“You're supposed to be working as a compliance consultant.”
“I was.”
“What happened?”
She held his gaze.
“Your legal team should be able to explain.”
The young executive slowly set down his chopsticks.
Across the table, another director appeared to stop breathing.
The general counsel placed the card on the table.
“We should probably conclude this discussion privately.”
The billionaire ignored him.
He continued staring at the waitress.
“You're the person who wrote that report?”
“Yes.”
“The thirty-seven-page complaint?”
“It was a compliance memorandum, not a complaint.”
“You accused our company of fraud.”
“No, sir. I identified discrepancies and requested independent verification.”
The billionaire waved a dismissive hand.
“Same thing.”
“It is not the same thing.”
Her voice remained polite.
But this time, there was steel beneath it.
The billionaire studied her for a moment.
Then he smiled again.
It was not a friendly smile.
“So this is what happened to you.”
The waitress said nothing.
“You made trouble for your employer, and now you're carrying plates.”
The cruelty in his voice was unmistakable.
The executive nearest the door looked away.
The billionaire continued.
“I suppose that should teach you something about making accusations you cannot prove.”
The waitress looked down at her black apron.
Then she looked back at him.
“It taught me something about people who mistake employment for worth.”
The billionaire's smile faded.
She continued.
“I have no reason to be ashamed of this job. But I am very interested in why a certification appeared with my signature after I had been removed from your project.”
The general counsel sat upright.
The chief financial officer's expression changed so quickly that even the other executives noticed.
The billionaire looked toward him.
“What certification?”
The waitress watched the chief financial officer carefully.
His fingers were resting beside his plate.
They began tapping against the table.
The general counsel spoke.
“I think this conversation has gone far enough.”
The waitress nodded.
“I agree.”
She reached for the folder.
“But you should know that I never authorized that certification, and I have already provided a formal declaration to the appropriate independent review committee.”
The billionaire froze.
“You did what?”
“I corrected the record.”
His face hardened.
“Without speaking to us?”
“I reported the discrepancy through proper channels.”
He looked at the general counsel.
“Did you know about this?”