“What?”
“Not rescuing me from feeling horrible.”
Maya nodded.
“That sounds accurate.”
Victoria let out a wet laugh.
Then looked toward treatment area.
“Is Oliver going to die?”
Maya’s expression softened.
“I don't know.”
Victoria’s face collapsed.
Maya continued gently.
“But right now he is responding.”
“That is good.”
“Dr. Patel is excellent.”
“Dr. Price is excellent.”
“The team here is excellent.”
Victoria nodded.
“I didn't know.”
“That’s part of the problem.”
Victoria looked at her.
“What?”
“You shouldn't need to know who is excellent before treating them with dignity.”
Victoria looked down.
The words landed.
Good.
Maya continued:
“What you did to Jordan…”
“The receptionist?”
“Yes.”
“I was rude.”
“You dismissed her because you assumed her job made her less important.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
“You did it to me.”
“Yes.”
“And you probably do it elsewhere.”
Victoria looked up sharply.
Then slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
Maya appreciated that.
Not enough to erase anything.
Enough to continue conversation.
Victoria said:
“There's something you should know.”
“What?”
“My agency has a contract with your company.”
Maya frowned.
“I know we have a publicity agreement.”
“No.”
“Not that.”
Victoria looked toward conference room.
“I have an advisory agreement.”
Maya became very still.
“With whom?”
“Your COO.”
“Nolan Pierce?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“For what?”
“Celebrity client strategy.”
Maya stared.
Victoria continued:
“He told me my clients were part of your premium growth channel.”
“He said I was authorized to escalate problems directly.”
“Authorized how?”
Victoria looked ashamed.
“He told me if staff pushed back, I should document it.”
Maya’s eyes moved toward the phone.
Victoria nodded.
“Like I did to you.”
“Why?”
“He said frontline resistance was blocking modernization.”
Maya almost laughed.
That phrase sounded exactly like Nolan.
“What did he promise your agency?”
“A percentage of new-client revenue tied to referrals.”
“Personal?”
“Agency.”
“Any equity?”