"Then why don't you buy another shirt?"Nia Brooks pushed the needle through the white fabric and smiled at her daughter. "Because this one still knows how to work."Eight-year-old Lily considered that. "Does it know how to make you come home early?"Nia's smile faded a little. From the bedroom, her mother coughed. On the kitchen table, an envelope from the landlord sat beneath an empty sugar bowl."Tonight is a big dinner. If everything goes well, I might get extra shifts.""You always say 'if.'"Nia tied the thread, kissed Lily's forehead, and reached for her coat.At the restaurant, Owen Price was waiting beside the service entrance. "You're late.""Four minutes. My mother's nurse—""I know. Put your bag away. Table 12 is yours."Nia looked through the kitchen window. A man with a silver watch was standing at the center of the dining room, laughing while other people waited for permission to join him."Victor Hale?"Owen nodded. "He's bringing investors from Germany. Tonight matters.""So does every table.""This one could keep the doors open."Nia took the tray from him. "Then I'll make sure their food arrives hot."She had barely reached Table 12 when Victor lifted an empty glass without looking at her. "Another.""Still or sparkling, sir?""The same thing I've been drinking."She glanced at the bottle. "Sparkling. Of course."A woman gave her a smile. Victor noticed."Don't look worried, Marta. We're paying for good service."Nia reached for the bottle just as the woman said quietly in German, "Stilles Wasser, bitte.""Certainly, ma'am. I will bring that right away. Naturally, ohne Kohlensäure—of course. Still water."The woman looked up. Victor lowered his glass. "What did you just say?""I was answering your guest.""In German?""Yes, sir."He laughed—not because anything was funny, but because he expected everyone else to laugh, too. "Well, they teach that with the wine list now?"Nia kept her hand steady. "I'll bring the water.""Wait." He leaned back and studied her face, then her apron. "Say something else."A few people at the table smiled. Someone lifted a phone."What would you like me to say?"Victor pulled a checkbook from his jacket. "$10,000." The conversation around them stopped. "I'll bet you $10,000 you can't hold a proper conversation in German."Nia looked at the checkbook, then at Owen across the room. He was watching."What happens if I can?"Victor grinned. "Then this is the best-paid water delivery of your life.""And if I can't?""You admit you learned one phrase to impress a rich table."Marta Weiss set down her menu. "Victor, that is enough."But Nia was already placing the bottle on the table. "No. Let him finish."