Diana stood near the entrance for a moment.
Her brown handbag rested comfortably in her hand.
She looked toward the polished door.
Two years earlier, a manager had stood in that doorway and declared that the store belonged to her.
She'd decided Diana wasn't worthy of being served.
She'd tried to force her out.
And when Diana asked for ordinary professional treatment, the woman had physically shoved her in front of customers.
The scene lasted less than two minutes.
But what followed revealed problems that reached far beyond one arrogant employee.
A valuable necklace had been transferred without proper authority.
A senior executive concealed financial interests.
Employees were afraid to report concerns.
And the company had allowed complaints about unfair treatment to disappear beneath favorable sales figures.
The consequences required months of investigation, difficult decisions, and changes that couldn't be accomplished through one dramatic confrontation.
Diana thought about the necklace.
Clara.
Amira.
And the woman who had just entered the store carrying a broken family keepsake.