"I wanted to tell you about something that happened at the store."
Victoria listened.
"Yesterday, an elderly man came in looking for a watch. He was wearing an old jacket and carrying a paper shopping bag. One of the newer employees initially assumed he couldn't afford the products."
Victoria frowned.
"What happened?"
"She was about to direct him toward the exit when I intervened. I helped him look through the collection."
"And?"
"He purchased a limited-edition watch for his grandson. It was worth almost seventy thousand dollars."
Victoria smiled.
"That's a good result."
Emily nodded.
"But that isn't the important part."
"What is?"
"He told me he had been visiting luxury stores for years, but rarely felt comfortable asking questions. He said most employees treated him as though he was wasting their time."
Victoria's expression softened.
"Did he say why?"
"His wife passed away several years ago. He used to shop with her, and after she died, he found it difficult to visit stores alone."
Victoria looked down.
Emily continued.
"He told me he almost walked out yesterday. But when I greeted him, he felt comfortable enough to stay."
Victoria nodded slowly.
"Thank you for telling me."
Emily hesitated.
"I think our training program should include more situations like that. Not just product knowledge, but how to listen to people."
Victoria smiled.
"That's an excellent idea."
She reached for her notebook.
"Would you be willing to help develop that program?"
Emily's eyes widened.
"Me?"
"Yes. You've already demonstrated that you understand what we're trying to achieve."
Emily smiled.
"I'd be honored."
"Good. I'll have Natalie arrange a meeting with the training department."
Emily stood.
Then she paused.
"Ms. Bennett?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you something personal?"
"Of course."
"Do you ever get tired of having to prove yourself?"
Victoria looked at her.
For a moment, she didn't answer.
Then she smiled.
"More often than you might imagine."
Emily nodded.
"I thought so."
Victoria looked toward the window.
"When I started my first company, people questioned whether I understood the industry. When I approached investors, some assumed I was inexperienced. When I began acquiring businesses, others wondered whether I could manage them."
She turned back.
"But I eventually realized something."
"What?"
"You don't have to convince everyone that you deserve a seat at the table. Sometimes you simply have to build a table large enough for other people to sit at."
Emily smiled.
"I like that."
"Good. Remember it."
After Emily left, Victoria received a call from an unfamiliar number.
She answered.
"Victoria Bennett."
A woman's voice came through.
"Ms. Bennett? My name is Laura Mitchell. I used to work at the Maison Laurent store in London."
Victoria sat down.
"How can I help you?"
"I heard about the changes you've made in New York."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"There's something I think you should know."
Victoria listened.
Laura explained that she had worked for Maison Laurent for seven years before resigning.
She had been one of the company's highest-performing sales associates.
But during her final year, she had experienced repeated pressure from her store manager to prioritize customers based on their appearance.
One afternoon, a woman had entered the store carrying an old handbag.
She wanted to purchase a gift for her daughter.
Laura spent nearly an hour helping her choose a necklace.
The woman eventually purchased it.
Later, Laura learned that the customer was the wife of a prominent British businessman.
But that wasn't what troubled Laura.
What troubled her was that the store manager had reprimanded her for wasting time on someone who didn't initially appear wealthy.
"I filed a complaint," Laura said.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Victoria closed her eyes briefly.
"Did you keep a copy?"
"Yes."
"Would you be willing to send it to our independent investigation team?"
Laura hesitated.
"Would that put my former colleagues at risk?"
"No. We will protect the confidentiality of witnesses to the extent permitted by law."
Laura took a breath.
"Then yes."
Victoria thanked her and ended the call.
She sat quietly for several minutes.
Then she opened her calendar.
The following week, she would be traveling to London.
She wanted to see the situation for herself.
Charles Harrington learned about the trip that same afternoon.
He immediately called Peter Lawson.
"She's going to London."
Peter's voice was tense.
"I know."
"Did you tell her anything?"
"No."
"Then who did?"
"I don't know."
Charles paced around his office.
"This is getting out of control."
Peter lowered his voice.
"We need to speak before she arrives."
"About what?"
"About the payments."
Charles stopped walking.
"Not on the phone."
He ended the call.
Meanwhile, Victoria was preparing for her trip.
She instructed Natalie to arrange meetings with employees from the London location.
She also requested access to customer complaint records and regional financial reports.
But she made one decision that surprised her assistant.
She would visit the store without announcing her arrival.
Just as she had done in New York.
On Monday morning, Victoria landed at Heathrow Airport.
She wore a dark navy coat, simple black trousers, and a pair of comfortable leather boots.
Her hair was tied back.
She carried a small handbag.
There was nothing about her appearance that immediately suggested she was the chairwoman of an international luxury company.
At nine thirty, a car dropped her off near the Maison Laurent store on Bond Street.
The building was beautiful.
Its tall windows displayed carefully arranged jewelry and handbags.
Inside, the marble floors were immaculate.
A soft fragrance filled the air.
Two employees stood near the entrance.
Victoria walked in.
A young woman looked up.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
"Are you looking for anything in particular?"
"I'm interested in seeing your watch collection."
"Certainly."
The employee began walking toward the display.
Before she could reach it, a man appeared from the rear office.
He was tall, in his early fifties, with dark hair and a sharply tailored suit.
His name was Martin Blake.
He was the store director.
"What's happening?"
The employee turned.