Chapter 55 
The salesperson was relentless, employing every tactic in their arsenal to sway Matthew. “Crafted with cutting–edge technology from overseas, frying pan ensures your food is heated uniformly from every angle, bringing out the rich flavors and preserving essential nutrients. 
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“There’s a limited–time 10% off offer now. Plus, if you pick up three or more items from our store, you’ll save 20%. And, if you bundle this pan with a steamer and a slow cooker, you’ll get three bottles of olive oil for free.” 
While Matthew struggled with such sales talk, Valerie was a different story. 
“Why is this suddenly being pitched as cutting–edge technology? It’s just a cooking tool,” Valerie commented. 
The salesperson faltered, scrambling for a response. “Well, foreign technology does have its advancements.” 
Valerie gave a slight smile. “Advanced or not, we’re just looking for something to cook with. A regular frying pan will do. Also, you mentioned a store–wide 20% discount if we buy three items, didn’t you? I noticed a sign outside for a discount on a cooking pot. Shouldn’t that be included too?” 
Matthew had completely missed the promotional sign outside. Prompted by Valerie’s observation, he looked out and noticed the discreetly placed sign. He was impressed by her attentiveness. 

Realizing the cooking pot would bring in little profit, the salesperson quickly claimed it wasn’t part of the store–wide offer. 
“Well then, perhaps I’ll check the store next door. They might have a similar discount,” Valerie said casually as she feigned a move toward the neighboring store, prompting the hesitant salesperson to relent. 
“Whoa, hold up there!” the salesperson blurted out, backpedaling. “Let’s not be too hasty, Miss. I’m sure we can work something out…” 
Valerie, assertive yet graceful, continued her negotiation. She not only secured a better deal but also managed to get a few kitchen tools for free. Her approach was not merely about getting the lowest price; she chose several well–priced, high–quality items thoughtfully, allowing the salesperson some margin. 

Soon, Valerie had taken complete control of the situation. In the end, she walked away with several items at a price much lower than initially quoted, along with a notable stack of freebies. 
Matthew, who had been a passive observer until then, found the whole exchange quite entertaining. He had never seen anyone manage a sales situation quite like Valerie did. 
Mini’s trunk was too small to fit all her purchases, so Valerie approached the salesperson once more. Whatever she said worked wonders because the salesperson soon agreed to deliver everything to her home at no extra charge. 
After organizing the kitchen utensils, Valerie, with Matthew following, moved on to the tableware section. There, they encountered an exquisite set of tableware priced at 100 dollars. 
Valerie’s brow furrowed in disapproval. “I’m wondering if I can get a discount on these?” 
Matthew was astounded by her request. ‘Looks like she’s not at all worried that this may cause offense, he wondered. 
To his amazement, after a quick discussion with the shop owner, they accepted her offer. 
With her kitchen essentials squared away, Valerie convinced Matthew to swing by the biggest supermarket in town. Matthew had just planned to pick up some seafood for dinner, but Valerie ended up filling their cart to the brim–fresh meat, produce, all kinds of seasonings, the works. By the time they were done, the back seat of Matthew’s car was practically overflowing. 
Today, Matthew saw a new side of Valerie. She truly lived up to her reputation as the top salesperson at Arcton Cars. It made sense now why she reacted the way she did to the prices of the treadmill and dishwasher. Had she been in charge, she likely would have haggled for a much better deal. 
It made Matthew realize something else about Valerie too. He’d kind of assumed she might try to use his offer to cover the bill as an excuse to splurge on herself. But instead, she’d been laser–focused all day on getting the best deals and saving him money wherever possible. 
Valerie joyously sorted through her finds, particularly cherishing the tableware set for its cuteness and elegance. She believed that beautiful tableware could indeed enhance the dining experience. 
Observing her happy demeanor, Matthew couldn’t help but question if he had ever understood her belo 
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