Chapter 5 - The Owner's Offer.
Theodore Bell asked everyone to move to his private dining room upstairs.
Vivian refused.
"My daughter is leaving."
Renee Cole agreed.
"Ms. Mercer is free to go."
Theodore glanced toward Marcus.
"Of course she is."
The answer came too quickly.
Vivian heard it.
So did Olivia.
Theodore softened his voice.
"Vivian, I had no idea Olivia worked here."
"That doesn't make this better."
"No."
He swallowed.
"It makes it confusing."
Marcus stepped closer.
"Mr. Bell, we should discuss the facts privately."
Theodore rounded on him.
"The facts appear to be standing in front of me."
Marcus stiffened.
Vivian knew Theodore well enough to recognize the performance.
He was angry, but he was also already managing risk.
Every word had started passing through a lawyer in his head.
Theodore looked at Olivia.
"Were you hurt here?"
Olivia hesitated.
Vivian touched her shoulder.
"You don't have to answer him."
Renee nodded.
"Correct."
Theodore's assistant whispered something into his ear.
His expression changed again.
"Our attorneys are on the way."
Vivian almost laughed.
"Naturally."
Theodore lowered his voice.
"Vivian, let me fix this before it becomes something bigger."
Olivia's eyes lifted.
Marcus watched carefully.
Renee stopped writing.
"What does fix mean?" Vivian asked.
Theodore hesitated.
"We can resolve the financial dispute."
"There is no legitimate financial dispute."
Marcus stepped forward.
"There is a signed agreement."
Vivian looked at him.
"A signed agreement my daughter says she never signed."
Theodore's eyes snapped toward Marcus.
"What?"
Marcus spoke quickly.
"She's under stress."
"That wasn't my question."
Marcus's certainty flickered.
Renee opened her folder again.
"Mr. Bell, who maintains personnel documents?"
"Human resources."
"On site?"
Theodore paused.
"We use an outside company."
"Which one?"
Marcus answered before Theodore could.
"Vale Hospitality Services."
Theodore stared at him.
"Since when?"
Nobody spoke.
Vivian felt Olivia's grip tighten around her hand.
Renee looked between the two men.
"Mr. Bell, are you saying you did not know your head chef's company handled employment files?"
Theodore's face lost color.
"I thought payroll administration was outsourced through Bell Dining Group."
Marcus looked toward the kitchen.
Vivian followed his glance.
He was searching for someone.
Mason was no longer there.
Vivian noticed first.
"Where did the dishwasher go?"
Grant turned.
"Mason?"
Daniel looked toward the rear exit.
"He was standing right there."
Marcus shrugged.
"Maybe he decided to get back to work."
Grant checked the kitchen.
"He's not at his station."
Renee frowned.
Vivian felt a new unease settle over her.
Mason had been the first employee to speak.
He had said there were records.
Then he had followed them into the locker room.
Now he was gone.
Theodore's phone rang.
He checked the screen and stepped away.
Vivian turned to Olivia.
"We're leaving."
Olivia nodded.
They walked toward the employee exit with Renee and Grant nearby.
Just before Vivian opened the door, her phone buzzed.
A text message had arrived from an unknown number.
She opened it.
There were only six words.
DON'T LET THEM SEARCH MARCUS'S OFFICE.
Vivian stared at the screen.
Another message arrived.
THE REAL RECORDS ARE NOT THERE.
Then a third.
ASK OLIVIA ABOUT THE WINE CELLAR.
Vivian slowly turned toward her daughter.
Olivia saw her face.
"What is it?"
Vivian held out the phone.
Olivia read the messages.
Her face drained of color.
"Mom."
"What?"
May you like
Olivia looked down the corridor toward the stairs that led beneath the restaurant.
"I never told Mason about the wine cellar."
