Alicia nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "Tell me about him again." "Luis Ramirez, 34, Marine veteran, 4 years of high-end retail experience at Wilson's Department Store before they closed last year. His references call him unflappable and exceptional with difficult customers."
The door opened, and Camille ushered in a tall man with military straight posture and alert eyes. His suit was modest but impeccably pressed, and he carried himself with quiet dignity. "Ms. Monroe, Ms. Jenkins, this is Luis Ramirez," Camille announced before excusing herself.
Luis stepped forward with a firm handshake. "Thank you for considering my application." "Please have a seat." Alicia gestured to the chair across from her. "I see from your resume that you managed the watch and jewelry counter at Wilson's." "Yes, ma'am. 3 years as associate, 1 as department lead."
"What brought you to retail after the Marines?" Maya asked. Luis considered the question. "I like helping people find what they're looking for. In the Marines, everything was high stakes. In retail, I can still serve people, but the victories are smaller and sweeter. Finding someone the perfect gift, making their day special."
Alicia leaned forward. "Luis, I'm going to be direct. We're rebuilding this store from the ground up. The previous culture was problematic." "I've heard rumors," Luis admitted. "That's partly why I applied. I believe in second chances for businesses and for people."
"What would you do if you saw a colleague treating a customer differently based on how they look?" Luis didn't hesitate. "I'd intervene immediately, redirect the customer to my care, and afterward speak privately with my colleague. If the behavior continued, I'd report it to management."
Alicia exchanged a glance with Maya. "One last question," Alicia said. "Why jewelry? You could work anywhere with your background." Luis smiled, the first real break in his professional demeanor. "My grandmother had this old silver bracelet. Nothing fancy, but she wore it every day of her life. When she passed, she left it to me with a note that said, 'Remember mijo. Beautiful things should make people feel beautiful, not small.'"
His eyes met Alicia's. "I've never forgotten that." After Luis left, Alicia turned to Maya. "What do you think?" "I think we just found our new floor manager," Maya replied with certainty.
Later that afternoon, Alicia sat with Priya Sharma, a jewelry designer whose portfolio had caught her attention. Unlike the other candidates who arrived in business attire, Priya wore a colorful silk tunic over jeans with delicate silver earrings of her own design. "These pieces are extraordinary," Alicia said, examining the portfolio. "Why haven't I heard your name before?"
Priya's smile was tinged with sadness. "I've been trying to break into the industry for 3 years. Most established jewelers want designers who look more like their traditional clientele." "Their loss," Alicia replied, stopping at a stunning necklace design. "Tell me about this one."