Nia remained standing behind the counter, her hands folded neatly in front of her.
"I can offer you the burgundy version at the same price, or I can arrange for a manager to contact our other locations."
Victoria's lips curled into a contemptuous smile.
"Do you honestly think I would accept a substitute because you couldn't manage a simple reservation?"
"No, ma'am. I was simply offering an alternative."
"Don't call me ma'am as if we're having a pleasant conversation. You're wasting my time."
Nia's cheeks grew warm, but her voice remained steady.
"I'm sorry you feel that way."
Victoria suddenly slapped a small black cardholder onto the marble counter.
"Then prove you're useful. Find me the bag."
Nia glanced at the cardholder, then back at Victoria.
"I'll contact the other locations immediately."
As she reached for the store telephone, Victoria noticed a man entering the boutique behind her.
He was an older Black gentleman, perhaps in his late sixties, wearing a brown overcoat that had clearly seen many winters. A dark flat cap rested on his head, and his leather shoes were polished but visibly worn at the edges.
He carried no designer shopping bags. His coat was modest, his posture relaxed, and his expression thoughtful.
Beside him walked a younger man in a dark business suit, carrying a slim leather portfolio.
The older gentleman paused just inside the entrance, allowing his eyes to travel across the room.
He seemed less interested in the merchandise than in the people.
His name was Elijah Carter.
To most of the shoppers, he looked like an ordinary man who had wandered into the wrong store.
To the younger man accompanying him, however, he was the most important person in the building.
Elijah had spent more than four decades building Carter & Vale, a private investment company whose holdings extended across commercial real estate, luxury retail, hospitality, and several major development projects throughout the country.
He rarely appeared in public without a reason.
He also preferred to visit businesses without announcing his identity beforehand.
His assistant, Daniel Reed, had repeatedly encouraged him to reconsider that habit.
"Mr. Carter," Daniel had said earlier that morning, "you own a significant stake in the company that operates this boutique. You shouldn't have to walk into your own investment and pretend to be a stranger."
Elijah had smiled.
"If people behave differently because they recognize my name, Daniel, then I haven't learned anything about the business. I have only learned how well they can perform when someone important is watching."
Now, standing beneath the sparkling chandeliers, Elijah quietly observed Victoria's confrontation with Nia.
He did not interrupt immediately.
He wanted to see how the situation would unfold.
Victoria, meanwhile, had noticed the older gentleman standing near the entrance. Her eyes briefly traveled over his coat and shoes before returning to Nia.
"Are you going to make that call, or are you waiting for another customer to distract you?"
"I'm making it now," Nia answered.
She lifted the receiver.
At that moment, Victoria noticed that the older man had approached the counter beside her.
"Excuse me," he said pleasantly to Nia. "Could you tell me whether you carry leather briefcases suitable for everyday business use?"
Nia turned toward him.
"Certainly, sir. We have several options in the men's collection. Are you looking for something compact or something large enough to hold documents and a laptop?"
Elijah considered the question.
"Something practical. I don't need anything flashy."
"Then I think you'll appreciate our handcrafted collection. The leather is durable, and the interior compartments are designed for everyday use."
She put the telephone down momentarily and gestured toward a display.
"If you'd like, I can show you a few styles and explain the differences."
Elijah smiled.
"That would be very kind of you."
Victoria made an exaggerated sound of disbelief.
"Oh, wonderful. Now she's abandoning my request to play personal shopper for someone who clearly isn't here to buy anything."
Nia turned back toward her.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Hale. I'll continue looking for your item as soon as I've helped him with the briefcase."
Victoria's eyes narrowed.
"Are you serious?"
Elijah looked at her calmly.
"I believe she was offering to help both of us."
Victoria gave him a dismissive glance.
"Nobody asked you."
For a moment, the boutique seemed to grow quieter.