Arthur looked toward Rebecca.
She was sitting near the far end of the table.
He asked:
“Do you genuinely believe I discriminate?”
Rebecca looked startled.
Amara almost stopped him.
Then decided not to.
Rebecca deserved the chance to answer.
She looked at Arthur.
“I think you decide what kind of customer someone is before they speak.”
Arthur frowned.
“That isn't discrimination.”
Rebecca swallowed.
“Sometimes it becomes that.”
Silence.
Arthur looked away.
Rebecca continued.
“You taught me a lot.”
That surprised everyone.
Arthur looked back.
“You taught me how to remember clients.”
“How to notice details.”
“How to make someone feel important.”
Her voice shook.
“But you also taught us that certain people needed to prove they belonged before we treated them like clients.”
Arthur’s face changed.
Rebecca lowered her eyes.
“I started doing it too.”
That sentence carried more weight than accusation.
“I stopped last year.”
Arthur stared.
“Why?”
“Because I embarrassed a woman.”
Rebecca took a breath.
“She came in wearing sweatpants.”
“No handbag.”
“No jewelry.”
“I assumed she was browsing.”
“I kept redirecting her away from high-value displays.”
Arthur said nothing.
“She eventually asked for a specific limited-edition piece.”
“I told her there was a waitlist.”
“There wasn't.”
Amara listened.
Rebecca continued.
“She asked another employee.”
“They brought it out.”
“She bought it.”
Rebecca’s eyes filled.
“Twenty-six thousand dollars.”
Arthur looked uncomfortable.
“That happens.”
“Yes.”
Rebecca nodded.
“But then she asked why I lied.”
Silence.
“I had no answer.”
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“I realized I had learned to evaluate people before serving them.”
She looked at Amara.
“So I started checking myself.”
Arthur asked:
“And now I’m responsible for every mistake you've ever made?”
“No.”
Rebecca looked back at him.
“But you were my manager.”
Arthur had no answer.
The meeting lasted two hours.
At the end, Naomi placed a document in front of Arthur.
Administrative leave.
Effective immediately.
Paid during the investigation.
No access to employee systems.
No contact with staff regarding the investigation.
Arthur stared at it.
“So I’m fired.”
Naomi said:
“No.”
He looked up.
“Not today.”
Amara added:
“We are not doing to you what you did downstairs.”
Arthur’s expression changed.
She continued.
“We verify before deciding.”
Nobody missed the irony.
Arthur looked at the suspension letter.
Then at Amara.
“Do you enjoy this?”
“No.”
He did not believe her.
Amara could see that.
She leaned forward.
“If I enjoyed humiliating you, I would have fired you downstairs in front of customers.”
Arthur said nothing.
“I did not.”
“I brought you into a conference room.”
“You have counsel available.”
“You will receive the evidence.”