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SHE WAS JUDGED IN A LUXURY STORE, BUT HER SECRET CHANGED EVERYTHING

Chapter 3

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"Someone who can help resolve this.""You really think making phone calls is going to change anything?""No," Evelyn said. "I think what happened here will change things."Vanessa opened her mouth to respond.Before she could speak, a voice came from the boutique entrance."Ms. Carter?"A tall man in a charcoal suit hurried inside, carrying a tablet beneath one arm. He looked around the boutique, noticed the gathered customers, and immediately walked toward Evelyn."Ms. Carter, I wasn't expecting you until this afternoon."Evelyn nodded."Plans changed."The man glanced at the handbag, then at Vanessa."Is everything all right?"Evelyn considered the question."No. It isn't."The man's expression became serious."Would you like me to call the regional director?""Not yet."She turned toward Vanessa."First, I'd like to know whether this is how Maison Laurent trains its employees to treat customers."Vanessa's face lost some of its color.The man looked at her."Vanessa?"She swallowed."Daniel, I was simply trying to enforce our store policies."Daniel looked confused."Which policies?""The customer was examining a restricted item and became argumentative."Evelyn said nothing.Daniel's eyes moved toward the handbag."Restricted item?""It's from the exclusive collection."Daniel looked back at Vanessa."And?"Vanessa hesitated."She was questioning its quality."Daniel closed his eyes briefly.When he opened them, his expression had changed."Ms. Carter," he said carefully, "may I see the handbag?"Evelyn stepped aside.Daniel lifted the piece, inspected the stitching, and turned it over.His face tightened."Who authorized this item for display?"Vanessa stared at him."What?""Who signed off on this specific piece?""I don't know. It was delivered yesterday."Daniel looked at the label inside the bag.Then he turned to Evelyn."You were right to question it."A murmur passed through the nearby customers.Vanessa shook her head."That's impossible. Everything is inspected.""Not this one," Daniel said. "The batch number doesn't match the current quality-control record."He looked at Evelyn."Would you like me to explain the issue privately?""No," she replied. "I think everyone here has already heard enough to understand why I asked for a manager."Daniel's eyes lowered for a moment."Of course."Vanessa looked between them.Something was happening that she did not understand.And she was beginning to suspect that her assumptions had placed her on the wrong side of it."Daniel," she said, forcing a smile, "perhaps we should take this conversation into the office."He did not look at her."Not yet."Then he turned toward Evelyn."Ms. Carter, I apologize. This should never have happened."Vanessa stared at him."Why are you apologizing to her?"Daniel finally faced her."Because she is our guest.""She's not even a customer!"The words escaped before Vanessa could stop them.Silence fell.Evelyn slowly turned her head.Daniel looked as though someone had struck him.Vanessa realized what she had said, but pride kept her from taking it back.Evelyn studied her for a long moment.Then she asked a question that would change the course of the afternoon."Vanessa, do you know who owns Maison Laurent?"Vanessa frowned."Of course I do.""Tell me.""The Laurent family.""And do you know who oversees the company's North American operations?"Vanessa glanced at Daniel."I know the regional director.""Good," Evelyn said. "Then perhaps you should know that I am not here simply to purchase a handbag."She reached into her jacket and removed a small leather folder.Inside was a document bearing the company's official insignia.She handed it to Daniel.He opened it, scanned the first page, and became visibly still.Vanessa's stomach tightened."What is that?"Daniel did not answer.Evelyn watched him finish reading.Then she said, "As of this morning, I have been appointed the interim chief executive officer of Maison Laurent North America."The words seemed to hang in the air.Vanessa stared at her."No."Evelyn tilted her head."Excuse me?""No. That can't be right."Daniel closed the folder gently."It is."Vanessa looked at him in disbelief."She can't just walk in here and say that.""She didn't just say it," Daniel replied. "The appointment was announced internally this morning."Vanessa's lips parted.She had not checked her messages that morning. She had been too busy preparing for a private client event and complaining about the new corporate leadership structure.Now she remembered an email from the regional office.A new executive appointment.An internal transition.A request for employees to review updated customer-service standards.
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SHE WAS JUDGED IN A LUXURY STORE, BUT HER SECRET CHANGED EVERYTHING

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