"She Can't Speak Chinese!" Millionaire Laughed — Then the Black Waitress Spoke
Chapter 21
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"Richard.""Yes?""She speaks better Mandarin than the interpreter your office sent us last month."The sentence landed softly; that made it worse.Richard blinked. Laura turned toward him. Grace folded her hands. Maya felt her heartbeat in her throat—not because she had won something, but because she knew men like Richard rarely accepted humiliation quietly.Richard smiled again, but the smile no longer reached his eyes. "Well," he picked up his wine glass, "congratulations."Maya waited."You've proven you can carry a conversation."Daniel said, "That was the bet."Richard took a slow sip. "No."Maya's expression did not change.Richard set down the glass. "I said a real conversation."Laura sighed. "Richard..."He ignored her. "Anybody can learn casual Mandarin: restaurant phrases, idioms, small talk."Grace looked at him. "You made the terms very clear.""I know what I said.""So do the rest of us."Richard's face flushed slightly. Maya noticed: he had expected the room to laugh with him; now the room was measuring him. That was new, and he hated it.Thomas Reed arrived beside the table. "Everything all right?"Richard turned toward him instantly. "Perfect."Thomas looked at Maya. Her face told him otherwise. Then he noticed the $20 bill on the floor. His eyes narrowed. "What happened?"Richard waved a hand. "Nothing. A misunderstanding."Emily appeared several feet behind Thomas. Her lips parted. Maya looked at her: Not yet. She did not want the evening to become a shouting match, not when Daniel and Grace were already watching Richard unravel himself.Thomas looked at Maya again. "Do you want me to take over?"Maya shook her head. "I'm fine."Richard gave a quiet laugh. "See? She's fine."Thomas did not move. Maya met his eyes. This time, her message was clear: Let me finish. Thomas reluctantly stepped back, but he did not go far.Richard waited until he was gone. Then he looked at Maya. "Since we're all so impressed, let's make this useful."Grace's expression cooled. "What does that mean?"Richard reached for the leather portfolio beside his chair. Inside was a tablet. He tapped the screen, entered a passcode, and opened a presentation folder: Pier 17 Redevelopment.Maya saw the title. Something tightened inside her.Richard turned the tablet toward Daniel. "This is what we're actually here to discuss."Daniel did not touch it. "I know what we're discussing."Richard glanced at Maya. "Then maybe our new translator can help."Maya's stomach dropped.Laura whispered, "Richard, stop."He smiled. "What? I'm giving her an opportunity.""No." Maya's answer came quickly.