The millionaire turned.
For one second Daniel visibly regretted speaking.
“Your party’s private room remains available if—”
Whitmore laughed.
It was not sane laughter.
“Private room?”
Daniel stopped.
Whitmore turned toward Naomi.
“You.”
She remained still.
“You just cost hundreds of people their jobs.”
There it was.
Not his behavior.
Her translation.
Naomi lowered the tray to an empty side table.
“No.”
Whitmore came closer.
Daniel moved between them slightly.
“Mr. Whitmore.”
Whitmore ignored him.
“You had no idea what you were talking about.”
“I translated what you said.”
“You eavesdropped.”
“You were speaking beside the service station.”
“You weren’t invited into the conversation.”
Naomi looked at him.
“You were loud enough for three tables.”
Whitmore’s face twisted.
“Do you understand what that deal means?”
“No.”
“Exactly.”
He pointed toward the envelope.
“You want the money?”
Naomi stared.
“What?”
“The bet.”
He grabbed the envelope and shoved it toward her.
“Take it.”
Naomi did not move.
“Two-fifty.”
“You proved your little trick.”
“Take it.”
Daniel said:
“Mr. Whitmore, please stop.”
Whitmore pushed the envelope against Naomi’s tray.
“Isn’t that what this was about?”
Naomi looked down.
Then back at him.
“No.”
“What, you’re too good for money now?”
“No.”
“I’m too good for yours.”
A woman at the next table whispered:
“Jesus.”
Whitmore’s face went white with anger.
He threw the envelope onto the floor.
“Fine.”
Then turned toward Daniel.
“Fire her.”
Daniel blinked.
Whitmore repeated:
“Fire her.”
“This is an employment matter.”
“It’s very simple.”
“I bring clients here six figures a year.”
“I know.”
“Then fire her.”
Daniel looked at Naomi.
For one terrible second, she saw the calculation.
Not cruelty.
Fear.
Rent.
Payroll.
Reservations.
Owners.
VIP lists.
The same thing Chairman Ishikawa had been talking about without saying the words.
Who behaves differently around people who can affect them?
Daniel swallowed.
“Naomi, could you go to the office?”
Whitmore smiled.
There.
Control returning.
Naomi looked at Daniel.
“Am I being suspended?”
He hesitated.