Chapter 3
The heavy oak door of the manager's office clicked shut behind the departing blonde woman, leaving a heavy silence in the room.
The manager rubbed his temples, staring at the error message still glowing on the computer monitor.
He was a man caught between his basic sense of morality and the brutal reality of keeping his livelihood intact.
He knew the restaurant was owned by a massive holding conglomerate, and the name on that corporate lease belonged to the woman in the black jacket.
Her name was Victoria Vance, a silent partner whose investments kept the bistro afloat during its hardest months.
The waitress stood motionless, her hands tightly clenched into fists at her sides as she processed the impossible reality of the situation.
"I am sorry," the manager said quietly, refusing to meet the young woman's eyes. "Victoria holds the primary debt on this building. If she wants someone gone, corporate policy dictates we comply to protect the brand."
"So you're just going to fire me?" the waitress asked, her voice cracking slightly with suppressed emotion. "Even though you saw what she did with your own eyes?"
"I don't have a choice," the manager replied, looking up with genuine regret in his expression. "You're suspended pending an official review, but we both know what the outcome will be. Take the rest of the day off."
Walking out into the fading afternoon light, the waitress felt a burning sense of injustice fuel her spirit.
She refused to let Victoria Vance destroy her life over a petty whim or some hidden agenda.
She pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts until she found the number of her older brother, a sharp-witted independent journalist.
She dialed the number, but before it could ring, a sleek black sedan pulled up beside the curb with a sharp screech of tires.
The tinted window rolled down smoothly, revealing the cold, composed face of Victoria Vance sitting in the back seat.
"Get in," Victoria said, her voice commanding and entirely devoid of warmth. "We need to have a conversation about what you think you saw."
The waitress took a slow step back, shaking her head as she gripped her phone tighter.
"I have nothing to say to you. You're losing control, and everyone is going to find out what kind of person you really are."
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Victoria let out a low, humorless chuckle, gesturing toward the open car door where a bulky security guard sat in the front passenger seat.
"You think you're fighting a battle for honor, my dear. But you have no idea who I am protecting, or what is hidden inside that restaurant."
