I had tolerated Denise’s behavior for years, but this was different. With coworkers and customers watching, I knew I had to do something. I took a deep breath, forced a smile, and leaned in.
“You’re absolutely right, Denise. I will take care of it.”
Her eyes lit up, thinking she had won. But then, I did something unexpected. I picked up the store’s PA microphone and made an announcement.
“Attention, shoppers! I’d like to introduce you to my wonderful mother-in-law, Denise! She’s here to buy two cans of our finest caviar and has graciously asked me, her daughter-in-law, to pay for them. Let’s give her a round of applause for being such a generous family member!”
For a moment, there was silence. Then, one person started clapping, followed by others, until the whole store erupted in applause. Denise’s face turned bright red. Without saying another word, she grabbed her purchase and stormed out, heels clicking furiously on the floor.
After she left, my coworkers were laughing and giving me high-fives. Even the manager, who had been watching from the back, gave me a wink. “Remind me never to cross you,” he joked.
That night, when I got home, I told Jack everything. To my surprise, he wasn’t mad. In fact, he was laughing.
“You know,” he said, “I think she might leave us alone for a while.”
And he was right. Since that day, Denise hasn’t called, texted, or made any surprise visits. And I have to say, it’s been quite peaceful.