Recently, my wonderful wife decided to turn her love for fashion (yes, I went there) into a career by looking for a job in retail, believing it would be a perfect fit for her interests.
One afternoon, she came home visibly upset, and when she finally calmed down, she shared what had happened. While shopping, she noticed a “Now Hiring” sign in the window of a well-known lingerie store and thought it could be a great opportunity.
Excited, she approached the sales assistant to inquire about the application process, only to be met with cold indifference. The assistant didn’t even acknowledge her until she was directly in front of her. Undeterred, my wife politely asked about the job. What came next was shocking: the assistant, with a condescending sneer, looked my wife up and down and said, “Look, hun, I don’t think you’re pretty enough for this job. No chance. Don’t even try.”
When Emma got home, she was in tears, heartbroken by the cruel remark. I had never seen her so devastated. Wrapping her in my arms, I told her, “Don’t let her get to you. You’re beautiful and talented, and her words don’t define you.” Through her sobs, she asked, “But why would she say that? I just wanted to apply for a job. I didn’t deserve that.”
I tried to console her, but inside, I was furious. How dare someone treat her that way? I knew I had to do something to make sure that sales assistant learned a lesson.
Over the next few days, I crafted a plan. I reached out to my friend Mike, who works in the fashion industry, and told him what had happened. Mike was just as outraged and agreed to help me teach that assistant a lesson in humility.
A few days later, everything was set. With Emma’s help, I dressed up and headed back to the store, making sure that the same sales assistant was working. Pretending to browse, I waited until the store was less busy and then approached her with a friendly smile.
“Hi, I’m looking to buy something special for my wife. Can you help me pick out a few options?” I asked. Instantly, her demeanor changed. Seeing a potential big sale, she became attentive, showing me various items with a sweet tone.
As she guided me through the store, I made small talk to keep her engaged, asking about her job and how long she had worked there. She boasted about being there for six months and how the store only hired people with the “right look.”
After about 30 minutes, I pretended I needed to call my wife for her opinion on one of the items. Instead, I called Mike, who arrived quickly to enact his part of the plan.
Mike introduced himself to the sales assistant, pretending to be a talent scout for a major fashion brand. He mentioned he was looking for someone with a unique look and personality. Her eyes lit up, thinking this was her big break. But after giving her a quick once-over, Mike shook his head and said, “I’m sorry, but you don’t quite fit what we’re looking for. We need someone who truly stands out.”
The assistant was stunned, visibly crushed. Before she could respond, Mike turned to me and asked, “What about you? Have you ever thought about modeling?”
The assistant’s jaw dropped as I smiled and replied, “No, but I do know someone perfect for your campaign—my wife, Emma. She’s stunning, confident, and beautiful inside and out.”
Mike enthusiastically agreed, saying, “I’d love to meet her!” I turned to the assistant and, looking her straight in the eye, said, “It’s funny how perceptions can be so misleading. Maybe next time, you’ll think twice before judging someone based on their looks.”
Emma met with Mike later, and while she didn’t pursue modeling, the experience gave her a much-needed boost of confidence. When she came back from the meeting, she was glowing. “Mike was so kind and professional,” she said, beaming.
“I told you, darling. You have everything it takes,” I replied, hugging her tightly. That evening, as we sat down for dinner, Emma took my hand and said, “I can’t believe you did all that for me.”
“I’d do anything for you, my love. No one gets to make you feel less than you are,” I said firmly.
A week later, we were back at the shopping center. As we walked past the lingerie store, I noticed the sales assistant inside, looking as if she was still recovering from the shock. I teased Emma, “Want to go in and browse?” She laughed, shaking her head. “I’ve had enough of that store for a lifetime!”
In the end, the best revenge wasn’t just the clever plan; it was helping Emma realize her true worth and lifting her up when she needed it most.
So, that’s my story. Sometimes, the best way to handle hurtful people is to make them realize how wrong they were, but in a way they’ll never forget. And trust me, the look on that assistant’s face? Priceless.
This story, while inspired by real events, has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names and details have been changed to protect privacy. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretations.