Every head turned. Mr. Greer stepped out of his office, looking suddenly pale. “You’re… you’re the president of NovaPoint?”
“That’s right,” Lillian said, pulling out her company badge and an envelope. “And this is a payroll check issued from my company’s account. The same account your bank services, I believe.”
The officers exchanged looks. One cleared his throat. “It seems there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Lillian’s voice was calm, but sharp as glass. “You called the police on a teenager because she didn’t look like someone who could have earned that check. You didn’t verify it. You didn’t call our office. You jumped straight to suspicion.”
Mr. Greer stammered, “Ma’am, we handle a lot of fraud cases. We have to be cautious—”
“Cautious is calling the company before humiliating a child,” she interrupted. “Cautious is training your staff to recognize bias before it hurts someone.”
People in the lobby were recording now, whispering. The officers quietly apologized to Alyssa and walked out. The room was still except for the hum of the air conditioning.
Lillian placed a steady hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”