Still, representation mattered.
She knew that too.
By nine thirty, her photograph appeared on thousands of screens.
The same photograph Elliot could have found in thirty seconds had he bothered to search her name.
That was not the point.
At ten, the internal review began.
Naomi did not lead it.
An external employment-law firm did.
That was important.
Elliot received counsel.
Staff were interviewed privately.
Client complaints were reopened.
Sales records were analyzed for patterns.
The results were worse than Naomi expected.
Over five years, Elliot had converted wealthy repeat clients at extraordinary rates.
But walk-in interactions told another story.
Potential clients with established luxury purchase histories but no prior Maison Bellamy relationship were categorized informally inside his private notes.
Some descriptions were harmless.
“Prefers Art Deco.”
“Interested in Burmese ruby.”
“Gift buyer.”
Others were not.
“Probably browsing.”
“Influencer type.”
“Likely financing.”
“Tourist.”
“Price sensitive.”
“Not serious.”
The categories correlated strongly with age, race, accent, clothing, and whether the client arrived with recognizable luxury branding.
One Black physician had written to the boutique two years earlier after Elliot refused to show her an emerald bracelet until she mentioned her husband’s name.
She never received an answer from Victor.
He had never seen the email.
A manager below him had closed the matter with a complimentary gift certificate.
The physician never returned.
A young Chinese American technology founder had been directed toward entry-level pieces until an associate recognized him from a business publication.
A Latino family celebrating their daughter’s medical-school graduation waited twenty minutes while later-arriving clients were greeted first.
None of these incidents alone had become scandal.
Together, they formed a culture.
Naomi read every report.
Not because she enjoyed it.
Because ownership meant not outsourcing discomfort.
At the end of the review, Elliot met with Naomi again.
This time no gown.
No diamonds.
Naomi wore a dark suit and sat inside a conference room at Maison Bellamy’s corporate office.
Elliot looked exhausted.
He had lost weight.
His lawyer sat beside him.
An HR representative attended.
Naomi spoke first.
“The review substantiated a pattern of discriminatory client screening.”
Elliot’s lawyer immediately said:
“We dispute characterization based on intent.”
Naomi looked toward him.
“The report does not require proof that Mr. Crane woke each morning intending discrimination.”
She turned back to Elliot.
“It documents behavior.”
Elliot nodded slowly.
He looked different.
Less polished.
More human.
Naomi continued.
“Your employment will end today.”
His face tightened despite expecting it.
The lawyer asked about severance.
HR answered.
Contractual severance would be paid, excluding discretionary bonus.
Elliot remained quiet.
Then he looked at Naomi.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.”
“Was there any version of this where I kept my job?”
Naomi thought.
“If the review had shown one isolated interaction inconsistent with your history, possibly.”
He nodded.
“It didn’t.”
“No.”
He looked toward the table.
“I read the report.”
Naomi waited.
“I recognized all the incidents.”