She pointed toward the brooch.
“Turn it over.”
Claire scoffed.
“Why?”
“Because I’m asking.”
“You are in no position—”
Daniel interrupted.
“Claire.”
This time he did not stop himself.
“Turn it over.”
She stared at him.
He continued, “There’s engraving.”
Claire looked down.
For the first time, uncertainty appeared.
Victoria watched.
Claire turned the brooch.
On the back, beneath the clasp, was a tiny mark.
Not a product serial.
Not standard Aurelia inventory coding.
A small V inside a sunburst.
Founder ownership mark.
Private.
Rare.
Used on fewer than twenty pieces in the company’s history.
Claire stared.
She did not recognize it.
That was almost worse.
Any flagship director handling heritage inventory should have.
Maya recognized it.
Her face changed.
“Wait.”
Claire looked toward her.
Maya stepped closer.
“That isn’t an inventory stamp.”
Claire snapped, “Stay out of this.”
Maya stopped.
Victoria turned toward her.
“No.”
Claire glared.
Victoria continued, “Let her finish.”
Claire laughed in disbelief.
“You still think you control this conversation?”
Victoria looked at Maya.
“What is the mark?”
Maya hesitated.
Then found courage.
“The private founder designation.”
Silence.
Claire’s face changed.
“No.”
Maya nodded.
“I saw it during heritage certification.”
“Pieces carrying that mark aren’t store inventory.”
“They’re personally assigned.”
Daniel looked toward Victoria.
Then the brooch.
Then Victoria again.
Understanding had begun.
Claire said, “Assigned to whom?”
Maya swallowed.
“Founders.”
“Family.”
“Ownership office.”
Claire’s hand lowered slightly.
Victoria extended her palm.
“My brooch.”
Claire stared.
She did not return it.
Instead, she said the worst possible thing.
“Anyone could know that mark.”
Victoria’s eyebrows rose.
Even Daniel looked stunned.
Claire continued, now fighting not for truth but survival.
“Anyone could reproduce an engraving.”
Maya whispered, “Claire.”
Victoria’s voice became quiet.
“Now you’re accusing me of counterfeiting it too.”
Claire realized.
Too late.
The private-office doors opened behind them.
Footsteps.
Several.
Daniel turned.
Maya turned.
Claire turned last.
Marcus Vale, Aurelia & Vale’s chief legal officer, entered first.
Sixty-one.
Silver hair.
Charcoal suit.
Behind him came regional president Laura Bennett, operations chief Owen Reed, and two members of the internal audit team.
Marcus saw Victoria.
Stopped.
Then saw her handbag emptied across the counter.
Then Claire holding the brooch.
His face changed.
“Victoria?”
The entire showroom became still.
Claire looked from him to Victoria.
“Victoria?”
Marcus walked faster.
“What happened?”
Victoria said nothing yet.
Marcus reached her.
“Are you all right?”
Claire’s face drained.
Laura Bennett stopped behind him.
Her mouth opened slightly.
“Ms. Hale.”
There it was.
Claire’s eyes moved toward Victoria.
Hale.
Victoria Hale.