“He said it near Keiko Mori.”
“Who?”
“Japanese executive.”
“If she heard?”
“I think.”
Allison sighed.
“Okay.”
“Also Chairman Ishikawa’s office called.”
Naomi’s stomach tightened.
“What do they want?”
“To speak with you.”
“Why?”
“They did not say.”
Naomi looked toward window.
Morning traffic below.
She lived in a one-bedroom apartment in Queens, not far from her mother’s house.
The day looked offensively normal.
“Allison.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want a job from them.”
“Who said anything about job?”
“No one.”
“But internet already says he’s going to hire me as translator or make me vice president.”
Allison laughed.
“People think corporations operate like fairy tales.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Then don’t.”
Naomi breathed.
“Okay.”
“Also come in at eleven.”
“Lawyer present.”
“Paid.”
“Okay.”
When she arrived, reporters were outside.
Three.
Then six.
A camera crew.
The restaurant had put security at employee entrance.
One reporter shouted:
“Naomi, did you know Chairman Ishikawa before last night?”
“No.”
“Did you intentionally expose Whitmore?”
No answer.
“Did the restaurant stage the bet?”
She almost laughed.
Inside, Allison’s attorney explained the demand letter.
Whitmore’s lawyers wanted preservation of footage and employee communications.
Fine.
They also demanded public statement that Naomi’s translations “may not reflect complete context.”
She refused.
“Good,” the lawyer said.
“You don’t need to.”
Allison looked at Naomi.
“Chairman’s office wants interview at two.”
“Here?”
“No.”
“Kensei’s New York office.”
“Attorney can accompany.”
Naomi nodded.
“Do I need one?”
“Probably not.”
“Take one anyway.”
At two, Naomi sat in a conference room overlooking Park Avenue.
Chairman Ishikawa entered with Keiko Mori and Kensei’s American general counsel.
No entourage.
No cameras.
No dramatic envelope.
Ishikawa bowed slightly.
Naomi returned.
They sat.
The chairman began in English.
“First, I apologize.”
Naomi frowned.
“For?”
“You were pulled into a conversation that should not have involved you.”
“You didn’t create the bet.”
“No.”
“But I allowed him to continue longer than I should have.”
Naomi looked at him.
He meant it.
“I could have stopped Charles immediately by speaking English.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Keiko glanced toward chairman.
He answered himself.
“Because I was already evaluating him.”
Naomi’s expression tightened.