This wasn't a wealthy investor visiting a business.
This was a teacher seeing the student she had once helped become successful.
Daniel looked at Adrian.
"Did you tell her?"
"Tell me what?"
Adrian looked nervous.
Daniel smiled.
"He told me he wants to learn."
Margaret looked at Adrian.
"Is that true?"
Adrian nodded.
"Yes."
"Then take off your jacket."
He looked confused.
"What?"
"Take off your jacket."
He removed it.
"Now come with me."
She walked toward the workshop.
The store had a hidden workshop behind the showroom.
Most customers never saw it.
Inside were worktables, sewing machines, tools, leather sheets, and shelves filled with materials.
Margaret walked slowly through the room.
She touched a piece of leather.
She smiled.
"Still using this supplier?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
"Good."
She picked up another piece.
"This one is poor."
Daniel frowned.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Adrian watched.
She handed it to him.
"Feel it."
He touched it.
"It feels fine."
Margaret smiled.
"Close your eyes."
He did.
"Now tell me."
He ran his fingers over the leather.
"It's... softer."
"Not softer."
She corrected him.
"More processed."
He opened his eyes.
"What does that mean?"
"It means the leather has been treated to hide defects."
Adrian looked impressed.
"How can you tell?"
"Your hands will learn."
Margaret took a needle.
She threaded it.
Then she handed it to him.
"Stitch this."
Adrian stared.
"Now?"
"Now."
He sat down.
He tried.
The first stitch was crooked.
Margaret watched.
"Again."
He tried again.
"Too tight."
Again.
"Too loose."
Again.
"Better."
Again.
"Now you're thinking."
Adrian looked at his hands.
For the first time in years, he was doing something instead of managing someone else doing it.
He understood why the craftsmen in the workshop were so proud of their work.
Every stitch mattered.
Every cut mattered.
Every piece of leather had a story.
And every finished product carried the name of the person who made it.
Margaret spent the next several weeks visiting the store.
She didn't announce herself.
She didn't demand special treatment.
She simply watched.
And Adrian changed.
Slowly.
He began asking customers what they actually needed.
He stopped judging clothes.
He learned the difference between expensive and valuable.
He spent time in the workshop.
He learned from the craftsmen.
He even apologized to several customers he remembered treating poorly.
One day, a homeless man entered the store.
He wore a dirty coat.
His shoes were falling apart.
He stood near the entrance, embarrassed.
Adrian saw him.
The old version of Adrian would have asked him to leave.
Instead, Adrian walked over.
"Good afternoon."
The man looked surprised.
"Hi."
"Can I help you?"
The man looked down at his shoes.
"I need these repaired."
Adrian smiled.