David smiled at his wife across the table. "You know, Richard said almost the same thing," he replied. Evelyn snorted softly. "Then Richard has been listening to me all these years after all. That's encouraging."
They sat together late into the evening, looking at old photographs they had not opened in years. Evelyn wore the new necklace throughout, occasionally touching the pendant as if checking whether it was truly there. David noticed but did not comment. Some gifts were best received without the giver turning every moment of appreciation into a demand for thanks.
The following Monday, Victor Sloan arrived at the company's retail administration office for the formal review interview. He wore the same expensive suit he had worn the day of the incident, pressed so sharply that it seemed like an attempt to recover an identity that had begun slipping away. His attorney accompanied him, and Celia Grant explained the process carefully before asking him to describe the afternoon in his own words. Richard was not present; his involvement would be documented separately to avoid creating the appearance that the investigation had already been decided.
Victor began with the language he had practiced. He had been protecting merchandise, safeguarding customers, and responding to an unusually suspicious transaction. He said the customer's clothing had been inconsistent with the purchase and that the card's appearance had raised concerns. But when Celia asked whether the store's written fraud-prevention procedure authorized employees to cut up unverified payment cards, he could not identify any provision that did.
"Why didn't you attempt the transaction?" she asked. Victor answered that he had believed it would be a waste of time. "Why didn't you contact the issuer or ask the customer to use the verification process?" He said the customer had been difficult, though the footage showed David offering both options without raising his voice. The room grew quieter as the difference between Victor's description and the recording became impossible to ignore.
Celia then asked about Emma's role. Victor said she had been insubordinate and had undermined his authority. The interview notes reflected his statement exactly before Celia asked whether he had threatened her continued employment for questioning the destruction of the card. Victor hesitated, then admitted that he had told her not to come back if she continued defending the customer.
"Do you believe that was an appropriate supervisory response?" Celia asked. Victor stared at his hands. "I was under pressure," he answered. "There were other clients watching, and I needed to establish control." His answer did not change even when Celia explained that the company expected a manager to handle disagreements without humiliation or threats.
The review extended beyond one afternoon. Investigators spoke with employees separately, examined previously filed complaints, and checked customer records to see whether appointments had been refused or described inaccurately. Several employees confirmed that Victor frequently instructed them to prioritize customers based on expensive-looking clothing or accessories rather than actual requests. Some customers had been discouraged from receiving repairs or consultations because he assumed their business would not justify the time.