CHAPTER SEVEN — A DIFFERENT KIND OF DEBT
The following day, Savannah’s hospital billing department called during breakfast.
The representative said the sisters could apply for financial assistance and request a review of the charges.
Khloe was surprised because previous calls had offered only payment plans.
Savannah asked whether Arthur had contacted the hospital.
Khloe said she had not authorized him to discuss her sister’s medical care.
She called Daniel immediately and demanded an explanation.
Daniel said no one from Penhaligon had accessed Savannah’s records or contacted the hospital.
He offered to have the company’s counsel confirm the answer in writing.
Khloe asked him to do so.
Later, the billing office explained that Savannah’s own earlier application had finally been processed.
Several charges were being reassessed under an existing assistance policy.
Savannah spread the paperwork across the kitchen table and laughed with relief.
She had submitted the application weeks before the incident at the diner.
Khloe apologized for assuming the billionaire’s influence was behind every unexpected change.
Savannah said powerful people had a way of making ordinary work invisible.
Her words stayed with Khloe.
At Ali’s Diner, Pilar had organized a meeting with coworkers about David’s threats.
Khloe came only to support them, but David immediately accused her of stirring rebellion.
Pilar calmly presented notes from the shifts he had removed after the incident.
Another cook described being ordered to work beyond the scheduled closing time without a break.
David claimed everybody was exaggerating because the restaurant had briefly become famous.
Khloe asked whether he remembered telling her that charity had no place in the business.
He said the public had misunderstood his words.
Pilar reminded him that five employees had heard them.
David looked toward the door as though expecting Arthur’s sedan to appear.
No car arrived.
A local labor advocate attended the meeting at the workers’ invitation and explained the process for reporting wage and scheduling problems.
The employees agreed to make their own complaints rather than ask Khloe to become their spokesperson.
Khloe felt relieved.
She did not want every injustice to depend on her telling another story about one cold night.
That evening, Arthur called to ask whether she had received another envelope.
She told him Victoria’s representatives were still trying to frighten riders.
Arthur said the special board committee had suspended Victoria from decisions involving WinterBridge while the review proceeded.
Khloe asked whether the suspension had been announced publicly.
Arthur admitted it had not.
She said people who depended on the shuttles needed to know who was in charge.
Arthur agreed to issue a clear public notice.
He also said WinterBridge’s board had approved temporary replacement routes monitored by the independent auditor.
Khloe asked whether the drivers had been consulted.
Arthur paused.
He said that question had not appeared on the agenda.
She suggested he put it there immediately.
He laughed tiredly and thanked her.
Khloe told him gratitude was useful only when it changed what happened next.
Arthur answered that he was beginning to learn the distinction.
