Her expression changed.
The bracelet was expensive. Daniel knew that because he had seen it three mornings in a row, a narrow gold piece with a green stone at the center.
Victoria turned toward him.
“You touched my bag.”
“No, ma’am.”
“You stole something from me.”
Daniel stood slowly.
“I never touched your bag.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.”
People were gathering now.
Marcus appeared almost immediately, as though he had been waiting for exactly this kind of moment.
“What happened?”
Victoria pointed at Daniel.
“My bracelet is missing. He was right beside me.”
Daniel shook his head.
“I did not touch her.”
Victoria’s voice rose.
“Someone stop him. Don’t let a thief just walk away from this.”
Daniel hadn’t moved.
Marcus grabbed his arm anyway.
“Stop right now.”
“I’m standing still.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
Grace had been crossing the lobby when she saw the crowd.
She came outside.
“What happened?”
Victoria answered before Daniel could.
“He stole my bracelet.”
Grace looked at Daniel.
Then at Victoria.
“Did anyone see him take it?”
Victoria’s face tightened.
“I don’t need witnesses. It was here before I stopped.”
“That doesn’t mean he took it.”
Marcus stepped toward Grace.
“This doesn’t concern you.”
Grace didn’t move.
“It concerns me if you’re accusing someone without evidence.”
Marcus pointed toward the building.
“Go back inside.”
Grace’s hands were trembling.
Daniel noticed.
She stayed.
Thomas arrived next.
He listened to Victoria for less than thirty seconds before deciding what should happen.
“We don’t need a scene.”
Daniel almost laughed at the phrase.
For four days, everyone had been willing to create scenes around him.
They only objected when the scene threatened the company.
Thomas pulled Daniel aside.
“Listen. Take this and move along quietly.”
Again, folded money.
More this time.
Daniel stared at it.
“You think paying me makes the accusation disappear?”
“It makes the disruption disappear.”
“I didn’t steal anything.”
“Then you should be happy to leave.”
Daniel looked at the money, then at Thomas.
“Where does that come from?”
Thomas frowned.
“What?”
“The cash.”