“Black customer.”
Marcus looked at him.
“What happened?”
“She apologized.”
“Was complaint sustained?”
“Manager called it communication mismatch.”
“Who was manager?”
Charles looked uncomfortable.
“Store director.”
“Where is the director?”
“Paris buying meetings.”
“Convenient.”
Charles leaned forward.
“Marcus, I am not defending what happened.”
“Then stop giving me explanations before we have questions.”
That landed.
Charles nodded.
“Fair.”
Marcus breathed.
Then relaxed slightly.
“Sorry.”
Charles looked surprised.
“For what?”
“I did exactly what I’m accusing everyone else of doing.”
“What?”
“Turned your explanation into defense before checking.”
Charles smiled faintly.
“That was fast.”
“Expensive habit.”
They spent three hours reviewing systems.
At noon, outside counsel interviewed Claire.
She arrived with a lawyer.
The company had not fired her.
Pending investigation, she was placed on paid administrative leave.
People online would later be furious about paid leave.
Marcus understood why.
But due process was not a reward.
Claire sat in a small conference room.
No boutique lighting.
No gloves.
No name badge.
Just a thirty-one-year-old woman in a cream sweater and black trousers, terrified.
Outside counsel asked:
“Why did you refuse to show Mr. Bennett the Heritage Twelve?”
“Allocation policy.”
“Was the watch formally allocated?”
Claire paused.
“No.”
“Reserved?”
“No.”
“Pending client offer?”
“No.”
“So could it be sold?”
“Yes.”
“Then what prevented showing it?”
“I did not believe he was a qualified buyer.”
“Why?”
Claire looked down.
“No purchase history.”
“Did you check?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“He said he hadn’t bought from that location.”
“He said not from that location.”
The lawyer corrected.
“He did not say he had no company history until you asked.”
“Yes.”
“Did you enter his name?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Claire swallowed.
“I didn’t think it was necessary.”
“Why?”
Long silence.
“I made an assessment.”
“Based on?”
“His presentation.”
“What does that mean?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“His clothing.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
The lawyer waited.
Claire opened her eyes.
“And the way he came in.”
“What way?”
“He didn’t seem like our usual Heritage client.”
“Define usual.”
Claire’s attorney shifted.