Elena Morris — Client Services Trainee.
“Thank you.”
Elena placed a bottle on the counter.
“I’m sorry no one has assisted you properly.”
The sentence was quiet.
Not corporate.
Regina looked at her.
“How long have you worked here?”
“Five months.”
“Do trainees usually apologize for managers?”
Elena’s face flushed.
“I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
“Probably not.”
Regina smiled.
“But I appreciate the honesty.”
Elena glanced toward Meredith.
Then toward the bracelet.
“Were you interested in the Celestine?”
“Yes.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Have you handled one?”
“During training.”
“Tell me about it.”
Elena brightened.
The change was immediate.
She explained that the sapphires were ethically sourced from Sri Lanka, then described the articulation system that allowed the platinum settings to move without pulling against the wearer’s wrist. She talked about how the hidden clasp had been modified from a Laurent design originally created in 1958. Her knowledge exceeded what Regina expected from someone still classified as a trainee.
“Why aren’t you selling?”
Elena hesitated.
“My position doesn’t authorize me to handle high-value pieces alone.”
“That makes sense.”
“I can get someone who can.”
“I’ve tried.”
Elena looked embarrassed again.
Regina softened her voice.
“Not your fault.”
Then Meredith returned.
“Elena.”
The younger woman turned.
“I need you in inventory.”
“I was just explaining—”
“I can see that.”
Meredith’s tone remained smooth enough that a customer across the showroom might not detect anything wrong.
“Inventory.”
Elena nodded.
Before leaving, she looked at Regina.
“Please let me know if you need anything else.”
Meredith waited until she disappeared.
Then she faced Regina again.
“Was there something else?”
“I’m still interested in the bracelet.”
Meredith sighed.
“We’ve gone over this.”
“I thought perhaps the policy changed while you were opening a watch case for the gentleman who just arrived.”
That landed.
Meredith’s expression cooled.
“Mr. Hollister is an established client.”
“And I’m not.”
“No.”
“Because this is my first visit.”
“That is one factor.”
Regina waited.
Meredith did not continue.
“What are the others?”
The manager smiled again.
It had become mechanical now.
“We know our clientele.”
There it was.
Regina looked around the showroom.
At Kyle watching from behind the watch counter.
At another associate pretending not to listen.
At Elena disappearing through a back door.
Then back at Meredith.
“You know what your customers look like?”
Meredith stiffened.
“That is not what I said.”
“No.”
Regina nodded.