That was becoming difficult to defend.
He said:
“Maybe I should call upstairs.”
The clerk turned.
“I have this.”
The security specialist paused.
He was not her subordinate.
But he also did not want a scene.
The clerk looked back at the Black man.
“Sir, if you refuse to leave, security may need to escort you out.”
There it was.
The junior associate inhaled sharply.
The Black man looked toward the broad security specialist.
The man immediately raised one hand.
“I haven’t said that.”
The clerk looked annoyed.
“You’re security.”
“Yes.”
“And I’m telling you we have an unauthorized individual requesting restricted access.”
The Black man looked toward him.
“Am I requesting restricted access?”
The security specialist answered honestly.
“No.”
The clerk’s face reddened.
The Black man continued.
“Have I threatened anyone?”
“No.”
“Touched anything?”
“No.”
“Raised my voice?”
“No.”
The clerk snapped:
“This is not a courtroom.”
The Black man looked toward her.
“No.”
“If it were, assumptions would cost more.”
The Asian American collector near the watch case smiled.
The clerk saw.
That was when she made the worst decision of the morning.
She looked at the Black man’s old steel watch again.
Then at his plain black clothing.
Then toward the rare collection staircase.
And she said:
“I think we both know you are not buying an eight-million-dollar watch today.”
The boutique went silent.
Even the security specialist turned toward her.
The junior associate whispered:
“Oh no.”
The Black man looked down at his wrist.
Then back at the clerk.
“How would we both know that?”
The clerk swallowed.
“You have given us no evidence that you are qualified.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“I asked how you know.”
She opened her mouth.
Nothing.
The Black man waited.
That silence became the answer.
The junior associate stepped toward the phone.
“I’m calling upstairs.”
The blonde clerk turned.
“Do not—”
Too late.
The junior associate picked up the internal line.
Pressed the administrative extension.
One ring.
Two.
Someone answered.
She lowered her voice.
“This is downstairs.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt.”
She looked toward the Black man.
“We have a gentleman here asking for the astronomical repeater.”
Pause.
“He says he has the eleven-thirty appointment.”
Another pause.
Her eyes widened.