Chapter 6 - the luxury lease on elm street
By four o'clock that afternoon, Margaret stood on the sidewalk of Elm Street, looking through the pristine floor-to-ceiling glass windows of Sloan’s Atelier—an upscale clothing boutique decorated with white marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and racks of designer summer dresses.
Through the window, Margaret saw Sloan standing near the polished marble cash wrap, holding a glass of champagne while chatting merrily with two wealthy local clients. Sloan looked glowing, radiant, and utterly unbothered by the events of the previous evening.
The glass door chimed as Margaret pushed it open and stepped inside.
Sloan’s laughter instantly died. She set her champagne glass down on the counter, her eyes narrowing as she looked at her mother-in-law in her simple floral dress and cardigan.
"Margaret?" Sloan said, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "What are you doing here? This is a private business."
"I know," Margaret said smoothly, walking toward the center of the showroom, her low heels clicking against the marble floor. "It’s a very expensive business, Sloan. Five thousand dollars a month in rent, to be exact."
Sloan’s face went slightly pale, though she quickly recovered her arrogant posture, turning to her two clients. "Ladies, give us a moment, please."
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Once the clients stepped outside, Sloan leaned across the counter, her voice dropping into a vicious whisper. "Did Harrison tell you about this? Because if he did, he broke his promise."
"Harrison didn't tell me anything," Margaret said softly, pulling the bank statements from her purse and placing them flat on the marble counter. "My banker did."
