The CEO’s voice filled the boutique.
“Elaine,” Richard Vale said, “please explain why you are inside my flagship pretending to have authority.”
Elaine’s face twitched. “Richard, darling, Grant and I are protecting the family business.”
Grant stopped smiling.
Richard wasn’t merely the CEO.
He was Grant’s uncle—the same man Elaine constantly called weak for refusing to hand her son a larger role.
Richard said, “Claire, is the locksmith still present?”
The locksmith took a step backward.
“Yes,” I said. “And Elaine removed my nameplate, threatened staff, and announced my termination in front of customers.”
Elaine pointed at me. “She is manipulating this. Grant found missing credits in her department.”
I opened a drawer and pulled out a sealed envelope.
“No,” I said. “Grant created missing credits through vendors tied to his cousin’s shell company.”
One of the cousins near the entrance went pale.
Richard’s voice hardened. “Grant, do not leave the building.”
Grant laughed too sharply. “Uncle Richard, you can’t seriously believe her over family.”
“I believe the audit trail,” Richard said. “And I believe the woman I appointed regional operations director last month.”
Elaine stared at me.
“Regional what?” she whispered.
I placed my badge on the counter and turned it around.
Regional Operations Director.
Claire Bennett.
Belle & Vale Corporate.
Elaine looked at Grant. “You said she was just a store manager.”
Grant clenched his jaw. “It was supposed to be announced next week.”
“It still is,” I said. “Along with the compliance report.”
The glass doors opened.
Two corporate security officers entered with a woman from legal.
She wore the calm expression of someone whose paperwork had already been completed.
“Mr. Bennett,” she said to Grant, “your access is suspended pending investigation.”
Elaine grabbed his arm. “This is impossible.”
The legal officer looked at her. “Mrs. Bennett, impersonating company authority and attempting to remove an officer from premises may also have consequences.”
I held out the nameplate she had taken.
