“I’m sorry you had to witness this.”
Elaine almost laughed.
The woman did.
“Witness what? Her standing?”
Richard ignored her.
He turned back to Elaine.
“Leave now.”
Elaine’s jaw tightened.
Richard pointed toward the entrance.
“Or I’m calling security.”
The security guard near the doors shifted.
His name was Anthony Brooks.
Black.
Early forties.
He looked uncomfortable.
Elaine glanced toward him.
Anthony did not move.
Richard raised his voice.
“Anthony.”
The guard approached slowly.
“Yes, sir?”
“Escort her out.”
Anthony looked at Elaine.
Then Richard.
“What happened?”
“She is refusing to leave.”
Anthony asked:
“Did she damage anything?”
“No.”
“Threaten anyone?”
“No.”
Richard’s irritation became visible.
“She is trespassing.”
Elaine looked at Anthony.
“I entered during business hours.”
Anthony nodded.
Richard snapped:
“I have revoked permission.”
Anthony looked at him.
Then at Elaine.
He clearly disliked this.
Elaine appreciated that he asked questions.
Still, she understood his position.
Richard was the store director.
Anthony worked through a contracted security company.
If Richard instructed him to remove someone, ignoring the instruction could cost him his assignment.
Elaine said:
“You don’t need to touch me.”
Anthony relaxed slightly.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Richard looked triumphant.
Elaine picked up her clutch.
Then she stopped.
“Before I leave, I need you to do one thing.”
Richard laughed.
“You don’t get to set conditions.”
“Call your regional director.”
His smile weakened.
“What?”
“Call your regional director.”
“Why?”
Elaine looked at the badge on his jacket.
“Because I think he will want to know what you're doing.”
Richard laughed again.
Not because it was funny.
Because he needed the audience to see that he still controlled the situation.
“You want me to call my boss because you were asked to leave?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Elaine nodded.
“Then call corporate.”
Richard stared.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
“What would you call this?”
“Due diligence.”
His eyebrows pulled together.
“What?”
Elaine opened her clutch.
Slowly.
The room seemed to move closer.
She removed a black leather cardholder.
Richard’s expression became amused.
“You have a business card.”
Elaine looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Congratulations.”
Maya visibly winced.
Elaine opened the holder.
She pulled out one matte-black card.
Gold lettering.
Minimal design.
She held it between two fingers.
Richard did not take it.
Elaine placed it on the glass display.
He looked down.
ELAINE CARTER
CHAIR & CHIEF EXECUTIVE
CARTER MERIDIAN HOLDINGS
His eyes moved lower.
No explanation.
No Bellmont & Hart logo.
Richard looked up.
“Is this supposed to impress me?”
Elaine tilted her head.
“Apparently not.”
Richard laughed.
“I've never heard of your company.”
“That is becoming obvious.”
The woman recording smiled.
Richard pointed toward the door again.
“Enough.”
Elaine remained.
“Call your regional director.”
“No.”
“Then I will.”
She took out her phone.
Richard stepped closer.
“You cannot stand in my store making calls after I’ve ordered you out.”
Elaine’s expression changed.
Not much.
But enough.
“Your store?”
Richard’s confidence returned.
“Yes.”
Elaine dialed.
One ring.
Two.
A man answered.
“Elaine.”
Richard froze slightly at the familiarity of the voice.
Elaine said:
“Good morning, David.”
“Is something wrong?”
“I’m at Bellmont Atlanta.”
Pause.
“I thought you might go there.”
Elaine looked at Richard.
“The store director is attempting to remove me.”
Silence on the line.
Then:
“What?”
Richard’s face changed.
Not fear yet.
Uncertainty.
Elaine continued.
“His name is Richard Hale.”
Another pause.
“Do not leave.”
Elaine almost smiled.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
David Mercer was president of Bellmont & Hart North America.
Until 6:42 that morning, he had reported to the former ownership group.
Now he reported to Elaine.
He had met her three times during acquisition negotiations.
He knew exactly who she was.
“I'm calling the regional VP now.”
Elaine said:
“Don’t.”
David stopped.
“I want Richard to call him.”
She looked at the manager.
“He seems reluctant.”
Richard’s face had begun losing color.
“Elaine.”
“Yes?”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want corporate security?”
“No.”
“Legal?”
“No.”
“Then what do you want?”
Elaine looked around the store.
Maya.
Anthony.
Customers.
Phones.
Richard.
“The footage preserved.”
David understood instantly.
“All camera feeds?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll secure them.”
“And no employee retaliation.”
“Understood.”
Elaine ended the call.
Richard stared.
“Who was that?”
Elaine slipped the phone back into her hand.
“You should call your regional director.”
For the first time, Richard obeyed.
His fingers shook slightly when he removed his phone.
He stepped toward the counter.
Elaine did not follow.
Everyone watched.
He dialed.
“Mr. Collins?”
Pause.
“Richard Hale.”
Pause.
“Yes, sir.”
His expression changed.
The regional director apparently already knew why he was calling.
Richard looked at Elaine.
“No, sir.”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
Longer pause.
His face went white.
“No. Nobody told me.”
Silence.
Richard lowered the phone slightly.
Then lifted it again.
“I understand.”
He ended the call.
Nobody spoke.
Elaine waited.
Richard stared at her.