CHAPTER SEVEN — THE PRIVATE BANQUET
Victor’s private banquet was scheduled for six at the restaurant, one hour after the graduation meal.
He had promised the guests that the restaurant would be closed to the public and staffed by his best cooks.
At noon, two of his regular servers called out because they had heard about Ethan’s dismissal.
At one, his assistant manager learned that the apprenticeship center had suspended Victor’s placement authorization pending review.
At two, Victor called Rosa and ordered her to return.
Rosa was in the training kitchen teaching Nico to season roasted squash.
“I’m already working,” she told him.
“You’re on my payroll,” Victor shouted loudly enough for the students to hear.
“Then pay me for the overtime you’ve been holding,” she replied.
Victor threatened to replace her.
Rosa hung up and put the phone face down beside the sink.
Her hands trembled for several seconds before she picked up a spoon.
“Taste this,” she told Nico.
He tasted the squash and suggested a little vinegar.
She added it, tasted again, and nodded.
“That’s a decision a cook makes,” she said.
At three thirty, Victor arrived at the training center carrying a folder and a look that warned everyone he expected to win.
He asked to speak to Saira privately.
She told him Miriam would remain in the room and began recording the time of their conversation in her notebook.
Victor claimed the entire dispute had been caused by Ethan, whom he described as a disgruntled employee.
“He stole food and recruited my staff for a competing event,
” Victor said.
Saira pointed through the window at Lacey and Nico.
“Those are the students our center assigned to you.”
“They quit.”
“You dismissed them.”
“They refused to follow instructions.”
“They say they were not paid for work your business billed us to supervise.”
Victor opened the folder and pushed a stack of signed attendance forms across the table.
Saira checked the first page.
Lacey’s signature appeared beside a date she had spent in the hospital visiting her mother.
The date had already been confirmed through Lacey’s own calendar and hospital visitor receipt.
“Did she sign this that day?” Saira asked.
“I don’t remember every detail.”
“The form states that she personally verified her hours.”
Victor leaned forward.
“Are you accusing me of something?”
“I’m asking you to explain your claim,” Saira answered.
He looked past her at Walter standing near the entrance.
“I know who’s behind this,” Victor said.
Walter did not step forward.
“If you have something to say about me, say it to me,” he replied.
Victor stood abruptly.
“You people have no idea how hard it is to run a restaurant.”
“We know it requires paying people,” Miriam said.
Victor slammed the folder closed and strode toward the exit.
Ethan met him beside the door because the corridor was too narrow to avoid him.
“You told the butcher the center wouldn’t pay,” Ethan said.
“Move.”
“You used the students’ ingredients for your banquet.”
Victor stopped.
“You’re going to regret running your mouth.”
Ethan stepped aside rather than rise to the threat.
Victor left without answering either accusation.
Lacey watched him disappear through the glass doors and let out a breath she seemed to have been holding for weeks.
“He’s still got my knife roll,” she said.
“Then we ask for it back through someone who can document the exchange,” Saira replied.
“Tonight you use ours.”
