"Yes, ma'am."
"And do you know how much time you've wasted?"
"She was interested in purchasing it."
"Interested?"
Victoria laughed coldly.
"Did you see her handbag? Her shoes? Her clothes?"
Claire felt her face becoming warm.
"Those things don't tell us whether someone can afford a dress."
"Don't lecture me about business."
"I'm not. I'm just saying that she deserves the same treatment as everyone else."
Victoria stood.
"You are a sales assistant, Claire. Your job is to sell merchandise, not to make friends with every elderly woman who walks through the door."
Claire lowered her eyes for a moment.
Then she looked up again.
"I understand my responsibilities."
"Apparently not."
Victoria opened a drawer and removed a printed document.
"I've reviewed your performance. Your conversion rate is below the department average. Your sales numbers have been disappointing, and your behavior has repeatedly demonstrated poor commercial judgment."
Claire stared at the paper.
"Are you talking about my previous warnings?"
"I'm talking about your overall performance."
"But I met my monthly target last month."
"Not sufficiently."
Claire felt her heart beating faster.
"Ms. Langford, if there's something I need to improve, I'm willing to work on it."
Victoria placed the document on the desk.
"Then you can begin by signing this."
Claire looked down.
It was a termination notice.
For several seconds, she could not understand what she was seeing.
"You're firing me?"
Victoria folded her arms.
"Effective immediately."
"Because I helped a customer?"
"Because you repeatedly failed to follow management instructions and demonstrated behavior inconsistent with our standards."
Claire felt tears gathering in her eyes.
"But I haven't done anything wrong."
"That's your opinion."
"My mother depends on my income. I need this job."
Victoria's expression did not change.
"Your personal circumstances are not my responsibility."
Claire looked at the termination notice.
Then she looked at Victoria.
"Please, Ms. Langford. At least let me finish my shift."
"No."
"Could you reconsider?"
Victoria pointed toward the door.
"Collect your belongings and leave."
Claire stood motionless.
She had imagined losing her job many times during difficult nights when the medical bills seemed impossible to manage.
But she had never imagined that it would happen because she had made an elderly woman feel beautiful.
She picked up her name badge and placed it on the desk.
Then she quietly walked out.
When Claire returned to the sales floor, Eleanor was still standing near the fitting room.
She had changed back into her original clothes.
The beautiful blue gown hung carefully over her arm.
"Claire?" Eleanor asked. "Is everything all right?"
Claire forced a smile.
"Yes, Mrs. Eleanor. Everything is fine."
But her trembling hands betrayed her.
Eleanor looked toward the manager's office.
"Did that woman say something to you?"
Claire hesitated.
"It's nothing you need to worry about."
"Please don't tell me that. I may be old, but I'm not blind."
Claire looked down.
"I've been asked to leave."
Eleanor's expression changed.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. I won't be able to help you anymore."
"Why?"
Claire tried to smile again.
"Apparently, I wasn't doing my job properly."
Eleanor glanced at the gown.
"Because you helped me?"
Claire did not answer.
That was enough.
Eleanor slowly placed the dress over the counter.
Then she looked directly toward Victoria's office.
"Young lady, I would like to speak with your manager."
Claire immediately shook her head.
"Please don't. It will only make things worse."
Eleanor gently took her hand.
"Sometimes, dear, remaining silent makes things worse."
She walked toward the office.
Claire stood behind the counter, uncertain whether she should follow.
Eleanor knocked once and entered.
Victoria looked up from her computer.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes. I would like an explanation."
Victoria sighed.
"If this concerns the dress, I can arrange for another sales assistant to help you."
"It concerns Claire."
Victoria's expression became cold.
"Claire is no longer employed here."
"I know. I want to understand why."
"That is an internal employment matter."
Eleanor remained standing.
"She helped me try on a dress. She was polite, patient, and respectful. What exactly did she do wrong?"
Victoria leaned back in her chair.
"Madam, with all due respect, you don't understand how a luxury retail business operates."
"Then perhaps you should explain it to me."
Victoria gave a small, dismissive smile.
"Our employees must prioritize serious customers and maintain appropriate commercial standards."
Eleanor looked at her.
"And you have decided that I am not a serious customer?"
Victoria hesitated.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't need to."
Eleanor's voice remained quiet.
"Do you know what I found most interesting today?"
Victoria looked irritated.
"What?"
"I entered this store wearing an old cardigan and carrying an inexpensive handbag. Nobody approached me. Nobody asked whether I needed help. But the moment Claire noticed me, she treated me like a person."
Victoria stood.
"Madam, I think this conversation is becoming inappropriate."
"No," Eleanor replied. "What is inappropriate is firing someone for showing kindness."
Victoria pointed toward the door.
"I suggest you leave."
Eleanor looked at her for several seconds.
Then she nodded.
"Very well."
She turned and walked out.
But before leaving, she looked once more at the manager.
"One day, you may discover that the people you consider unimportant are the very people who determine your future."
Victoria laughed quietly.
"I doubt that."
Eleanor did not respond.
She simply walked away.
Outside the boutique, Claire was collecting her belongings from the employee locker room.
She placed her name badge, a small photograph of her mother, and a notebook inside her handbag.