Chapter 4 - The Declined Card
While Julian was losing his empire, Serena was busy trying to spend it.
She walked into the Chanel boutique downtown with her head held high, swinging the black Birkin bag Julian had bought her on her arm. She had spent the morning redecorating my former living room and felt she deserved a reward.
"I'll take the tweed jacket, the knee-high boots, and the pearl drop earrings," Serena told the sales associate, tossing Julian's platinum credit card onto the glass counter.
The associate smiled politely and ran the card.
Beep. Declined.
The associate frowned. "I'm sorry, ma'am. The card seems to be declining. Do you have another form of payment?"
Serena huffed, rolling her eyes. "Run it again. The machine is obviously broken. My boyfriend is the CEO of Zenith Tech. There is no limit on that card."
The associate ran it again. Declined.
Just then, Serena's phone rang. It was Julian.
"Julian, tell your bank to stop putting fraud alerts on the card," Serena snapped into the phone. "I'm trying to shop."
"Serena, get out of the store," Julian’s voice was shaking, high-pitched and hysterical. "Get out of the store right now and go home. We have a massive problem."
"What are you talking about?"
"The company is gone, Serena! The accounts are frozen! Clara... Clara isn't who we thought she was. Her family owns everything!"
Serena felt the blood rush from her head. She looked at the sales associate, who was now holding the card with a suspicious glare.
"Ma'am, the bank just flagged this card as stolen," the associate said, picking up the phone. "I need to call mall security."
May you like
Serena didn't even grab her purchases. She snatched her Birkin and practically ran out of the boutique, her high heels clicking frantically against the marble floors.
The fantasy was rapidly shattering. And it wasn't even lunchtime.
