She handed me a contact card, urging me to call the regional manager. « They can clarify everything, » she reassured. As I left the store, I could feel eyes on me, whispers trailing behind. In the car, I dialed the number on the card. After a few rings, a voice answered, calm and professional. « Regional Office, this is Mark, » he greeted. I introduced myself and explained the situation. Mark listened patiently before promising to look into it.
Two days later, I received an email—an official-looking document with a case number: 2023-5478. It detailed the issue, citing a mix-up with another customer’s account. « Please accept our apologies, » it concluded. Relieved but still unsettled, I forwarded the email to Carla, asking if this would resolve the matter. She replied promptly, confirming it should. « Thank you for your patience, » she added.
