For a moment, the tension eased.
Then her expression became serious.
"Are you in trouble?"
I looked down.
"I don't know."
She leaned forward.
"Do you have a lawyer?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"Call her."
I took out my phone.
My hands trembled as I found Rachel's number.
She answered on the third ring.
"Naomi?"
I swallowed.
"It happened."
A pause.
"What happened?"
I explained.
The meeting.
The document.
Whitmore's wager.
The Cantonese warning.
Mr. Lam stopping the signing.
The threat.
My manager removing me from duty.
Rachel listened without interrupting.
Then she asked several precise questions.
What exactly had I seen?
Which statements had I heard?
What did I say in Cantonese?
Had I handled the contract?
Had I photographed any documents?
Had anyone asked me to provide confidential files?
I answered carefully.
I hadn't handled the contract.
Hadn't taken photographs.
Hadn't accessed restricted information.
I had recognized the open revision heading and spoken about a discrepancy I previously reported.
Rachel was quiet.
Then she said, "All right."
I felt my chest tighten.
"Am I in trouble?"
She took a breath.
"I can't promise this will be simple. But you did something important by distinguishing your concern from a proven conclusion."
I closed my eyes.
She continued.
"We need to document everything immediately while your memory is fresh. Your employer may also have relevant incident records, and the parties need to preserve the transaction materials."
I nodded.
"Okay."
Then I whispered, "Whitmore knew my name."
Rachel went silent.
I continued.
"He said I was supposed to be gone."
For several seconds, she didn't answer.
Then her voice became very serious.
"Write down those exact words."
I swallowed.
"Okay."
"And Naomi?"
"Yes?"
"Do not meet with Whitmore or his representatives alone."
I stared.
"Do you think he'd hurt me?"