"The amounts were not paid. We requested supporting records. Some have still not been provided."
The billionaire looked toward the developer.
"Why wasn't this raised during our internal review?"
The developer glanced toward the attorney.
Then back at the billionaire.
"It's a routine vendor dispute."
The owner nodded.
"Then it should be easy to resolve."
She removed a final document.
"Especially because one invoice references a service contract our company never signed."
The room fell silent.
The billionaire looked at the paper.
Then at his advisers.
He had arrived believing he was negotiating with a young restaurant owner who could be persuaded to surrender control through money and pressure.
Now he was discovering that the proposed transaction might involve problems serious enough to damage his own company.
And the person identifying those problems was the waitress he had ordered to pick a hundred-dollar bill off the floor.
The senior financial adviser finally spoke.
"I think we need to separate these issues."
The owner looked toward him.
"Go ahead."
"The proposed operating-company acquisition is one matter. The adjacent redevelopment rights are another."
She nodded.
"I agree."
"And disputed invoices require independent verification."
"Absolutely."
The adviser turned toward the billionaire.
"Sir, I recommend suspending any discussion of valuation until the documents have been reviewed."
The billionaire looked irritated.
"We've already spent months preparing this proposal."
"Which is precisely why we should understand what we're purchasing."
The owner watched the adviser.
He was the only person at the table who had spoken consistently in measured, practical terms.
He had not laughed when the billionaire insulted her in Hindi.
He had not defended the thrown money.
He had simply looked uncomfortable.
Now, faced with the documents, he appeared genuinely concerned.
The billionaire drummed his fingers against the table.
Then he turned toward the woman.
"Let's assume there are mistakes in the draft."
She waited.
"Documents can be corrected."
"Of course."
"Then why are you making this into a confrontation?"
She considered the question.
"Because the documents aren't the only problem."
His expression hardened.
"You're returning to the waiter incident."
"The waitress incident," she corrected.
He sighed.
"Fine."
She leaned forward.