Regina heard him.
“No.”
She gestured toward the chairs.
“Please sit.”
Nobody moved for almost three seconds.
Then they did.
Meredith remained standing.
“What is this?”
Regina looked at her.
“A meeting.”
“I can see that.”
“Then we’re making progress.”
Kyle looked down.
Someone almost laughed.
Meredith did not.
Regina opened a folder.
“My name is Regina Caldwell.”
Several employees exchanged glances.
The name was familiar.
They simply had not connected it to the woman from yesterday.
“As of 9:17 yesterday morning, Caldwell Holdings completed its acquisition of Laurent & Pierce.”
The room changed.
Meredith sat without deciding to.
Regina continued.
“The transaction was originally scheduled for public announcement Monday.”
She looked around the table.
“Yesterday convinced me that waiting would be irresponsible.”
Kyle’s face lost color.
Elena looked at Regina.
Then at Meredith.
The pieces connected all at once.
Regina pressed a remote.
The screen behind her came alive.
Security footage showed Regina entering the flagship the previous afternoon.
No greeting.
Meredith’s glance.
The staff exchange.
The long wait beside the bracelet.
Then Meredith unlocking a case for Charles Hollister after refusing Regina.
Nobody spoke.
The next clip showed another day.
A Black couple entered in formal clothing.
They browsed engagement rings.
No one approached for almost four minutes.
Then a white couple arrived in casual athletic wear and received immediate assistance.
Another clip.
A Latino man in work clothes followed by security through three display areas.
Another.
An older Asian woman repeatedly redirected toward lower-priced merchandise despite requesting a diamond necklace.
Meredith stared at the screen.
Regina turned it off.
“Yesterday was not a test.”
Her voice remained calm.
“I want that understood.”
Kyle shifted.
“You absolutely tested us.”
Regina looked at him.
“No.”
She folded her hands.
“I entered a retail store during business hours and asked to see merchandise.”
“That is called shopping.”
Kyle’s jaw tightened.
“You knew who you were.”
“Yes.”
“We didn’t.”
“Exactly.”
The room went silent.
Regina continued.
“If knowing my title would have changed your behavior, then your behavior is the problem.”
Kyle looked toward Meredith.
She did not help him.
Regina opened another folder.
“Laurent has settled three discrimination claims in four years.”
“Two involved this location.”
“Customer complaints describing appearance-based treatment increased fifty-four percent after Ms. Sloan became flagship manager.”
Meredith finally spoke.
“We serve a luxury market.”