There was.
Upstairs, the Black man sat at the walnut table while the regional president opened a second folder.
This one contained property documents.
Financial statements.
Lease schedules.
The president looked toward him.
“Are you still comfortable proceeding?”
The Black man leaned back.
“With what?”
“Do not make me say it.”
The man smiled.
The president sighed.
“The building.”
The Black man looked around.
The luxury boutique occupied the first two floors of a six-story landmark property.
Offices above.
Private event space.
Two smaller luxury tenants on the opposite side.
The building did not belong to the watch house.
Not yet.
Its owner had quietly offered it for sale.
The Black man’s family office held the winning bid.
The regional president knew because the house was negotiating a new twenty-year flagship lease with the incoming ownership group.
The Black man was not there to threaten anyone with that.
He had not even planned to mention it downstairs.
He had arrived early because he wanted to see the boutique before the meeting.
No entourage.
No lawyers.
No executives.
Just a customer asking for a watch.
The regional president rubbed his forehead.
“Today could not have happened at a worse time.”
The Black man’s expression changed.
“That sentence worries me.”
“Why?”
“Because it implies another day would have been acceptable.”
The president immediately shook his head.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know.”
The Black man leaned forward.
“But language reveals priorities.”
The president exhaled.
“You really do invest for a living.”
“I negotiate.”
“Worse.”
They both smiled slightly.
Then the Black man became serious.
“My real-estate team has recommended keeping your lease structure intact.”
The president waited.
“I have no reason to change that because of a clerk.”
The president visibly relaxed.
The Black man noticed.
“But.”
The president stopped relaxing.
“I want something added.”
“What?”
“Not to the lease.”
“Then?”
“The partnership agreement for the public horology program.”
The president listened.
The Black man continued.
“I want a paid apprenticeship track.”
“Not internships for people who already have access.”
“Apprenticeships.”
“Watchmaking.”
“Restoration.”
“Retail.”
“Client services.”
“Operations.”
“Recruit from community colleges.”
“Trade programs.”
“People who don’t come from families that know how to get into rooms like this.”