“You don't have to decide because I was insulted.”
He looked up.
“You don't owe me a dramatic gesture,” she continued. “And you shouldn't make accusations you can't support.”
The executive swallowed.
“Then what should I do?”
“Tell the truth about what you personally know. Let the investigators determine what it means.”
He stood silently.
She added, “And speak to a lawyer who represents you, not your uncle.”
For the first time, a trace of relief appeared on his face.
He bowed again.
“Thank you.”
The waitress nodded.
As he turned to leave, he stopped.
“One more thing.”
She waited.
“The chairman doesn't usually lose his temper like that.”
The waitress looked toward the dining room.
“He seemed comfortable doing it tonight.”
The young executive lowered his voice.
“He was afraid when you mentioned the certification.”
She said nothing.
“He knew something was wrong.”
“That's something the investigators will have to establish.”
The executive nodded.
Then he left.
The waitress watched the door close behind him.
She understood that the young man might be sincere.
She also understood that he could be trying to discover how much she knew.
She had learned not to confuse an emotional conversation with reliable evidence.
So she returned to the staff room and added another section to her notes.
She documented the encounter.
Then she called her lawyer.
The attorney answered on the third ring.
“Are you safe?”
The question startled her.
“How did you know something happened?”
“I received a message from the committee's counsel. They said the chairman contacted them about an incident at a restaurant.”
The waitress closed her eyes.
“That was fast.”
“What happened?”
She told him everything.
She described the dinner, the Korean remarks, the disputed certification, and the young executive who had approached her afterward.
The lawyer listened carefully.
When she finished, he sighed.
“You were supposed to have a quiet evening.”
“I know.”
“Did you provide them with documents?”
“No.”
“Did you record the conversation?”
“No.”
“Did you tell them anything beyond what you've already disclosed through official channels?”
“Only that I hadn't authorized the certification.”
The attorney paused.
“All right.”
The waitress leaned against the counter.
“Did I make things worse?”
“You may have made things more complicated,” he said. “That's not necessarily the same thing.”
She waited.