The blonde saw it.
For a moment, her face showed something unexpected.
Disappointment.
The associate noticed.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
The blonde walked away.
Twenty minutes later, the chairwoman entered a fitting salon with three jackets.
The young associate hung them inside.
“Take your time.”
“Thank you.”
The woman placed her handbag on the upholstered bench.
She tried the first jacket.
Too structured.
Second.
Better.
Third.
Excellent.
She stood before the mirror.
The associate remained outside.
Another customer called her.
She left.
The chairwoman removed the jacket and stepped behind the changing partition to return to her blouse.
That was when the blonde woman entered the salon.
She should not have.
Private fitting areas were for customers being assisted.
But she walked in carrying her ivory handbag as if rules were recommendations made for other people.
The chairwoman did not see her.
Not directly.
The camera did.
The security camera above the corridor had a clear angle toward the waiting area outside each fitting partition.
The blonde looked left.
Right.
She opened her own handbag.
Inside was the prototype bracelet.
She had returned to the jewelry counter after the associate walked away, requested to see the bracelet, distracted another employee with a question about a necklace, and slipped the bracelet into her sleeve.
Nobody had noticed.
She did not intend to keep it.
That was the most extraordinary part.
She intended to use it.
She stepped toward the Black woman’s open handbag on the bench.
Dropped the bracelet inside.
Closed the bag.
Then left.
Twenty seconds later, the chairwoman emerged.
She saw nobody.
She put on the cream jacket again.
Then decided against it.
She collected her handbag.
Walked back into the main boutique.
The blonde woman was waiting.
She watched the bag.
Then smiled.
The chairwoman moved toward the handbag section.
The blonde raised her voice.
“Excuse me.”
Several people turned.
The Black woman stopped.
“Yes?”
The blonde pointed toward her handbag.
“Open that.”
The boutique became quiet.
The Black woman stared.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
The blonde stepped closer.
“I want to see inside your bag.”
The young associate hurried over.
“Ma’am, you cannot ask another customer to—”
“I saw her steal something.”
The employee stopped.
The Black woman did not move.