“To do what?”
“Revenue.”
Nia laughed in disbelief.
“We did nine hundred million in group revenue last year.”
“Flagship missed target three quarters.”
“So you buried discrimination complaints?”
“I did not bury them.”
“You reclassified twenty-four out of twenty-seven so they didn't escalate.”
“That is not the same.”
“It is exactly the same when classification determines who sees them.”
Daniel stepped toward table.
“We coached managers.”
“We changed security vendors.”
“We disciplined two employees.”
“You treated each case as isolated.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because that is what evidence supported.”
Nia pointed toward Maya’s phone.
“Does that look isolated?”
He looked away.
Nia’s voice became quieter.
“You knew enough to build language around it.”
“No.”
“VIP protection.”
“Client comfort.”
“Unusual behavior.”
“You created permission without instruction.”
Daniel stared.
Nia continued:
“You told people to protect customers who spend money and left them to decide who made those customers uncomfortable.”
He whispered:
“That wasn't the intent.”
“No.”
Nia said.
“It was worse.”
“Because you never had to say it.”
The room went silent.
Anthony finally spoke.
“I raised concerns.”
Nia turned.
“When?”
“Four months ago.”
“With whom?”
“Daniel.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Anthony continued.
“I asked for behavioral criteria to be written into the policy.”
“Specific triggers.”
“Not intuition.”
“Not customer complaints.”
Nia looked at Daniel.
“What happened?”
Daniel answered:
“Legal was reviewing.”
Anthony said:
“Legal never received it.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“You don't know that.”
“I asked.”
“When?”
“Last week.”
Nia felt another piece lock into place.
She looked toward Daniel.
“Company phone.”
He stared.
“What?”
“Place it on table.”
“You are not taking my phone.”
“Company-owned?”
“Yes.”
“Then place it on table.”
Daniel did.
Nia pushed it toward Anthony.
“Secure it.”
Daniel stood.
“Nia.”
“You are now on paid administrative leave.”
His face went white.
“Do not do this emotionally.”
She almost laughed.
“You think I am emotional?”
“You were accused of stealing in your own store thirty minutes ago.”
“Yes.”
“And somehow I’m still asking for evidence before firing anyone.”
Daniel looked toward Maya.
Then Anthony.
Humiliation entered his expression.
Nia understood it.
She did not enjoy it.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“This is not a public execution.”
“Go home.”
“Get counsel if you want.”
“Cooperate with independent review.”
“If you did nothing more than make terrible management decisions, the facts will show that.”
“And if I did?”
Nia held his gaze.
“Then facts will show that too.”
He left.
Nia sat after the door closed.
For the first time all afternoon, exhaustion reached her.
Maya spoke quietly.
“Are you okay?”
Nia almost said yes.
Instead:
“No.”
Maya nodded.