Nia considered refusing.
She had already said what mattered.
Her Korean was fluent.
The song was genuine.
And the center's concerns were supported by documents rather than anything she invented to embarrass him.
But she also remembered Caroline's question, though she didn't know the conversation had happened.
Why had he thought humiliating someone was funny?
Nia wanted to hear his answer.
So she agreed to meet in a small conference room at Haneul, with Grace present.
Holloway arrived without his usual entourage.
He wore a gray suit and carried a thin folder.
For several seconds, he looked around the room before sitting.
Then he turned toward Nia.
"Ms. Brooks."
She nodded.
"Mr. Holloway."
He cleared his throat.
"I owe you an apology."
Nia remained quiet.
He continued.
"What I said at dinner was disrespectful. I assumed you couldn't speak Korean because of your job, and I made you the subject of a joke in front of people who were already treating me as important."
His expression tightened.
"I shouldn't have done that."
For a moment, Nia felt surprised.
She'd expected excuses.
But the apology was direct.
She nodded slowly.
"Thank you."
Holloway seemed relieved.
Then she continued.
"But I need to ask you something."
He looked toward her.
"Go ahead."
Nia folded her hands.
"If Mr. Han hadn't recognized me, would you still think what happened was wrong?"
The millionaire froze.
For several seconds, he didn't answer.
Then he looked away.
It was the most difficult question she'd asked him.
Because it stripped away the financial consequences.
The investor's disapproval.
The public video.
The embarrassment.
And it left only the moment when a wealthy man decided a waitress's failure would entertain his table.
Holloway looked toward her again.
Finally, he answered.
"I don't know whether I would've understood it as quickly."
Nia felt a small ache in her chest.
But she appreciated the honesty.
He continued.
"That's something I need to change."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Nia nodded.
"I hope you do."
Holloway opened the folder.
Inside was a copy of the check he'd written during the dinner.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
Nia stared.
He placed it on the table.
"I made a promise."
She looked up.
He continued.
"I attempted to disguise it as a joke afterward because I didn't like being embarrassed. That was dishonest."
Grace watched silently.
Holloway leaned forward.
"I'm prepared to honor the amount."
Nia felt her heart pounding.