The Agent Withheld My Wedding Deposit

I bought a million-dollar set of gold as my bridal accessories at the jewelry store. The wedding date was fast approaching, but the pieces still had not arrived.

I personally went to the store to pick it up, but the sales assistant said the price of gold had increased, and I had to make up the price difference.

“In the past two weeks, the price of gold has risen by $98 per gram. Since you purchased 1,314 grams, the price difference amounts to $128,772, which rounds up to $130,000.”

She showed the number on the calculator to me, and I became speechless.

“Two weeks ago, I already paid the full payment. You said the store provides the delivery service, so I did not take it with me. This is a scam!”

The sales assistant looked at me with a scornful expression. “We’ve been in business for ten years, and we do honest deals only. Keep running your mouth off, and I swear I’ll sue you for defamation!”

What she said had reminded me that the ten-year lease contract that I signed with them had expired.

I immediately took out my phone and called her boss.

“From this year onward, the rental cost will increase by 50%. If you can’t afford the rental cost, move out immediately!”

“Why?”

I sneered and said, “You’ll have to ask your staff then!”

The person on the other end of the call wanted to say more, but I just hung up. I shook my phone in front of the sales assistant.

“If you don’t let me take the gold back today, your store will shut down soon.”

Lily Knight still looked at me with an arrogant attitude.

“Don’t try to fool me. I’m not easily scared!

“If you pay a cent less than $130,000, you won’t get your hands on that gold!”

I could not be bothered to explain myself to someone who refused to listen. Some people only got it when reality slapped them hard across the face.

“I don’t want the gold anymore. Just refund my money.”

There were so many jewelry stores in Ocean City. I only chose this store because the owner was a tenant of my family’s.

With how Lily has treated me, I would rather let someone else earn that money than let her scam a single cent of me.

Lily was not the least bit flustered. Instead, she looked at me with a faint smile as she said, “All sales are final. Such is the unspoken rule in the industry. But given the unique liquidity of gold, we can offer you a buyback based on its value as scrap gold.”

She tapped on the calculator again.

“The current market price is $946 per gram. For the buyback, we deduct $100 per gram for loss. For 1,314g, it would be $1,111,644, which rounds up to $1,110,000.”

Her words made me laugh in amusement.

“I spent $1,350,000 for this set of gold accessories. Now, if I need to take them, I’ll need to pay an extra $130,000, and if I want to return it, I’ll directly lose $240,000? Your store definitely knows how to run a business!”

Lily looked at me with a fearless expression. “We are running a business. We are not running a charity.

“Miss Lewis, are you taking the gold or returning it?”

Her firm tone sounded as if I would just quietly swallow this raw deal without a word.

But I was never someone who would yield to pressure.

Since she wanted to trouble me, we would see who remained standing after the war.

I walked straight out of the jewelry store, went to the store next door, and spent $10 to buy a megaphone before I stood in front of the jewelry store and shouted, “This big store, Gold Treasure Jewelry, is bullying their customers. Two weeks ago, I bought $1,350,000 worth of gold accessories here, and now they won’t let me take my purchase!

“Everyone, please keep your eyes wide open if you want to shop here!”