Helen’s voice became cold.
“Be careful, Chloe.””
Chloe immediately looked down.
That was enough for me.
I turned to Daniel.
“Pull the raw security footage from the fitting-room corridor.””
Daniel nodded.
Helen took one step forward.
“Evelyn, I think your father would prefer this handled privately.””
I met her eyes.
“My father told me to leave.””
“Yes.””
“But he didn’t tell me to stop looking.””
She exhaled slowly.
“You don't understand how serious this is.””
“I understand exactly how serious it is.””
I pointed toward the screen.
“Three million dollars in questionable inventory adjustments.””
Helen folded her arms.
“And you think I did that?””
“I think someone did.””
“Then perhaps you should look at the actual evidence before ruining someone’s career.””
I smiled faintly.
“That's why we're looking.””
Daniel entered a password.
Another screen appeared.
A list of employee access cards filled the monitor.
Dates.
Times.
Restricted areas.
Item numbers.
I leaned closer.
There was the emerald dress.
Accessed at 9:12 a.m.
Again at 9:15.
Again at 9:21.
Then my own name appeared.
9:32 a.m.
I frowned.
“That’s impossible.””
Daniel looked confused.
“You entered the store around 9:30.””
“Yes, but I never touched the inventory system.””
“That isn’t what this says.””
I stared at the screen.
Someone had used my employee identification number before I even arrived.
Helen spoke softly behind me.
“Perhaps someone made an administrative error.””
I turned.
“Maybe.””
She nodded.
“Exactly.””
“But there’s something interesting.””
Her expression tightened.
“What?””
“My ID is only supposed to work with a biometric confirmation.””
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
Helen’s face went blank.
I looked at the employee records again.
“Who has administrative permission to override biometric verification?””
Daniel hesitated.
Only one person had that authority at the downtown location.
He looked at me.
Then at Helen.
“The assistant director.””
Nobody spoke.
Helen laughed once.
“That's absurd.””
I stepped closer.
“Then give us your access card.””
She stared at me.
“My what?””
“Your access card.””
“Why?””
“Because if you have nothing to hide, you won't mind.””
Her eyes hardened.
“You cannot treat me like a criminal.””
“No,” I said.
“But I can ask questions.””
She glanced toward Daniel.
“Are you seriously allowing this?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry, Helen.””
She stared at him.
“You’re sorry?””
Then something unexpected happened.
Helen reached into her handbag.
She pulled out her access card.
For a moment, I thought she was going to hand it over.
Instead, she dropped it onto the counter.
“Fine.””
Daniel picked it up.
He scanned it.
The system beeped.
His face changed.
“What?””
I stepped closer.
“What is it?””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“This card was used at 9:11 a.m.””
Helen looked surprised.
“That can't be right. I wasn't here at 9:11.””
I looked at her.
“Where were you?””
“At home.””
Daniel checked the camera attached to the front entrance.
Then he froze.
I watched him replay the clip.
A woman entered the boutique at 9:10.
She wore Helen’s exact charcoal suit.
Her face was partially covered by sunglasses.
But the handbag was unmistakable.
Helen's handbag.
The woman walked straight toward the private collection.
Nobody followed her.
Nobody stopped her.
She opened the cabinet containing the emerald dress.
Then she took something from her pocket.
A small silver blade.
Chloe gasped.
Helen went completely still.
I looked at her.
“You said you weren't here.””
“I wasn't.””
“Then who was that?””
Helen didn't answer.
Daniel zoomed in.
The woman removed her sunglasses for only a second.
The image was blurry.
But there was enough.
Enough to see the face.
My stomach dropped.
Because it wasn't Helen.
It was Helen's daughter.
And she had worked in this very boutique three months earlier.
“No.””
Helen stared at the frozen image.
“No, that’s not possible.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“You know her.””
Helen didn't respond.
I did.
“That's your daughter, isn't it?””
Her lips parted.
“She was an employee here.””
“Was?””
“She resigned.””
“When?””
Helen swallowed.
“Six weeks ago.””
I looked at the screen.
The footage showed a woman who clearly knew exactly where the private collection was stored.
She knew which cabinet to open.
She knew how to bypass the staff areas.
And she had somehow used Helen’s credentials.
I looked at Daniel.
“Pull every recording from the past six months.””
Helen shook her head.
“This is getting out of control.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“It has been out of control for six months.””
She lowered her voice.
“Evelyn, listen to me.””
“I’m listening.””
“You don't know what you're looking at.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked toward Chloe.
“Not here.””
I glanced around the boutique.
There were only six employees left.
“Then tell everyone to leave.””
Helen looked surprised.
“You trust me enough to do that?””
“No.””
I turned to Daniel.
“Clear the floor.””
Within minutes, the customers were guided outside.
The employees were sent to the back office.
Only Daniel, Helen, Chloe, and I remained.
I placed the tablet on the counter.
“Start talking.””
Helen stared at the footage.
“My daughter, Lauren, made mistakes.””
“What kind of mistakes?””
“She had debts.””
“Three million dollars’ worth?””
Helen flinched.
“I didn't know it had become that much.””
I pointed toward the screen.
“She damaged the dress.””
“Yes.””
“You knew?””
“I knew she had taken merchandise.””
Chloe suddenly spoke.
“You told me to accuse her.””
Helen looked at her sharply.
“I told you to follow company procedure.””
“That’s not what you said.””
Chloe’s voice trembled.
“You told me the woman coming in today was going to be difficult. You said to watch her.””
I turned toward Chloe.
“You knew who I was?””
Chloe shook her head.
“No. I only knew Helen wanted me to make an example of you if there was a problem.””
Helen stepped forward.
“That is not what happened.””
Chloe looked furious now.
“You told me she was trying to get access to the private collection without an appointment.””
Helen's eyes narrowed.
“And you believed me?””
“I believed my supervisor!””
The room went silent.
I slowly looked at Helen.
“Why me?””
She didn't answer.
“Why did you need me blamed?””
Her jaw tightened.
“I didn't know it would become this.””
“That doesn't answer the question.””
Helen looked down.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Your father was going to promote you.””
My expression changed.
“What?””
“He was preparing to put you on the board.””
Daniel looked stunned.
I stared at her.
Helen continued.
“He planned to move me out of sales leadership.””
That was the first time her voice cracked.
“He was replacing me.””
I understood.
This wasn't about an emerald dress.
It was about power.
But there was still something missing.
“You destroyed merchandise because my father was going to replace you?””
Helen shook her head.
“I didn't destroy most of it.””
“Most?””
She looked at me.
“The inventory losses began before I knew about your father's decision.””
My chest tightened.
“Then who started them?””
Helen glanced at Daniel.
That glance lasted less than a second.
But I caught it.
Daniel caught it too.
He immediately stepped back.
“Why are you looking at me?””
Helen said nothing.
I looked between them.
“Daniel.””
He raised both hands.
“I've done nothing.””