He smiled.
“The founder of JR Enterprises doesn’t usually meet strangers.”
“He is expecting me.”
“So you keep saying.”
Wendy noticed Samantha quietly lift her phone.
Camera angled toward them.
Not recording yet.
Maybe.
Wendy could not tell.
She asked, “Are you filming me?”
Samantha lowered it slightly.
“No.”
Wendy looked directly at the lens.
“Good.”
Then toward Derek.
“I’m asking you one final time to call the office.”
Derek laughed.
“Or?”
Wendy paused.
There were many answers available.
None necessary.
“Or I’ll document that you refused.”
Derek’s expression changed.
“Document?”
“Yes.”
He looked toward Jenna.
Then Samantha.
He seemed amused again.
“Are you threatening me?”
“No.”
“I’m describing what I’m going to do.”
Derek stepped out from behind the reception desk.
He carried the cola.
Wendy watched him approach.
At this distance, she noticed the expensive fragrance before anything else.
He stopped three feet away.
“You know what I think?”
Wendy said nothing.
“I think you walked into the wrong tower.”
Samantha laughed.
Derek continued.
“I think maybe somebody told you there was an interview here.”
“Maybe another company.”
“Maybe housekeeping.”
Michael’s face tightened from across the lobby.
Jenna looked up sharply.
Wendy became completely still.
Derek smiled.
He knew the line had landed.
Not because Wendy looked hurt.
Because the room changed.
Even Samantha stopped laughing for a second.
Wendy asked:
“Housekeeping?”
Derek shrugged.
“Just guessing.”
“You looked at me and guessed housekeeping.”
Derek realized he had moved too far.
Instead of retreating, he doubled down.
People often do that when witnesses are present.
“Don't make it something it isn't.”
Wendy almost smiled.
“I haven't made it anything.”
“I repeated what you said.”
Samantha whispered:
“Derek.”
He ignored her.
Wendy looked toward Jenna.
“Please call upstairs.”
Jenna reached again.
Derek snapped:
“Don't.”
She froze.
Wendy stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because I’m responsible for this desk.”
“Then be responsible.”
His face hardened.
“You know, this attitude right here is exactly why—”
He stopped.
Wendy waited.
“Why what?”
Derek shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“No.”
“Finish.”
He smiled.
“I'm not playing this game.”
“You started it.”
The sentence was quiet.
Derek looked around.
People were watching.
Employees crossing toward elevators.
A delivery worker beside the doors.
Two junior analysts waiting for badges.
A woman seated near the coffee kiosk.
An executive assistant hurrying across the lobby slowed.
The audience changed Derek.
Wendy saw it.
He wanted control back.
He lifted the oversized cola cup.
Looked at it.
Then at Wendy.
Something ugly formed behind his smile.
Samantha recognized it first.