Marcus folded one hand around his water glass.
“Marcus.”
“What?”
“My name is Marcus.”
“Mr. Hale.”
“Better.”
Adrian exhaled.
“You need to move away from this case.”
“No.”
Several nearby customers noticed.
Marcus did not raise his voice.
Neither did Adrian.
Yet tone travels.
A woman near the bridal counter turned.
An older man lowered his newspaper.
The young associate looked toward Marcus nervously.
Adrian said:
“I’m not going to repeat myself.”
Marcus stared.
“You haven't checked the appointment.”
“I don't need to.”
“Then you're choosing not to know.”
Adrian’s cheeks reddened slightly.
“You are handling private materials without authorization.”
Marcus looked at the folder.
“I touched paper.”
“That folder is restricted.”
“Then why was it sitting unattended on a public counter?”
Adrian did not answer.
Marcus continued.
“And I was invited to inspect the collection.”
“According to you.”
“According to your own system.”
“You don't know what's in our system.”
Marcus almost laughed.
“That's an extraordinary statement considering I watched two employees look me up.”
Adrian turned toward the young male associate.
“Did you confirm this gentleman?”
The associate hesitated.
“I saw an appointment under his name.”
Adrian’s face changed.
Marcus saw the opening.
Good.
This should end.
Then the associate added:
“It was flagged private executive.”
Adrian looked toward Marcus again.
Instead of relief, suspicion deepened.
“Executive?”
“Yes.”
“Whose authorization?”
The associate swallowed.
“I didn't open the internal notes.”
“Why not?”
“Because access is restricted.”
Adrian stared at him.
Marcus said:
“Maybe you should open them.”
Adrian’s eyes snapped back.
“You do not tell my staff what to do.”
“No.”
“I’m telling you to check before accusing me.”
“I haven't accused you of anything.”
Marcus looked around.
Then back at him.
“You told me to leave a display I have an appointment to inspect.”
“You suggested I obtained your name improperly.”
“You suggested my confirmation email might be forwarded.”
“You're now refusing to check your own system.”
“What exactly would you call that?”
Adrian’s face hardened.
“Security.”
Marcus blinked.
Adrian turned toward an employee near the rear.
“Call security.”
The young associate said:
“Mr. Cole—”
“Now.”
Marcus set the water down.
“Don't do that.”
Adrian laughed without humor.
“Don't do what?”
“Escalate this because you're embarrassed.”
The word embarrassed did it.
Adrian’s shoulders stiffened.
“You need to leave.”
Marcus looked toward the front doors.
Then at Adrian.
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have a confirmed appointment.”
“You are refusing a management instruction.”
“I’m refusing to abandon an appointment because you won't verify it.”
Adrian reached toward Marcus’s phone.
“Give me that.”
Marcus pulled it back.
“Do not touch my phone.”
The room changed.
A security employee approached from the rear.
But before he reached them, the front doors opened.
Two uniformed police officers entered.
Marcus frowned.
That fast?