Brent looked at him as if the question were absurd. “Look at him.” Richard’s eyes moved briefly over Elliot’s clothes. He did not repeat Brent’s words, but he did not challenge them either. “Sir,” Richard said, turning back to Elliot, “our staff are trained to help customers with a genuine purchasing interest. If you have a specific vehicle in mind, perhaps we can arrange for someone to show you a more suitable model.”
Elliot watched him carefully. “A more suitable model based on what?” Richard hesitated. “Based on your needs and budget.” “Have you asked about either?”
The manager’s smile weakened. “Perhaps we should discuss this in my office.” “No,” Elliot said. “I’d like to discuss it here.” Brent gave a dismissive snort. “This is ridiculous.”
Elliot looked directly at him. “You’re going to be held accountable for what you just said.” Brent’s confidence did not waver. “By whom?”
The showroom doors opened. A black executive sedan pulled up near the entrance, followed by a dark blue luxury SUV and a second vehicle transporter carrying the black sports car Elliot had selected. Emily stepped inside with a slim document case under one arm. Behind her came the company’s regional operations director, the head of fleet sales, and two members of the delivery team. Richard straightened at once. His face shifted into the attentive expression he used whenever a senior executive entered the room.
“Ms. Chen,” he said. “We weren’t expecting—” “Good morning, Richard,” Emily replied. She walked straight past him toward Elliot.
“Mr. Carter, all three vehicles have arrived. The Carter Mobility Foundation documents are ready for your signature, and the delivery team has the transfer records prepared.” The words seemed to hang in the air. Brent blinked.
Richard stared at Emily, then at Elliot. “Mr. Carter?” Emily opened the document case and handed Elliot the first folder. “Your requested vehicles are ready for inspection. The foundation’s board authorization is included, along with the purchase documents and delivery schedule.”
Elliot took the folder without looking away from Brent. “Thank you, Emily.” Brent’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. Emily turned toward the staff. “For those who haven’t met him, this is Elliot Carter, founder and owner of Carter Automotive Group. He owns this dealership and the seventeen other locations operating under our name.”
The room fell silent. The young couple beside the silver sedan looked at one another. The finance specialist stood slowly from his chair. Richard’s face had gone pale, and Brent looked as if the floor had shifted beneath him. “That can’t be,” Brent said finally. “I thought you were—”
“Poor?” Elliot supplied. Brent swallowed. “I didn’t know who you were.” “Exactly.”
Elliot closed the folder and placed it on the hood of the black sports car. “Yesterday, you told me my hands were too dirty to touch a car. You told me to look somewhere cheaper. You refused to explain a vehicle because you decided I couldn’t afford it. Today, you repeated the same behavior after I told you I wanted to buy several cars.”
“I was only trying to protect the showroom,” Brent said. His voice had lost its earlier certainty. “We get people who come in just to look. I have sales targets. I thought—”
“You thought you could judge my worth by my jacket.” “I made a mistake.” “You made a decision. You made it twice.” Brent glanced toward Richard, hoping for support. The manager was studying the floor.
Elliot turned to him. “Richard, how many customer complaints have been filed about this kind of behavior?” Richard cleared his throat. “We receive occasional service concerns, as any dealership does.”