He wasn't accustomed to being corrected by a foreign investor in front of a waitress.
He looked toward Min-jae.
"Surely you're not going to jeopardize a major investment over a joke."
Min-jae didn't sit down.
"An investment tells me what your company might earn," he replied. "A moment like this tells me how you treat people when you believe they have no power."
Holloway's expression hardened.
"That's a little dramatic."
The Korean businessman studied him.
For a moment, he seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
Then he answered.
"My daughter was eight years old. She'd lost her mother. And she was trapped in a frightening situation where she couldn't find her family."
He looked toward Nia.
"This woman had no reason to stay with her. She wasn't being paid. Nobody offered her a reward."
His voice trembled.
"But she stayed."
Holloway looked away.
Min-jae continued.
"And three years later, you invited her to sing because you thought her failure would amuse your guests."
The millionaire opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
For the first time that evening, he didn't have a prepared response.
The restaurant manager approached quietly.
Grace Yoon was forty-four, Korean American, and had worked in luxury hospitality for nearly two decades. She'd learned to recognize when private dining disagreements were becoming serious enough to require intervention, and she could see the situation had moved far beyond the harmless exchange Holloway initially claimed it to be.
"Mr. Han," she said respectfully, "would you prefer a private room?"
Min-jae turned toward her.
"Yes. But first, I would like to apologize to Ms. Brooks for the way this evening has unfolded."
Nia looked startled.
"Sir, you didn't—"
He shook his head gently.
"I allowed the situation to continue longer than I should have."
Grace looked toward Nia.
"Are you all right?"
Nia nodded.
"I'm okay."
The manager studied her carefully.
Then said, "You may take a break. We'll arrange coverage for your station."
Nia hesitated.
She still had tables to serve.
And the unfinished dinner could become a complaint against her.
Grace seemed to understand.
"Your shift is secure," she said quietly.
For a moment, Nia's eyes filled.
She nodded.
Then stepped away from the table.
As she approached the service entrance, she heard Holloway speaking again.
"Min-jae, let's be reasonable."
The Korean executive answered.
"We will discuss business tomorrow."
Holloway started to protest.
But Min-jae continued.
"Tonight, I want to know what happened to my daughter."
Nia paused near the doorway.
For a moment, her chest tightened.
Then she continued into the quiet service corridor.