He looked at the Black woman again.
“What is your position there?”
She did not answer immediately.
“Why?”
“I need to know who I'm dealing with.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Interesting.”
“What?”
“Five minutes ago you already seemed certain.”
His face flushed.
“I was asking because fleet paperwork needs to go through commercial sales.”
“Then perhaps you should have asked before deciding I was here to take photographs.”
The front glass doors opened.
Three people entered.
The regional director came first.
A white American man in his early fifties wearing a charcoal suit, moving quickly enough that the receptionist stood before he reached the desk.
Behind him walked the dealership’s general manager and a woman carrying a tablet.
The regional director scanned the showroom.
Then saw the Black woman.
Relief crossed his face.
He had been expecting her.
Then he saw the salesman standing between her and the pearl-pink SUV.
Then he saw the portfolio.
Then the expression on everyone else's faces.
His relief disappeared.
He approached.
“Ma’am.”
The salesman turned.
“Sir, I was just—”
The regional director did not look at him.
He extended his hand to the Black woman.
“Thank you for coming personally.”
She shook it.
“I wanted to see the demonstration unit before approving the fleet.”
The salesman’s face lost color.
The regional director continued:
“We've prepared the production timeline you requested.”
The Black woman nodded.
“I'm sure.”
The salesman looked between them.
The regional director finally glanced at him.
There was no anger yet.
Only alarm.
“Do you two know each other?”
The Black woman answered.
“We've been getting acquainted.”
The younger salesman looked down.
The receptionist pressed her lips together.
The general manager sensed danger immediately.
“Was there a problem?”
The Black woman turned toward him.
“Your salesman believes the vehicle shouldn't be opened for people who aren't serious buyers.”
The general manager forced a smile.
“Well, with certain specialty inventory we do have procedures—”
“He also suggested I visit an entry-level dealership.”
The smile disappeared.
The regional director looked at the salesman.
“Did you say that?”
The salesman straightened.
“She came in without an appointment on the floor and—”
“I had an appointment.”
“I wasn't informed.”
The Black woman said:
“You didn't ask my name.”
Silence.
The salesman opened his mouth.
She continued.
“You didn't ask whether I had an appointment until I told you I did.”
Another silence.
“You didn't ask what vehicle program I represented.”
“You didn't ask whether I was buying personally or commercially.”
“You didn't ask why I needed access.”
“You looked at me.”
“And then you decided.”
The regional director turned toward the salesman.
“Step away from the vehicle.”
The salesman moved.
For the first time since the Black woman entered, there was nothing between her and the pink SUV.
The regional director lifted the key fob.
“Would you like to inspect it now?”