The waitress understood the stakes.
She also understood that speaking publicly before the investigation was complete could jeopardize both her legal position and the integrity of the evidence.
Her lawyer urged patience.
The waitress tried to follow that advice.
She continued working at the restaurant.
She continued helping her parents.
And she continued waiting for the committee to tell her whether the documents could be authenticated.
Then, on a rainy Thursday afternoon, the restaurant owner called her into the office.
A large private dinner had been booked for the following evening.
The reservation came from a corporate assistant representing Haneul Industrial Holdings.
Eight guests were expected.
The booking included a private dining room, an elaborate Korean menu, premium whisky, and strict instructions concerning confidentiality.
The waitress stared at the reservation sheet.
At the top was the title of the principal guest.
Chairman.
She recognized the designation immediately.
It belonged to the billionaire whose office had produced the disputed memorandum.
The restaurant owner noticed her expression.
“Is something wrong?”
The waitress took a moment to answer.
“Do you know who this man is?”
The owner nodded.
“An important business executive. He's been here before.”
“Does he always use the private room?”
“Usually.”
The waitress read the reservation again.
It included several familiar titles.
Chief financial officer.
General counsel.
Vice president of international operations.
Director of corporate strategy.
All of them were connected to the acquisition.
The waitress felt her pulse quicken.
She had spent months trying to understand what had happened behind closed doors.
Now several of the people involved were planning to sit together in a room where she worked.
The coincidence was almost impossible to believe.
She knew she could not use her position to obtain confidential papers or secretly search through guests' possessions.
She also knew that her presence at the dinner might create complications if anyone recognized her from the investigation.
That evening, she called her lawyer.
“I need to tell you something,” she said.
The lawyer listened as she explained the reservation.
Then he was quiet for several seconds.
“Are you assigned to serve the room?”
“Not yet.”
“Does anyone there know who you are?”
“I don't think so. I worked through a consulting firm. Most of my contact with their executives happened by email.”