Chapter 3 - The Restaurant Went Quiet
Three days later, Naen returned to Laura wearing clean jeans and the only blazer she owned.
She had considered staying away.
Then Priya, one of the servers, called her using Mrs. Alvarez’s phone.
“He told everyone you stole cash,” Priya whispered. “He says that’s why you were fired.”
Naen stood so quickly her chair scraped the kitchen floor.
“Did he put that in writing?”
“He sent it to the staff group.”
“Save it.”
Now she stood beneath the restaurant’s brass entrance sign while Elena finished a call beside her.
Roman remained in the hospital. His absence made this easier.
Naen wanted the truth established without a powerful man standing behind her like a threat.
Inside, David Kesler was arranging menus.
He saw her and smiled.
Not pleasantly.
“Deliveries go around back.”
“I’m not delivering anything.”
“Then leave.”
Elena stepped forward.
“David Kesler?”
He looked at her coat, then her briefcase. His posture improved.
“Yes?”
“Elena Rivas, counsel for Voss Hospitality.”
The menus slipped in his hands.
“Mr. Voss should have called. I would have arranged—”
“The company has retained an outside firm to review payroll and purchasing. You’ll receive the formal notice shortly.”
Kesler’s eyes flickered toward the office.
“I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed by a disgruntled employee.”
Naen took out the printed message Priya had forwarded.
“Did you tell the staff I stole money?”
He barely glanced at it.
“I expressed concerns.”
“You wrote that I was terminated for theft.”
Elena’s voice remained level.
“Please preserve that message and all related records.”
The restaurant had gone quiet.
Behind the service station, a busboy stopped polishing a glass.
Kesler lowered his voice.
“We can discuss this privately.”
“You had no problem humiliating her publicly,” Priya said.
She stood near the swinging kitchen doors with her arms folded.
For a second, Naen saw the calculation in Kesler’s face. How many people were watching. Which ones he could frighten later.
Then the front door opened.
An older woman entered carrying a canvas portfolio.
Marisol Chen, the outside auditor.
She introduced herself, presented her authorization, and requested the accounting records. Kesler tried calling the restaurant’s operating director.
Elena waited while he did.
The director confirmed the review.
Whatever Kesler heard next drained the remaining color from his cheeks.
He disappeared into the office.
Marisol followed.
Naen stayed in the dining room with the staff.
Nobody applauded. Nobody cheered.
The dishwasher she had watched freeze three nights earlier approached her carrying a mug of coffee.
“I should have said something,” he told her.
She accepted the mug.
“You can say something now.”
By noon, Kesler had been placed on administrative leave. The company hadn’t concluded the investigation, Elena explained, and Naen appreciated that she didn’t pretend otherwise.
But his office access was suspended.
The staff received written instructions about preserving records and reporting concerns without retaliation.
When Kesler emerged carrying his coat, he looked directly at Naen.
“You have no idea who you’re involving yourself with.”
She set down her coffee.
“I know who threw my paycheck on the floor.”
His mouth tightened.
Elena stepped between them before he could answer.
Outside, he paused beside Naen.
For the first time, his voice sounded afraid.
“You think he owns everything? You think that makes him safe?”
Then he walked away.
That evening, Naen received a written offer for temporary paid work assisting the auditors. The rate was ordinary. The hours were flexible. The assignment had an end date.
She read it three times before signing.
For once, an opportunity had clear terms.
Her first task involved comparing invoice numbers against deliveries.
By nine o’clock, she had found eleven charges for wine nobody remembered receiving.
The vendor was Bellwether Consulting.
A consulting company selling wine.
She circled the name.
Then she saw the initials approving every payment.
S.V.
She called Elena.
“Who is S.V.?”
A pause.
“Silas Voss.”
“Roman’s brother?”
“His uncle.”
Naen looked again at the invoice dates.
The largest payment had been approved the morning Roman was attacked.
Outside her apartment, an engine started.
She crossed to the window and moved the curtain half an inch.
May you like
A silver sedan sat across the street.
Its driver looked directly up at her.
