The restricted reserve.
A supplier account.
And a planned transfer.
The attorney asked whether she remembered exact words.
She hesitated.
"Some phrases. Not every sentence."
He nodded.
"Please distinguish the phrases you remember from your interpretation of their meaning."
The waitress took another breath.
Then repeated the billionaire's earlier statement in Thai.
"ย้ายเงินสามล้านก่อนที่ฝ่ายลงทุนจะตรวจบัญชี"
Move the three million before the investment side audits the accounts.
The investor's expression hardened.
The waitress continued.
"ให้ลงบัญชีเป็นค่าเตรียมงานของผู้จัดหาอุปกรณ์"
Record it as the equipment supplier's mobilization expense.
The older businessman shifted.
The billionaire leaned forward.
"That's not what I meant."
The attorney looked toward him.
"You'll have an opportunity to explain your statements."
Then he returned his attention to the waitress.
"Did you hear the identity of the supplier?"
She closed her eyes briefly.
She pictured the table.
The billionaire leaning toward his older companion.
The wine glasses.
The folded napkin beside his hand.
The younger businessman looking uncomfortable.
Then she opened her eyes.
"I heard them refer to the supplier using an abbreviated name."
The attorney nodded.
"Do you remember it?"
She repeated the letters.
The younger businessman went completely still.
The billionaire turned toward him.
A silent warning passed between them.
The waitress noticed.
So did the investor.
The attorney wrote down the abbreviation.
Then asked another question.
"Why did the conversation concern you?"
The waitress hesitated.
This was the difficult part.
She had not planned to reveal her old professional assignment.
The agency contract contained confidentiality obligations.
She understood those obligations did not necessarily prevent truthful cooperation with lawful investigations, but she wanted to avoid disclosing protected information casually.
She looked toward the investor.
"Because I worked on an earlier version of this agreement."
The room became silent.
The billionaire stared.
The investor slowly leaned forward.
"I remember."
The waitress looked up.
The older woman continued.
"You were the interpreter who raised the translation question."
The young woman's eyes filled.
She nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
The investor looked toward her attorneys.
Then back at the waitress.
"Why did your agency tell us you were unavailable?"
The young woman froze.
For several seconds, she could not speak.
Then whispered.
"They removed me from the assignment."
The investor's expression changed.
"Removed you?"
The waitress nodded.
"After I reported that the English and Thai reserve clauses didn't match."
The billionaire abruptly pushed back his chair.
"This is ridiculous."
The investor turned toward him.