That was when Mia finally panicked.
She knew exactly how powerful the media company behind Mr. Hayes was. Her little mid-tier medical aesthetics clinic didn't stand a snowball's chance against them.
She shot me a venomous glare, snatched up her phone, and stalked off to the side.
"Babe! Where the hell are you? Get over here right now! Some i***t injector reported us to the FDA. They grabbed all our stock, and Mr. Hayes's company wants $3 million in damages!"
Whatever the person on the other end said made Mia straighten up.
She hung up, clicked across the floor in her sky-high stilettos, and glared at me like she wanted to tear me apart.
"Claire, just you wait. My husband's bringing people over right now. Even if I have to rip those seals off myself, we're using that stock tonight!
"As for you? Get ready to lose your license, get blacklisted from the industry, and starve!"
I looked at her, calm, like I was watching a clown work a bad set. "Tearing off FDA seals is a crime. I'd think twice if I were you."
Mia scoffed, her face twisted with contempt.
"A crime? Around here, my husband Ryan Miller is the law!"
Half an hour later, several black Mercedes came roaring into the parking lot, swerving like they owned the place.
Their headlights blazed through the glass doors and pinned me in place.
The car doors swung open.
A thickset man with a lumpy, intimidating face and a flashy gold watch stepped out, followed by a dozen rough-looking thugs.
Ryan raised a finger adorned with a massive gold ring and pointed straight at me.
"You're the little b***h who dared mess with my merchandise?"
A cigar was clenched between Ryan's teeth as he strode toward me.
He looked me up and down before suddenly shoving me hard in the shoulder.
I stumbled back half a step, caught my balance, and lifted my head to glare right back at him.
"Oh, you've got some backbone, huh?"
Ryan blew a thick cloud of acrid cigar smoke straight into my face.
"You bite the hand that feeds you? You got a death wish?"
Mia immediately glued herself to his side, wrapping both arms around his bicep.
"Honey, that's her! She's the one who called the FDA and got our stock seized. She even secretly recorded us so she could screw us over! You've got to teach this entitled little brat a lesson she'll never forget!"
Ryan patted the back of her hand, giving her a look that clearly said "I've got this."
Then he turned toward Mr. Hayes, his expression shifting into a greasy smile that never reached his eyes.
"C'mon, Mr. Hayes. It's a tiny little issue. No need to blow your top over it. It's just a couple of seals, right? I'll have my guys move the stock to my warehouse. We'll finish the treatments tonight, and it'll all blow over by tomorrow morning. I promise."
Mr. Hayes's brows drew together as he took a step back.
"Mr. Miller, those are evidence seals placed by the FDA in accordance with the law. You'd really dare touch them? Tearing those seals off by force will only make the legal consequences worse."
Ryan waved a hand dismissively, looking completely unconcerned.
"C'mon, Mr. Hayes. You're being way too careful. I've got connections at the FDA. I'll take the right people out for a drink tomorrow, and this whole thing will disappear like it never happened."
He flicked a hand toward the thugs behind him.
"Go and tear those seals off and haul the stock out!"
Several of his men immediately lunged toward the shelves.
I stepped forward and planted myself in front of them.
"This stock is evidence. Nobody touches it without an official order to unseal it."
Ryan's expression darkened instantly.
He loomed over me, jabbing the hand holding his cigar toward my face.
"Hey, sweetheart. You really don't know when to take a hint, do you? You think I won't mess up that pretty face of yours and snap both your wrists so you can't hold a needle again for the rest of your life?"
I didn't budge.
I stared him straight in the eye.
"Go ahead. Try me."
Ryan let out a furious laugh and drew his hand back to strike.
At that exact moment, police sirens screamed outside the door.
The same FDA agents who had left earlier had returned, with a police cruiser right behind them.
Mr. Hayes had clearly seen where things were headed and quietly slipped away to call the cops.
As soon as the vehicles came to a stop, the officers and FDA agents rushed into the salon and immediately took control of the situation.
"Nobody move! Drop whatever you're holding!"
The lead officer's command thundered through the room.
Aksara