?<strong>Chapter 397:</strong>


    The CEO signaled to the remaining young sales associate. “Go wrap it up for Mrs. Norris.”


    The CEO, assuming the $30,000 white pen was the free gift, smiled ingratiatingly. “Would you like the other one wrapped as well?”


    Carrie paused, thinking he meant the ck pen. She picked it up again and nced at Kristopher. “What do you think? This one suits you.”


    Kristopher’s eyes flickered to the price tag—$90,000, significantly more than the white one.


    His lips curled in mock indifference. “It’s nothing special. I’ve never used one this inexpensive before.”


    Carrie arched an eyebrow, suppressing a smile. Without a word, she handed the ck pen to the CEO and said, “Consider this one a gift from you.”


    The CEO’s polite smile froze. “A gift?” he asked cautiously, his high emotional intelligence faltering. Surely she couldn’t mean that.


    Carrie nodded, her expression calm but her tone yful. “Yes. Ny thousand is already quite expensive. I can’t possibly ask you to gift a $100,000 pen—that would be embarrassing.”


    The CEO stared at her, momentarily speechless. In all his years of dealing with audacious customers, this was a new level of boldness. As a mercenary businessman, he thought he was already quite ruthless, but he was still no match for this woman.


    Still holding out hope, the CEO turned to Kristopher. “Mr. Norris, I’ve heard you like the sapphire-limited edition. We specially acquired it for you. Would you like to take a look?”


    Before Kristopher could respond, Carrie interjected smoothly, “Which girlfriend of yours fought to get that for you?”


    The CEO paled, realizing the misstep in his ttery.


    Kristopher’s expression didn’t waver. “I already have a simr one,” he replied indifferently. “Plenty of people have seen it.”


    Carrie seized the moment, her smile turning sharper. “Well, since he already has one, he doesn’t need it. We’lle back for new models in the future.”


    The underlying message was clear, and it wasn’t lost on the CEO.


    His attempts to cater to Kristopher had backfired spectacrly. The sales associate’s earlier attitude, paired with the store’s greed, had soured Carrie entirely. The associate’s behavior spoke volumes about the store’s management. She decided then and there that such behavior didn’t deserve her business.


    Kristopher, growing impatient, gestured dismissively. “Just wrap it up.”


    The CEO, thoroughly defeated, instructed the associate to quickly package the pens. When the items were ready, Carrie took the two bags and handed one to Kristopher.


    Kristopher raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a faint smirk. “Giving me a gift from the freebies? You’re really putting in the effort.”


    Carrie stepped out of the store, ncing back briefly at the CEO’s darkened face before turning to Kristopher. With a teasing smile, she said lightly, “Who said I was giving it to you?”


    Kristopher raised an eyebrow and inquired, “To whom are you giving this away now?”


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