Diana remained motionless.
"Did I give you a budget?"
"No."
"Did I indicate the price concerned me?"
"No."
"Then why are you recommending something cheaper?"
Patricia's smile disappeared.
"Because I've been doing this a long time."
"Meaning?"
"I understand customers."
Diana looked directly at her.
"You understand me?"
Patricia folded her hands.
"I understand when someone is browsing beyond their realistic purchase range."
The insult landed softly.
That almost made it worse.
Diana's fingers tightened once around the handle of her handbag.
Then relaxed.
"What makes you think this is beyond my realistic range?"
Patricia sighed.
Now she looked annoyed.
"Ma'am, I don't want this to become uncomfortable."
Diana's voice cooled.
"It became uncomfortable several sentences ago."
Kevin looked toward the floor.
Ashley shifted nervously.
A wealthy older couple at another display had begun listening.
Patricia lifted the necklace.
"I'm putting this back."
Diana did not stop her.
Patricia returned the piece to the case and locked it.
The key clicked.
Diana watched.
Then she said, "I'd like to see the bracelet."
Patricia stared.
"I just told you the collection isn't suitable."
"You told me what you assumed."
Patricia's face tightened.
"I am declining to continue the presentation."
Diana took one step closer.
"On what basis?"
Patricia glanced toward Marcus.
Then back to Diana.
"This is a private luxury environment."
Diana almost laughed.
"You sell jewelry."
Patricia's eyes widened.
"We provide a high-security client experience."
"And I'm a client."
"I haven't established that."
The words hung there.
Diana's expression hardened.
"How exactly does one become a client before being allowed to shop?"
Patricia's irritation became visible.
"By demonstrating genuine purchase intent."
"I asked to see a product."
"That's not enough."
"Then what is?"
Patricia hesitated.
The question was dangerous because any honest answer would expose the standard.
Diana waited.
Patricia changed direction.
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
"Existing purchase history?"
"Yes."
Patricia looked surprised.
"Under this store?"
"Corporate."
That confused her.
She did not know what that meant.
Diana's personal customer profile was locked at executive level because her jewelry acquisitions, gifts, and archival pieces were processed through corporate inventory systems rather than ordinary retail accounts.
Patricia typed something into a tablet.
"Name?"
"Diana Mitchell."
Her fingers stopped.
For one fraction of a second, something moved through Patricia's face.
Recognition?
Maybe.
But then it disappeared.
There were thousands of Mitchells.
And CEOs did not usually arrive alone in old cars.
Patricia searched.
The tablet displayed restricted access.