Jonah said he understood the difference between a promise and a signed contract.
The financial officer looked down at his notes.
Arthur asked Charles to produce the transition plan before any vote.
Charles objected that the delay could cost the company a major investor.
Arthur said the investor could wait.
Charles gathered his folder and left the room.
He did not slam the door.
That made the threat in his expression more unsettling.
Chapter Seven: A Photograph in the Newspaper
By noon, Jonah’s picture was circulating online.
Someone had photographed him entering the headquarters and posted a story about a mysterious young man who had gained the favor of a wealthy industrialist.
The article suggested that Jonah was being groomed for a fortune.
It mentioned his mother’s medical debts and described his apartment building as a troubled property.
Jonah felt sick when he saw the address.
He called Lucy’s school and asked that she not be released to anyone except him.
The principal promised to notify the office staff.
Then Dennis called.
He accused Jonah of plotting to embarrass him and demanded that he return the diner keys.
Jonah told him he had left the keys beside the register.
Dennis threatened to report him for theft.
Evelyn listened to the recorded voicemail and advised Jonah not to argue further.
She explained that a labor attorney could review the allegations about withheld tips.
Jonah asked whether Arthur had planted the news story to make him famous.
Evelyn said Arthur was furious about it.
She believed someone wanted the public to think Jonah had been bought.
That evening, Lucy came home carrying a printed copy of the article.
A classmate had asked whether she would be moving into a mansion.
Lucy said she had told him to mind his own business.
Jonah apologized for the attention.
Lucy asked whether the old man was kind.
Jonah said he thought so.
She told him that was more important than the number of vehicles he owned.
Jonah wanted to believe her.
But he had begun to understand that kindness could become dangerous when powerful people decided to turn it into a story.
Chapter Eight: The Missing Ledger
Marta called Jonah two days later.
She spoke from the pay phone outside a grocery store because she did not trust Dennis to leave her alone.
She said the diner had been keeping two sets of records.
The first showed ordinary sales and wages.
