Not fear.
Not even anger.
Disappointment.
She turned toward the manager.
“You’re absolutely certain you want security involved?”
The manager laughed.
“You think threatening me helps you?”
“That wasn’t a threat.”
“Then leave.”
The Black woman folded her sunglasses.
Placed them carefully on the marble.
Then looked toward the ceiling.
Small black domes sat between recessed lights.
Cameras.
She knew exactly where every one pointed.
The manager mistook the glance for uncertainty.
“I run this boutique.”
The Black woman looked back at her.
“You run this store?”
“Yes.”
“Entirely?”
The manager frowned.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Before the Black woman answered, a soft electronic tone sounded from the rear of the boutique.
The private elevator.
The doors opened.
A man in a tailored dark suit stepped out first.
Regional president.
Behind him came the corporate attorney.
Then the North American retail director.
Then the head of brand compliance.
All four were holding folders.
All four had spent the last twenty minutes upstairs wondering why the person they were waiting for had not arrived.
The regional president took three steps into the showroom.
Then stopped.
He saw the Black woman.
White gown.
Feather stole.
Standing at the counter.
Manager pointing toward the door.
Security guard beside them.
Crystal heel lying crooked in its box.
His face emptied.
The corporate attorney nearly walked into him.
“What—”
Then she saw.
Her expression changed too.
The manager turned.
Relief appeared.
“Thank goodness.”
The regional president said nothing.
The manager gestured toward the Black woman.
“We’ve had an incident with a difficult customer.”
The regional president stared at her.
The manager continued.
“She’s refusing to leave after being told—”
“Stop.”
One word.
The manager blinked.
“Excuse me?”
The regional president walked forward.
Slowly.
The Black woman watched him.
He stopped several feet away.
“Chairwoman.”
The boutique became silent.
The manager did not understand.
Not yet.
The regional president continued.
“We’ve been waiting upstairs.”
The manager looked from him to the Black woman.
Then back.
“What?”
The corporate attorney’s eyes moved toward the shoe box.
Then the card.
Then security.
She understood enough.
The regional president said:
“The board is assembled.”
Still nothing from the manager.
The woman in white looked toward the crystal shoe.
The regional president followed her gaze.
His voice became quieter.
“Is there a problem?”
The Black woman finally answered.
“I’m beginning to think there are several.”
The manager’s mouth opened.