“You are part of the review.”
Daniel’s face changed.
“Why?”
“Because Vanessa reports through a structure you oversee.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“I did not say you caused what happened.”
“I said you are inside the system that produced it.”
He nodded slowly.
“Understood.”
Alicia picked up her clutch.
“Call legal.”
“HR.”
“Internal audit.”
“Preserve security footage.”
“Point-of-sale logs.”
“Client notes.”
“Complaint data.”
“Scheduling.”
“Commission allocation.”
“Discount authorization.”
“Everything for twenty-four months.”
Daniel nodded.
Vanessa looked stunned.
“Twenty-four months?”
“Yes.”
“That’s excessive.”
Alicia looked at her.
“Maybe.”
“If so, the review will show that.”
Vanessa started:
“My clients—”
“Will be reassigned temporarily.”
“You cannot—”
Alicia’s eyebrows rose.
Vanessa stopped.
Alicia’s voice remained calm.
“Be careful.”
The manager inhaled.
Then said:
“I’m sorry.”
Alicia studied her.
“For what?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“For how I treated you.”
“Because I own the company?”
“No.”
Alicia waited.
Vanessa corrected herself.
“At first?”
“Yes.”
Alicia appreciated the honesty despite everything.
“Now?”
Vanessa looked toward the door.
“Because I’m realizing how it looked.”
Alicia said:
“Looking bad is not the same as understanding what was wrong.”
Vanessa flinched.
“Go home.”
“HR will contact you.”
Vanessa nodded.
She removed her name badge.
Placed it on the desk.
Then walked out.
Alicia watched through the frosted glass as the manager crossed the sales floor.
Every employee noticed.
Nobody spoke.
Five minutes later Vanessa was gone.
Daniel closed the office door again.
“What do you want me to do about the staff?”
“Nothing punitive tonight.”
“Keep store operating.”
“I’ll stay.”
“No.”
He looked surprised.
Alicia continued.
“If employees know a regional EVP is hovering, nobody will behave normally.”
“Then who runs the floor?”
“Olivia.”
Daniel blinked.
“She’s been here three months.”
“I know.”
“She’s not authorized as manager.”
“Make her acting floor lead for today.”
“Catherine has more tenure.”
“I know.”
Daniel studied her.
“Why Olivia?”
Alicia looked through the glass.
Olivia was sitting with the Hollisters.
She had reopened the Art Deco case.
Mrs. Hollister was trying on the bracelet Alicia had been denied.
The scene was almost absurd.
“Because Olivia tried to step toward me.”