Patricia laughed.
“Coffee, then.”
Within minutes, the Blackstones were seated.
A tray arrived.
Water.
Coffee.
Small pastries.
Patricia opened another high-value case without mentioning proof of funds.
Diana watched.
Five minutes.
Then ten.
Then fifteen.
No one returned to her.
The Aurora display remained closed now.
She could have ended it immediately.
Called Sarah.
Introduced herself.
Stopped the humiliation.
But another question had become more important.
How far would Patricia go when she believed Diana had no authority?
That was the uncomfortable value of anonymity.
People revealed their rules when they believed consequences were absent.
Ashley Chen noticed Diana around the eighth minute.
Ashley was twenty-three and had been with Luminous Designs for eleven months. She had studied art history before discovering that university debt and entry-level museum wages were a bad combination. Jewelry fascinated her because it combined design, craft, history, and emotion.
Diana recognized her from personnel profiles.
Ashley did not recognize Diana.
She approached anyway.
“Ma’am?”
Diana turned.
“Would you like some water while you wait?”
The question was simple.
Diana almost felt emotional.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Still or sparkling?”
“Still.”
Ashley smiled.
“I’ll bring it.”
Across the showroom, Patricia noticed.
“Ashley.”
Ashley stopped.
“Yes?”
“Back inventory needs organizing.”
“I was just getting this customer—”
“I said back inventory.”
Ashley glanced at Diana.
Then Patricia.
She understood the message.
Diana spoke softly.
“It’s okay.”
Ashley looked embarrassed.
“I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
Ashley walked away.
Diana stored that moment carefully.
Then she waited another five minutes.
At the twentieth minute, she approached Patricia.
“Excuse me.”
Patricia was showing Elaine Blackstone a diamond bracelet worth $280,000.
She did not turn fully.
“Yes?”
“I’m still waiting to see the Aurora necklace.”
Patricia exhaled.
“Ma’am, as I explained, that collection represents a substantial financial commitment.”
“Yes.”
“You might be more comfortable viewing some of our fashion pieces.”
Diana’s eyes narrowed.
“More comfortable?”
“More appropriate to your needs.”
“My needs?”
“We have several attractive pieces under five hundred dollars.”
The Blackstones went quiet.
Diana looked from the bracelet Patricia had freely handed Elaine to the manager’s face.
“I would like to purchase the Aurora necklace.”
Patricia laughed.
It happened before she could stop herself.
A quick, disbelieving sound.
The moment she heard it, even Elaine Blackstone looked uncomfortable.
Diana did not smile.
“I’m sorry,” Patricia said, though her tone contained no apology. “For a transaction of that size, I would need proof that you can complete the purchase.”
“Proof of funds?”
“Yes.”
“Before I can purchase?”
“Before we continue.”
“Is that standard policy?”
“For purchases of this magnitude.”
Diana looked at Elaine’s wrist.