The inventory.
The leases.
The brand partnerships.
And, indirectly, the employment structure of nearly eight hundred people.
Charles stared at Darren’s hand.
It was still touching Marcus’s shoulder.
His face went pale.
“Take your hand off him.”
Darren turned.
“What?”
“Now.”
Darren moved away as if Marcus had become hot.
Charles reached the floor.
His breathing was slightly uneven.
He looked at Claire.
Then Daniel.
Then Marcus.
“Mr. Bennett, I—”
Marcus raised one hand.
Charles stopped.
Marcus picked up the black card from the glass.
He put it back into his jacket.
Claire stared.
Something had changed in her face.
Not understanding yet.
Only fear.
Charles swallowed.
“The board is upstairs waiting for you.”
The words fell into the boutique like a dropped glass.
Claire blinked.
“What board?”
Charles did not look at her.
Marcus did.
The silence became almost painful.
Daniel lowered his eyes.
Darren took another step backward.
Claire’s voice came out smaller.
“Mr. Whitmore?”
Charles finally turned toward her.
His expression was not angry.
It was worse.
It was devastated.
“Claire.”
She pointed faintly toward Marcus.
“Who is he?”
Marcus answered before Charles could.
“A customer.”
That confused everyone.
Charles looked at him.
Marcus continued.
“At least that’s who I was when I walked through the door.”
He put his sunglasses back on.
Then looked at Charles.
“Let’s go upstairs.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Sir, wait.”
Marcus stopped.
She seemed unsure whether to address him as customer, executive, or something else.
That uncertainty was almost the entire problem compressed into one moment.
“I didn’t know.”
Marcus turned around.
“I know.”
Claire’s face loosened slightly, as though perhaps the sentence offered mercy.
Then Marcus added:
“That is why this matters.”
He walked toward the staircase.
Charles followed.
Daniel remained behind the counter.
Darren stared at the floor.
Claire stood beside the untouched watch.
The boutique was silent.
Marcus reached the first step.
Then stopped.
He looked back at Daniel.
“You recognized my name.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes, sir.”
“When?”
“When you said it.”
“Not before?”
“No.”
“Would you have sold me the watch?”
Daniel glanced at Claire.
Marcus noticed.
“I asked you.”
Daniel looked back.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel hesitated.