Patricia went completely still.
Ashley added softly:
"CEO."
The older couple near the display looked toward each other.
Marcus lowered his eyes.
Patricia stared at Diana.
The bronze-gold blouse.
The old bracelet.
The expensive handbag.
The calm face.
All the clues rearranged themselves too late.
"You..."
Her voice barely worked.
"You own Luminous Designs?"
Diana did not smile.
"Yes."
Patricia looked around the room.
The display cases.
The private viewing rooms.
The counters.
The diamonds.
The flagship she had repeatedly called hers.
Diana continued.
"Forty-seven stores."
Patricia's mouth opened.
No sound came.
Diana stepped toward the Aurora Collection.
"And since the inventory lock went active five minutes ago..."
She rested one hand lightly beside the glass.
"...every diamond in this room is currently under my direct corporate control."
Patricia stared at the necklace she had refused to show her.
The head of security looked toward Kevin.
"Secure the office."
Patricia snapped back to life.
"Wait."
Diana turned.
"This is being blown completely out of proportion."
"Is it?"
"I didn't know who you were."
Diana's face changed.
That sentence.
There it was.
The same mistake people made every time.
Diana looked at Patricia for several seconds.
Then said quietly:
"That's exactly why this matters."
Nobody spoke.
Patricia's eyes filled with panic.
Diana continued.
"If your defense is that you would have treated me better if you'd known I owned the company, then you've already explained the problem."
Patricia looked around at the staff.
Ashley would not meet her eyes.
Kevin looked shaken.
Marcus stood beside corporate security.
The older couple had moved closer.
One customer was recording.
Patricia lowered her voice.
"I made a judgment call."
Diana nodded.
"You did."
"It was about security."
"Was it?"
"Yes."
"What security concern did I create?"
Patricia hesitated.
Diana waited.
"You wanted access to expensive pieces."
Diana looked toward the cases.
"So does every customer."
"You didn't have an appointment."
"Neither does half the walk-in traffic."
"You had a restricted profile."
"You learned that after deciding I couldn't afford the collection."
Patricia's face reddened.
Diana stepped closer.
"You told me the jewelry wasn't appropriate for my budget before you knew my name."
Silence.
"You called me unqualified before checking anything."
Another pause.
"You ordered security to remove me after I asked whether your standards were written policy."
Patricia said nothing.
Diana's voice stayed calm.
"And when I reached for my phone, you told me to keep my hands where you could see them."