And nine were from her younger brother.
She immediately called Daniel.
He answered before the first ring finished.
“Imani!”
She sat upright.
“What happened?”
He sounded breathless.
“Have you seen the internet?”
Her stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Your video!”
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Then she opened the link he sent.
The recording showed the Manhattan dining room.
Walter Sterling pointing toward her.
The stacks of cash.
The contract on the table.
And the men laughing while he announced the twenty-five-thousand-dollar wager.
The video ended just as Imani began reading Japanese.
A caption claimed that a billionaire had humiliated a Black waitress who turned out to be more educated than everyone at his table.
Imani stared.
The clip had millions of views.
Comments appeared faster than she could read them.
Some people expressed outrage.
Others praised her composure.
Several demanded to know whether she'd received the money.
And a few made cruel remarks about her appearance, education, and credibility.
She felt sick.
“Who posted this?”
Daniel hesitated.
“I don't know.”
Imani looked toward the video again.
The angle appeared to come from someone seated near the far end of the table.
One of the businessmen.
She remembered seeing a phone raised while the others laughed.
The man had apparently intended to record her embarrassment.
Instead, he'd recorded the beginning of Walter Sterling's humiliation.
Daniel spoke again.
“Are you famous now?”
Imani closed her eyes.
“No.”
“But everybody's talking about you.”
She took a breath.
“That doesn't mean I want them to.”
For a moment, her brother was silent.
Then he asked quietly, “Are you in trouble?”
Imani looked toward the window.
Morning sunlight was entering the apartment.
Somewhere outside, a delivery truck was backing toward the curb.
Ordinary life continued.
She swallowed.
“I don't know yet.”
Daniel's voice softened.
“Mom saw it.”
Imani closed her eyes.
“Of course she did.”
“She wants you to call.”
“I will.”
He hesitated.
Then said, “For what it's worth, I think you were incredible.”
Imani felt her eyes fill.
“Daniel.”
“Seriously. That man was awful, and you didn't let him scare you.”
She smiled weakly.
“He scared me plenty.”
Her brother was quiet.
Then he said, “You didn't look scared.”
Imani laughed softly.
“That doesn't mean I wasn't.”
When the call ended, she sat on the edge of her bed for several minutes.
Then she called her mother.
Grace answered in a soft voice.
“Baby.”
Imani closed her eyes.
“Hi, Mom.”
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Grace asked, “Are you safe?”
The question nearly broke her.
Imani swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Did anybody threaten you?”