“Still Grant.”
Elaine stared.
Something changed in her eyes.
“How do you know Mr. Hollis?”
Naomi tapped his name on her phone.
“Let’s ask him.”
Elaine stepped forward.
“There is no reason to call a regional executive over a shoe fitting.”
Naomi pressed call.
Grant answered on the third ring.
“Naomi?”
Elaine’s face changed.
Naomi put the phone on speaker.
“Hi, Grant.”
“Everything okay?”
“I’m at Bell & Hart Michigan Avenue.”
Silence.
Not long.
Enough.
Grant’s voice changed.
“You’re where?”
“In the store.”
Another silence.
Elaine’s face lost color.
Lauren looked toward the office as though considering escape.
Grant asked:
“Why didn’t anyone tell me you were visiting?”
“Because I wasn’t visiting.”
“I’m shopping.”
“What happened?”
Naomi looked at Elaine.
The manager’s breathing had changed.
“I asked for a pair of Bellissima Eights.”
“Eight and a half.”
“I was told the store didn’t have them.”
“Maya Brooks says there are two.”
Grant said nothing.
Naomi continued.
“Then I was told premium shoes are only brought out for established clients with sufficient purchase likelihood.”
“Then I was asked to leave after requesting the written policy.”
Silence.
Longer this time.
Grant finally said:
“Elaine.”
She swallowed.
“Yes, Mr. Hollis.”
Grant’s voice became tight.
“Do not say another word about this transaction.”
Elaine froze.
“Grant.”
Naomi said.
“I don’t want panic.”
“I want the store open.”
“I want customers served normally.”
“Preserve today’s camera footage.”
“Preserve register logs.”
“Preserve internal client-allocation notes and any messaging related to fitting restrictions.”
Grant answered immediately.
“Understood.”
Elaine looked as though the floor had shifted.
Lauren stared at Naomi.
Then at Grant’s voice coming from the phone.
Naomi ended the call.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally Elaine whispered:
“Ms. Ellis.”
Naomi corrected her.
“Naomi is fine.”
Elaine looked confused by that.
Then something in her memory finally connected.
The surname.
The voice.
Grant’s response.
She glanced toward a framed corporate history photograph near the back wall.
It showed the founders and early leadership of Aurelia Retail Group.
The image was almost fifteen years old.
Naomi was younger.
Shorter hair.
Standing near the center.
Elaine’s face went completely pale.
“Oh my God.”
Lauren followed her gaze.
Then understood.
Naomi Ellis.
Founder.
Executive chair.
Controlling shareholder of Aurelia Retail Group.
The parent company of Bell & Hart.
And eleven other retail brands.
The woman they had refused to sell an $1,850 pair of shoes to owned the company that paid every salary in the room.
Maya covered her mouth.
Naomi wished no one had reacted.
She hated this part already.
Elaine started speaking quickly.
“I had no idea.”
Naomi looked at her.
“That is the problem.”
Elaine stopped.
Naomi continued.
“You should not need to know who owns the company before deciding a customer deserves service.”
Lauren’s eyes filled with panic.
“I’m so sorry.”
Naomi turned toward her.
“Why?”