law, at my store in your shopping complex, can you tell complex management who I am.' Within seconds she received a response 'Yes,' before one of the men pulled out his phone.

"President Rong, how can I help you?"

Silence ensued for a minute before the man, who Lexi believed was the complex head said, "Yes Sir." Before ending the call.

He turned to Lexi and said "Madam Rong, the President just told me to offer you whatever assistance you need."

Thank goodness for her favourite brother-in-law. Smiling she said "My retail manager has called the police to have the staff here arrested and charged for crimes against my business. Can you please take them away until they get here and she deals with the police. I am aware of your promotion, but we will only be able to keep the store open for a few hours, but I have a new team flying in to take over the store until we can get locals in place."

Nodding, the four security guards moved over and quickly surrounded the staff, who realised they had no option but to leave. Karen nodded and followed the staff out behind the guards.

Lexi moved back to the girls and said "I should have introduced myself. I am Lexi Yao, the designer and owner of this brand. I must apologise for that scene, but I wanted you to stay. Firstly, I was going to give you something each apologising for what my staff did. However, given what has happened I wondered if you would be interested in a trial working here for a few hours, until we close the store. You do not have to, but if you do well today there will be a job here for each of you, that will work around your education."

The two girls looked at each other before asking "Why?"

"Your story. As I said, I am a single mother." Lexi stopped and shook her head, saying "I was a single mother, my first husband died when I had a three-week-old baby, leaving me with access to little, despite my family being rich. Designing clothes became my saviour, and the stores followed. I have re-married and my in-law's family company owns this complex among others and other businesses. You both reminded me, of me in some ways. You do not have to say yes, but it would give you an opportunity. Working as waitresses would earn little, you would rely on tips. Here you have a base salary, earn commission on sales and other benefits. All my store staff are paid on the same scale, regardless of the country they work in."

The girl wanting to buy the scarf said, "You are not messing around with us?"

"I never do when it comes to business. So, are you interested?"

The two girls looked at each other and nodded, before saying, "We are."

Lexi paused and said "Call your parents and let them know you have a paid job trial tonight in a retail store for say three hours, and four hours tomorrow. If it works out, there is a permanent part-time job for you, subject to your education needs and the restrictions your parents place on you. If they want to talk to me, I an happy to do so. Once you have done that, place your bags under the counter, turn your phone off, and I will start to work with you."

Excitedly the two girls moved off to make the phone call, and Lexi noticed a woman walking in, who asked "Where is Cheryl? She promised me that she had the dress I wanted for me."

"Ma'am, my apologise, but due to unforeseen circ.u.mstances there has been a change in staff."

"I only deal with Cheryl, and I want here because she knows what I want."

Lexi could already sense what this woman wanted. How bad were things here? Calmly, she said "Maybe, if I introduce myself it may make things better to deal with me. My name is Lexi Yao, and I am the owner and chief designer of LY…"

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