Lauren hurried over.
“Maya.”
“Please.”
“Don’t turn this into something.”
Maya looked at her.
“It became something when he mocked the man and kicked his wallet away.”
Grant’s face hardened.
One of the executives at his table shifted.
“Grant.”
The lender said quietly.
“Maybe let it go.”
Grant heard weakness.
That made him louder.
“This employee is refusing a direct management order in front of guests.”
Harold pushed his chair back.
He stood slowly, one hand on the table for balance.
“Young lady.”
He said.
Maya turned.
Harold looked genuinely concerned for her.
“Do you understand you might lose your job over this?”
Maya swallowed.
Her voice trembled.
She hated that.
“Yes, sir.”
“Then don’t do this for me.”
“It isn’t only for you.”
Maya looked toward Grant.
“If this place decides who deserves dinner after checking their clothes and bank account, then this job isn’t what I thought it was.”
Something moved across Harold’s face.
Sadness.
Recognition.
Maybe both.
He glanced at her name tag.
MAYA BENNETT.
Grant spoke before Harold could.
“Lauren.”
“Office.”
“Collect her company property.”
Tasha lowered her phone.
Grant turned.
She slipped it into her apron before he noticed.
Maya faced Harold.
“Your dinner’s coming.”
“Let them box it.”
Harold shook his head.
“No favors.”
“I’ll pay a fair bill.”
“You’re not paying for this mess.”
“I’m paying for what I ordered.”
He sat again.
Maya nodded.
“Fair.”
Then she followed Lauren into the office.
Grant entered behind them.
Lauren closed the door.
The sound of the restaurant became muffled.
Grant sat behind the desk and opened the scheduling system.
“Server card.”
Maya removed it from her apron.
“Name tag.”
She hesitated.
Then unclipped it.
Grant held out his hand.
Maya placed both in his palm.
“You embarrassed regional leadership.”
He said.
“You ignored a direct management instruction.”
“You created a safety issue involving an unstable individual.”
Maya stared.
“He was neither unstable nor unsafe.”
“Your opinion is irrelevant.”
“His behavior was relevant.”
Lauren said quietly.
Grant looked at her.
“What?”
Lauren swallowed.
“I’m saying maybe this can be written up as insubordination without calling the guest dangerous.”
Grant ignored her.
He began typing.
Maya watched the incident report appear.
Guest appeared disoriented.
Possible intoxication.
Refused seating limitations.
Employee became verbally aggressive.
Employee escalated physical safety concerns.
Maya felt anger rise.
“That is a lie.”
Grant continued typing.
“You’re on thin ice already.”
“What thin ice?”
“Two attendance warnings.”
“Both were classes Lauren approved.”
Grant glanced at Lauren.
Lauren looked away.
Maya understood.
“Seriously?”
Grant leaned back.
“Ohio is generally an at-will employment state.”
“Northstar can terminate employees who create operational risk.”
Maya looked at the report.
“I did not yell.”
“I did not threaten anybody.”
“He was sober.”
“You kicked his wallet.”
Grant smiled slightly.
“You planning to prove that?”
The question was almost playful.
That frightened her more than anger would have.
He printed the report.
Placed a pen beside it.
“Sign.”
“No.”
“Sign it and maybe this remains a suspension.”
Maya read every line.
Then set the pen down.
“I won’t sign something false.”
Grant took her name tag.
Dropped it onto the desk.
“Then you’re suspended pending review.”
“Leave through the back.”
Maya looked at Lauren.
For one second she waited.