Chapter 2 - The Number He Couldn't Explain.
The young dishwasher's name was Mason Reed.
Vivian learned that because Marcus shouted it across the kitchen like an accusation.
"Mason, get back to your station."
Mason did not move.
He was barely twenty-two, with red hair tucked under a kitchen cap and hands that shook even though he tried to hide them inside his apron.
"I said there are records."
Marcus crossed the room toward him.
Vivian stepped sideways, keeping herself between Marcus and Olivia while still holding the phone.
The labor dispatcher asked whether anyone was in immediate danger.
Vivian looked at her daughter's face.
"No one is touching her again."
Her voice was calm.
"But send someone quickly."
Marcus heard that.
"This is a private business, Mrs. Mercer."
Vivian's eyes sharpened.
She had not introduced herself.
"How do you know my name?"
Marcus hesitated for half a second.
It was enough.
Olivia pulled lightly at Vivian's sleeve.
"Mom, he has my paperwork."
"What paperwork?"
"Everything."
Marcus spoke over her.
"Your daughter signed a culinary training agreement."
Vivian lowered the phone after the dispatcher confirmed an investigator was on the way.
"Then show it to me."
"I don't answer to visiting parents."
"You just told me she owes you ninety thousand dollars."
Vivian pointed toward Olivia.
"If you can calculate ninety thousand, you can show me how you calculated it."
Marcus's jaw tightened.
A sous-chef standing near the pass lowered his eyes.
Vivian noticed.
"What's your name?"
The man looked up, startled.
"Daniel."
"Daniel, have you seen the agreement?"
Marcus snapped his fingers.
"Nobody answers her questions."
That was the second moment when Vivian felt the kitchen change.
The workers were no longer pretending this was normal.
A pastry cook stopped whisking a bowl.
A prep cook quietly shut off a burner.
Mason took one step forward.
"He keeps the agreements in the office."
Marcus pointed at the rear door.
"Mason, clock out and go home."
Mason laughed nervously.
"You took my clock card yesterday."
Vivian's attention snapped back to him.
"Why?"
"Because I questioned my paycheck."
Marcus's face flushed.
"He was overpaid."
"By how much?" Vivian asked.
Marcus did not answer.
Olivia spoke so quietly that Vivian almost missed it.
"Thirty-two dollars."
Vivian turned.
"What?"
"Mason's check was thirty-two dollars higher than Marcus expected."
Mason nodded.
"He said payroll would deduct four hundred next week for administrative correction."
Vivian stared at Marcus.
"That makes no mathematical sense."
"You don't know how this restaurant operates."
"I'm beginning to."
The rear kitchen door opened.
A man in a dark suit entered with a security badge clipped to his belt.
Marcus visibly relaxed.
"Good."
The security manager surveyed the room.
"What's happening?"
Marcus pointed at Vivian.
"She's disrupting service and struck me."
Olivia immediately grabbed Vivian's arm.
"Mom, don't let them separate us."
The security manager looked at Olivia, then at the plate on the floor.
Something in his face shifted.
"Who is she?"
"An employee," Marcus replied.
"My daughter," Vivian said.
The security manager frowned.
"Why doesn't she have shoes?"
Nobody answered.
Marcus changed direction.
"She chose not to wear them."
Olivia finally lifted her voice.
"That's not true."
The words seemed to shock her as much as everyone else.
Vivian turned toward her.
"Tell me."
Olivia swallowed.
"My shoes are in my locker."
"Why?"
Olivia looked toward Marcus.
"He said I didn't earn the right to wear the uniform after I asked about my wages."
The security manager stared at Marcus.
"Is that accurate?"
Marcus scoffed.
"This is being twisted."
Mason spoke again.
"Then open her locker."
Marcus became still.
Vivian caught the reaction.
"What's in the locker?"
Olivia whispered the answer.
"A notebook."
Marcus turned toward the hallway leading to the employee lockers.
Vivian stepped in front of him.
"You're not going anywhere near it."
Marcus looked past her toward the security manager.
"Remove her from my kitchen."
The security manager did not move.
"Not until I understand why an employee is barefoot on the floor and saying she's afraid to leave."
For the first time since Vivian entered Petit Mont, someone with authority inside the building had refused Marcus an order.
Marcus looked around the silent kitchen.
Then he smiled again.
But the smile no longer looked confident.
"Fine."
He reached into his pocket and held up a small brass key.
"Let's all see what's in Olivia's locker."
Olivia made a small sound beside Vivian.
"Mom."
"What?"
May you like
Olivia's face went pale.
"That's not my locker key."
