“You’re implying racism.”
“I’m describing what happened.”
“I treat everyone according to store standards.”
Diana looked toward the champagne.
The chairs.
The jewelry trays.
Then back.
“Your standard appears to change depending on who walks through the door.”
Patricia’s voice rose.
“You need to leave.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“Then you are trespassing.”
Kevin stepped forward.
“Patricia, I think we should pause.”
“Stay out of this.”
“We should contact regional operations before—”
“I said stay out of it.”
Ashley was pale.
Marcus remained near the door.
Patricia turned toward him.
“Marcus.”
He straightened.
“Escort her out.”
Marcus did not move.
“Ma’am, she hasn’t threatened anyone.”
“She is refusing to leave.”
“Has she damaged anything?”
“No.”
“Taken anything?”
“No.”
“Threatened staff?”
Patricia’s eyes widened.
“Are you questioning me?”
“I’m clarifying the situation before I put hands on somebody.”
That answer would later matter enormously.
Patricia pointed at Diana.
“She is a thief and doesn’t belong here. Get her out or you can go home too.”
Silence.
The word thief changed the room.
Evelyn Blackstone slowly removed the bracelet Patricia had been showing her and placed it back on the velvet tray.
Richard looked at his wife.
Then at Patricia.
Kevin’s face went tight.
Ashley covered her mouth.
Marcus said:
“I’m not removing someone for theft unless I’ve observed theft or have evidence.”
Patricia’s voice sharpened.
“I am your manager.”
“You’re the store manager.”
“I can have you fired.”
“You can report me.”
Diana looked at Marcus.
He met her eyes only briefly.
Professional.
Careful.
She saw fear there too.
Not fear of her.
Fear of losing a job he needed.
Yet he had still said no.
That mattered.
Patricia turned back toward Diana.
“I don’t care who you think you are. You need to leave my store right now, or I will call security management and the police.”
Diana reached for her phone.
Patricia snapped:
“Do not record me.”
“I’m not recording you.”
“What are you doing?”
“Making a call.”
“To whom?”
Diana scrolled to Sarah Mendel, chair of Luminous Designs’ board and one of the earliest investors who had backed Diana before most banks would.
Sarah answered on the second ring.
“Diana?”
“I need an emergency call.”
A pause.
“What happened?”
“I’m at Beverly Hills.”
“Okay.”
“We have a serious issue at the flagship.”
Sarah’s tone changed.
“Safety?”
“Not immediate physical safety.”
Diana looked directly at Patricia.
“Discrimination. Harassment. Managerial misconduct. Possible policy violations affecting customer treatment and employee conduct.”
Patricia stared.
Diana continued.
“I need HR counsel, West Coast operations, general counsel, and the available board committee members on conference. Preserve the Beverly Hills camera feed beginning at ten this morning. Also preserve today’s POS records, customer notes, manager communications, and prior complaints tied to Patricia Wittmann.”
Kevin went white.
Ashley gasped.
Patricia’s expression changed.
The name.
Diana Mitchell.