The young woman smiled.
“I’m glad you did that.”
Claire’s expression softened.
“So am I.”
The server returned to her section.
Claire continued toward the bar.
Daniel was standing near the service counter, reviewing the evening’s reservations.
“Everything all right?” he asked.
“Everything’s good.”
He looked around the restaurant.
“Your father is having a wonderful evening.”
Claire smiled.
“He deserves it.”
Daniel nodded.
Then he lowered his voice.
“Victoria Langford called earlier.”
Claire looked at him.
“What did she want?”
“She asked whether you’d be open to meeting again.”
Claire considered the question.
“Did she say why?”
“She wants to discuss a possible collaboration on a hospitality training initiative.”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting.”
“She mentioned that her company is reviewing its employee conduct policies.”
Claire was quiet for a moment.
“Did she apologize?”
Daniel gave a small smile.
“Not exactly. But she asked whether you would consider hearing her proposal.”
Claire looked toward the private room, where her father was laughing with several longtime employees.
Then she looked back at Daniel.
“I’ll read a written proposal.”
“Should I tell her you’re interested?”
“Tell her I’m willing to review it. Nothing more.”
Daniel nodded.
“Understood.”
Claire adjusted her jacket.
“And Daniel?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for standing with me that night.”
He looked genuinely surprised.
“Claire, you were the one standing there.”
“I know. But you could have stayed in the office.”
Daniel smiled.
“I’ve worked here too long to let someone shove the owner around in her own restaurant.”
Claire laughed.
“Fair enough.”
He returned to his reservations.
Claire walked toward the entrance and paused beneath the chandelier.
She remembered the night the tray had crashed.
The shock.
The anger.
The sudden silence.
The gold lettering on the folder.
And Victoria’s face when she realized the waitress she had threatened to fire was the person who owned the restaurant.
It would have been easy to define that evening as a victory.
A wealthy executive had been humbled.
A waitress had become an owner.