"She Can't Speak Chinese!" Millionaire Laughed — Then the Black Waitress Spoke
Chapter 31
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Laura nodded. "You were.""I was making a point.""You were.""I didn't think.""No." Laura's eyes filled, but her voice stayed steady. "You didn't."Richard looked away. That was when his phone began to ring. He glanced at the screen: Michael Foster. Richard answered immediately."What?"Michael's voice came through faintly, but urgently. Richard turned partly away from the table. "Slow down."Everyone watched him. His shoulders stiffened."When?" A pause. "No. Tell them not to do anything until I get there." Another pause. Richard closed his eyes. "Michael, I said wait!"Grace and Daniel exchanged a look.Richard lowered the phone. Laura asked, "What happened?"He did not answer.Daniel did: "The board."Richard stared at him. "How would you know?"Daniel leaned back. "Because our legal team just notified your general counsel that negotiations are suspended pending an independent review."The color drained from Richard's face. "What?"Grace opened her folder again. "We sent the notice five minutes ago."Richard looked at her. "You did that without discussing it with me?"Grace's expression sharpened. "That is what suspension means."Richard turned to Daniel. "You cannot freeze a $120 million transaction over translation inconsistencies discovered at dinner!"Daniel's voice remained level. "We are freezing it because there may be material inconsistencies in representations connected to tenant obligations.""They can be corrected!""Then the review will establish that."Richard pushed his chair back. "This is reckless."Grace shook her head. "Writing the check before knowing the facts would be reckless."Richard's phone rang again: Michael. Then a second notification appeared, then another: board members, counsel, lenders. The network of power Richard had built around himself was waking up, and for the first time that night, it was not answering his commands.Richard looked toward the door. "I'm leaving."Laura stepped slightly into his path. "Not yet."His eyes hardened. "Move."Thomas Reed took one quiet step closer. Richard noticed; the room noticed. Laura did not move."You made the bet."Richard's face flushed. "For God's sake, Laura!""No." Her voice cracked now—not from weakness, but from years of swallowing words. "You threw money on the floor at her feet. You laughed at her. You made her stand here while everyone watched." Laura glanced around the room. Her eyes passed over Emily, Thomas, the nearby diners, then returned to Richard. "And I sat there."Maya watched her.Laura's voice softened. "I sat there and let you do it."Richard's anger flickered; something less certain replaced it.Laura looked at Maya. "I'm sorry."Maya did not answer immediately.Laura continued: "Not for him." She glanced toward Richard. "For me."Maya's face softened slightly.Laura looked back at her husband. "You made the bet."