Victoria’s smile vanished.
I continued.
“Freeze every pending transaction associated with Whitmore Capital.”
Martin went pale.
“And terminate this location’s senior management pending investigation.”
The security guard stepped backward.
My attorney asked, “Simone, are you certain?”
“Yes.”
I looked around the boutique.
“Effective now.”
I ended the call.
For three seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Victoria laughed.
Too loudly.
“That was pathetic.”
Martin’s phone started vibrating.
He stared at the screen.
His face changed.
I recognized the ringtone.
Corporate priority.
He answered.
“Martin Ellis speaking.”
His eyes moved toward me.
“Yes, sir.”
Pause.
Another pause.
His shoulders dropped.
“I understand.”
He lowered the phone.
Victoria looked irritated.
“Well?”
Martin didn’t answer.
His lips had turned pale.
“Martin.”
He looked at me.
Then slowly removed the employee pin from his jacket.
Victoria stared.
“What are you doing?”
He whispered, “The board just suspended me.”
Her mouth opened.
“That makes no sense.”
The security guards looked at each other.
I unbuttoned my coat.
My employee access card hung inside.
Black.
Gold lettering.
CARTER RETAIL GROUP.
EXECUTIVE CHAIR.
Victoria saw it.
Her eyes dropped to the name.
SIMONE CARTER.
Everything drained from her face.
“No.”
I tilted my head.
She looked at Martin.
Then at me again.
“You’re…”
“The filthy intruder?”
Nobody moved.
Closed.
I stepped past her.
This time she didn’t block me.
The nearest sales associate stared at me with wide eyes.
I smiled at her gently.
“What’s your name?”
“Jasmine.”
“Were you told not to serve regular customers during Ms. Whitmore’s appointment?”
She hesitated.
Martin closed his eyes.
“Yes,” Jasmine whispered.
“For how long?”
“Three hours.”
My jaw tightened.
“Who approved that?”
He said nothing.
I nodded.
“Thank you.”
Victoria finally found her voice.
“You can’t cancel the acquisition because of a misunderstanding.”
I turned.
“This wasn’t a misunderstanding.”
“My father will call your board.”
“He can.”
“You’ll destroy a major deal over one uncomfortable conversation?”
I studied her.
“You thought you could remove a customer because she didn’t look wealthy enough.”
“I never said that.”
“You called me filthy.”
Her cheeks flushed.
“I was upset.”
“You ordered security to throw me into the street.”
“You were interrupting a private appointment.”
“This is not your home.”
Her eyes flashed.
“You’re making a terrible business decision.”
“Maybe.”
I walked closer.
“But if your family’s values look anything like yours, then I just saved myself from a worse one.”
Her confidence cracked.
For the first time, she looked scared.
“You don’t know my family.”
I looked toward the glass doors.
“But I’m about to.”
Because outside the boutique, three black SUVs had just stopped.
Men in dark suits climbed out.
Then an older man stepped onto the sidewalk.
Tall.
Silver-haired.
Furious.
Victoria saw him.
Her face collapsed.
“Dad.”
He entered the store without acknowledging her.
His eyes found me immediately.
“Ms. Carter.”
I folded my arms.
“Mr. Whitmore.”
He stopped several feet away.
“I just received a call saying you canceled the deal.”
“I did.”
He glanced at Victoria.
She stepped forward.
“Dad, she’s overreacting.”
He looked at her.
I watched his expression harden.
Victoria kept talking.
“She came in dressed like—”
“Stop.”
One word.
She froze.
He turned back to me.
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
So I did.
And as I spoke, Richard Whitmore’s face slowly changed.