Looked toward the woman standing in front of him.
Then back at the tablet.
His stomach dropped.
The photograph was unmistakable.
The woman in the sage-green gown was the new controlling owner of Aster & Vale International.
The company that employed him.
The company that paid the sales associate's salary.
The company whose most expensive watch she had just been refused permission to examine.
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
“Sir?” the associate asked impatiently. “Should I call security?”
The manager reached for her wrist, stopping her from lifting the receiver again.
“Don't.”
She frowned.
“What?”
His face had gone pale.
“Put the telephone down.”
The associate stared.
“Why?”
The manager swallowed.
Then looked toward the Black woman.
“Madam Chair?”
The boutique fell silent.
The associate blinked.
“Madam what?”
The manager seemed barely able to breathe.
He straightened his jacket.
Then took a small step backward.
“I'm terribly sorry. We weren't informed you would be visiting today.”
The Black woman slowly removed her narrow brown-tinted sunglasses.
She folded them carefully.
Then placed them beside her metallic-silver handbag.
For the first time, everyone in the boutique could see her eyes clearly.
She looked from the manager to the associate.
Then toward the $280,000 watch.
“Now you recognize me.”
The manager swallowed.
“Yes, ma'am.”
She looked toward the telephone.
“Interesting.”
Nobody spoke.
The manager hurried to unlock the glass display.
“Of course we can arrange a private viewing immediately.”
She raised one hand.
He stopped.
“Before you do that,” she said quietly, “I'd like you to explain something.”
He nodded nervously.
“Anything.”
She pointed toward the Meridian Eight.
“Who designed the suspended seconds mechanism?”
The manager opened his mouth.
Then hesitated.
He looked toward the product information card.
“The original mechanical concept is attributed to our historical development division.”
The woman nodded.
“That's what the company says.”