Rain moved across Manhattan, turning the city lights into blurred reflections on the wet streets. Inside the restaurant, the private dining room glowed with warm amber light.
Nia greeted the first guests with the same composure she brought to every shift.
She checked dietary requirements, confirmed the order of courses, and coordinated with the kitchen so the Peking duck would arrive at the proper moment.
Mei personally inspected the table.
"Glasses aligned. Service utensils to the right. Tea prepared separately."
Nia nodded.
"Everything's ready."
Mei looked toward the folded document envelope beneath the service station.
Then lowered her voice.
"Remember, you are allowed to step away when the formal handoff begins."
"I know."
"And if you become uncomfortable, tell me."
Nia smiled.
"Thank you."
Mei studied her.
For a moment, the older woman's expression softened.
"Your mother would be proud of you whether this goes well or badly."
Nia felt her throat tighten.
Then nodded.
"I hope so."
Mei squeezed her hand.
A moment later, the first guest arrived.
Victor entered ten minutes after the scheduled time.
He walked through the sliding doors accompanied by Elliot Voss and two senior executives. His black three-piece suit was immaculate, his silver hair perfectly arranged, and his expression suggested that the entire restaurant existed to accommodate his evening.
Nia greeted him.
"Good evening, Mr. Liang. Welcome."
Victor barely looked at her.
He handed his coat to another attendant and asked whether the senior guests had arrived.
She explained that Chairman Tan was already seated.
Victor nodded.
Then walked toward the table.
Throughout the first courses, he dominated the conversation.
He discussed expansion.
International shipping routes.
The value of integrating refrigerated logistics with existing distribution centers.
And the financial opportunities created by combining Asterion's capital with Jade Passage's technical assets.
Nia moved quietly around the table.
She heard more than Victor realized.
His financial projections depended on the transfer of certain monitoring technology into a subsidiary that would license it to the combined business.
That was precisely the transaction component under dispute.
At one point, Margaret Vale attempted to introduce a caution.
"The consent review remains open."
Victor lifted one hand.
"We've discussed that."
She remained composed.
"Then we should avoid presenting the asset transfer as certain."
Victor smiled toward his guests.
"Margaret is paid to worry about every possible problem."
A few executives laughed politely.
Margaret didn't.
Nia noticed.
She also noticed Elliot looking down at his phone whenever the founders' rights were mentioned.
The contrast was striking.
Victor looked confident.
Margaret looked concerned.
And Elliot looked frightened.
Nia continued serving.
The Peking duck arrived shortly after eight.