“What do you mean you can’t?”
“I sent to your old account and it bounced back.”
Cassandra covered her eyes.
“Can you call the restaurant and pay them?”
“What?”
“Pay the restaurant over the phone.”
Daniel looked at Mark.
Mark shook his head.
“No phone payment.”
Cassandra muttered something.
Tasha said, “Why don’t you use your other credit card?”
“They’re both locked.”
“Call the bank.”
“I’m going to miss my flight.”
“That’s better than getting arrested.”
Cassandra’s head snapped up.
“How do you know police are here?”
“You said airport and money. I guessed.”
Cassandra hung up.
“She is useless.”
Angela looked at her.
“Call the bank.”
Cassandra looked at the time.
Boarding ended in approximately nine minutes.
“No.”
Angela frowned.
“No?”
“I don’t have time.”
“Then you’re choosing not to resolve it.”
“No, I’m choosing to board my flight and resolve it afterward.”
“You’re not boarding until this is resolved.”
Cassandra stepped toward the gate.
Angela stepped in front of her.
“Don’t.”
Cassandra stopped.
“Move.”
“No.”
“You cannot hold me here indefinitely.”
“We’re not.”
“Then what is the time limit?”
“The time it reasonably takes to resolve the incident.”
Cassandra laughed.
“I know the law.”
Angela nodded.
“Great.”
“Don’t patronize me.”
“Then stop telling me you know the law while attempting to walk away from an unpaid restaurant bill.”
People nearby were openly staring now.
Cassandra felt heat rising into her face.
Her reputation mattered.
Her appearance mattered.
Control mattered.
And all three were disappearing.
Then the man in the red tracksuit returned.
He held a receipt.
“I paid it.”
Everyone looked at him.
Cassandra froze.
“What?”
He handed the receipt to Mark.
“Sixty-two eighteen.”
Mark checked.
“Paid.”
Daniel looked at Cassandra.
“There you go.”
But Cassandra was not relieved.
She looked furious.
“I told you not to do that.”
The man shrugged.
“You looked like you needed help.”
“I did not.”
“Okay.”
“Stop saying okay.”
He laughed.
Cassandra’s voice rose.
“I don’t know you.”
“Nope.”
“You made me look like I couldn’t pay my own bill.”
He stared at her.
“You couldn’t.”
That did it.
Cassandra stepped toward him.
“You have no idea who the hell I am.”
Daniel moved instantly.
“Cassandra.”