The plant in question was probably a Hebe, native to Australia and New Zealand. They are noted for that foliage arrangement, which is sometimes referred to as ranked or decussate, with each pair of opposing leaves angled precisely 90 degrees from the previous set.

As a plant from a temperate zone, I would not have thought them to make good houseplants. But as some varieties are rather tender, maybe some work better for this purpose than others.

Hebes

That's a very common leaf arrangement - Acer, Crassula, and Portulacaria immediately come to mind ....

Al

But other plants with a similar leaf arrangement do not look anything like the amazingly precise and evenly spaced 90 degree alignment of the paired leaves that appear with hebes. The appearance is very unique. It is so precise on some species as to look artificial.

I'll make a guess and say that it is a ZZ plant ( Zamioculcas zamifolia). This plant is native to South Africa so it may not be the one you are looking for.

Another possibility is a Cardboard Palm, but that is native to South America.

Here's a little update:

I came in contact with one of the people in charge of the product range for the actual chain of stores in which I saw this plant. After some mailing back and forth a plant, that at least have some significant similarities to the one I'm trying to remember, popped up. The plant in particular is called Wollemia nobilis. It does however not resemble the plant I'm trying to find in every aspect. Most importanly the opposite phyllotaxy. The absolute PERFECT order the leaves/branches of the plant I saw, was arranged in. Hopefully this will send someone on the right path of finding the plant I'm thinking of.

I'm finding it somewhat unlikely that someone trimmed a specimen of the above plant to look like what I'm trying to describe. The only conclusion I can think of has to be it being another species, but very similar.

Regards./ Johnny

You have me intrigued with this plant. I'm going to make another guess which would be the Monkey Puzzle Tree ( araucaria araucam). That one is certainly too big to grow as a houseplant.

Maybe a small norfolk pine, Araucaria heterophylla? They are endemic to NZ/Australia/south pacific.