He arrived without reporters, photographers, or a public-relations team.
His lawyer accompanied him, but waited outside the meeting room with the university representative handling Elena's affairs.
Elena sat across from him at a small conference table.
Professor Ibarra was beside her.
For several seconds, Antoine seemed uncertain how to begin.
It was an unfamiliar position for him.
He usually entered rooms knowing exactly what he intended to say and how he expected others to respond.
Now he was sitting opposite a young woman he'd insulted publicly, uncertain whether she would accept his explanation.
He looked toward her.
“Miss Marković.”
Elena nodded.
“Monsieur Delcourt.”
He folded his hands.
“I came to apologize.”
She remained silent.
Antoine took a breath.
“At dinner, I spoke to you disrespectfully. I questioned your intelligence based on assumptions I had no right to make.”
Elena watched him.
He continued.
“I offered money because I expected you to fail, and I believed your embarrassment would amuse my guests.”
The admission sounded painful.
Elena didn't interrupt.
Antoine looked toward the table.
“When you succeeded, I behaved as though you had done something improper by answering me.”
He raised his eyes.
“That was wrong.”
For several seconds, the room remained quiet.
Then he added, “And when it became clear you were connected with the independent assessment, my group responded in ways that put unnecessary pressure on you. Those communications have been reviewed, and I regret the unsupported allegations.”
Elena considered his words carefully.
Then asked one question.
“Would you have apologized if nobody had seen the video?”
Antoine stopped.
For a moment, he looked almost offended.
Then he glanced toward Professor Ibarra.
The professor said nothing.
He looked back at Elena.
Finally, he answered.
“I don't know.”
Elena nodded.
It wasn't a satisfying answer.
But it was more honest than the polished declaration she'd expected.
Antoine continued.
“I'd like to believe I would have recognized my mistake.”
He paused.
“But I have to admit that the criticism forced me to examine something I'd preferred not to see.”
Elena folded her hands.
“Which was?”
He took a breath.
“That I've become accustomed to people treating my opinions as more important because I'm wealthy.”
For several seconds, she remained silent.
Then she answered.
“You were entitled to ask whether I spoke Spanish fluently.”
Antoine looked up.
“But you weren't entitled to assume that being a waitress made my answer ridiculous.”