“What?”
“You heard me.”
The woman turned toward the manager.
“Are you firing him?”
“I am managing my staff.”
“For disagreeing with you?”
“For insubordination.”
The woman looked at the associate.
“What's your name?”
He gave it.
She nodded.
“Don't leave yet.”
The manager laughed.
“You don't decide that.”
The woman looked toward her phone.
4:27.
“No.”
She smiled slightly.
“Not yet.”
The manager was done.
She reached toward the open door handle.
“Out.”
The woman calmly moved her hand away.
The manager grabbed the door and began pulling it wider as though preparing to force the situation physically.
The security guard stepped closer.
“Ma’am.”
He was speaking to the manager.
Not the customer.
“Maybe don’t touch her.”
The manager snapped:
“Do your job.”
“I am.”
The woman watched.
No fear.
No urgency.
The manager saw that calmness and misread it as arrogance.
“What exactly are you trying to prove?”
she asked.
The woman answered:
“I haven't decided yet.”
The manager leaned closer.
“People come in here every week pretending they can afford things they cannot.”
The woman stared at her.
“People?”
The manager heard the trap.
Changed direction.
“Customers.”
“You didn't call me a customer.”
“Because you have not behaved like one.”
“How does a customer behave?”
“They respect the process.”
“What process?”
The manager’s voice sharpened.
“Qualification.”
“Again.”
The woman rested both hands in her lap.
“Tell me what qualification you applied when I entered.”
The manager said nothing.
The woman continued.
“You did not ask whether I had an appointment before deciding I probably didn't.”
“You did not ask what vehicle I owned.”
“You did not ask whether I had purchase history.”
“You did not ask whether I wanted financing or wire transfer.”
“You did not offer a consultation.”
“You told me the price before I asked.”
The manager’s expression hardened.
“You're twisting this.”
“No.”
The woman looked around the showroom.
“I’m documenting it.”
The manager’s eyes moved toward the security cameras.
Then back.
“Documenting?”
“Yes.”
The manager became visibly uneasy.
“For what?”
The glass entrance opened.
Everyone turned.
Three men entered.
The first wore a charcoal suit and moved quickly.
He was in his fifties.
Showroom director.
Behind him were two attorneys carrying leather document cases.
The director saw the woman seated in the Bugatti.
Then saw the sales manager leaning over the door.