Two floors later, another woman entered, equally radiant and self-assured. The air filled with Chanel No. 5 — $150 an ounce — as she stood tall, exuding admiration and status. The two women exchanged knowing glances, their expensive scents competing subtly in the confined space. Between them, the old woman stood still, her worn scarf and deli bag a quiet contrast to their designer handbags. Yet her calm smile radiated something neither of them could buy.

When the elevator reached her floor, the old woman stepped out slowly. Before leaving, she turned toward the two young women, her eyes glimmering with humor, and said cheerfully, “Broccoli soup — $1.50 a bowl!”The doors slid shut as the women stood frozen for a moment — then burst into laughter. Her quick wit had cut through the air of vanity not with mockery, but with warmth. In a single sentence, she reminded them that confidence didn’t come from a bottle.