She nodded.
"Then we'll review it."
He looked relieved.
She continued.
"Not just the complaints against him. All complaints concerning discrimination, staff retaliation, security escalation, and customer mistreatment."
The executive nodded.
"Of course."
She looked toward the handbag lying on the table.
The blonde saleswoman had retrieved it carefully and brought it into the room.
One metal ornament was broken.
A small scratch marked the leather.
The damage was minor compared with the handbag's monetary value.
But the symbolism was not.
She touched the broken ornament.
Then looked toward the executive.
"What is the company's policy when a manager physically handles a customer's property without permission?"
He hesitated.
"That depends on the circumstances."
She waited.
He continued.
"We have standards of conduct, but—"
She raised one hand.
"Don't tell me why the policy might not apply before we've even examined it."
He stopped.
For several seconds, the room was quiet.
Then she asked, "Has the manager been removed from the sales floor?"
"Yes."
"Was he instructed not to contact the witnesses?"
"Yes."
"Has the security footage been preserved?"
"The security team is handling it now."
She nodded.
"Good."
The executive looked toward her.
Then said quietly, "We can terminate him immediately if that's what you'd like."
She studied him.
"Is that what you believe we should do?"
He hesitated.
"I believe his conduct was unacceptable."
"So do I."
She leaned back.
"But I don't want the first major decision of my ownership to be a public spectacle designed to make everyone afraid of me."
The executive looked surprised.
She continued.
"We'll follow a fair investigation. He'll have an opportunity to explain. Witnesses will be protected. And we'll examine whether the company ignored earlier warnings."
She paused.
"Then we'll make a decision supported by the facts."
The executive nodded slowly.
For the first time, he seemed to understand the difference between an owner seeking revenge and an owner trying to repair a business.
But there was something else she needed to know.
She opened her handbag.
Removed the cobalt-blue embroidered scrap.
And placed it on the table.
The executive looked at it.
"What is that?"
She studied the tiny silver flower.
"A piece of the company's history."