Chapter 10 - The Owner Comes Home —
Sofia Mendes had inherited the restaurant from her father and spent twelve years keeping it open.
She knew the price of every broken glass.
She also knew Marina had worked the week of her father’s funeral because two servers had quit and Sofia had asked for help.
That memory made the empty hook in the staff room difficult to look at.
“Where is she?” Sofia asked.
Roberto stood behind the office desk.
“The situation became impossible.”
“Where is Marina?”
“At home, I assume.”
“You fired an injured employee?”
“She insulted an important customer.”
Sofia shut the office door.
“I didn’t ask whether the customer was important.”
Roberto’s face hardened with the relief of someone deciding to stop pretending.
“You weren’t here. Almeida brings private bookings. His company accounts for—”
“I know what the bookings are worth.”
“Then you know why I couldn’t let her make a scene.”
Sofia looked at the security monitor.
“Show me the recording.”
“The system had problems.”
She picked up the maintenance log.
“Funny. No problems entered.”
“The technician was going to—”
“Who called him?”
Roberto stopped.
Sofia held out her hand.
“Keys.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Keys, Roberto.”
Outside, Paulo stood near the dish station, listening to the silence.
A minute later, Roberto came out carrying his jacket.
He stopped beside Paulo.
“You think she’ll keep all of you when the reservations disappear?”
Paulo dried his hands.
“I think you should leave.”
Sofia contacted Ana that evening.
Marina listened on speakerphone.
“I’ve secured the equipment,” Sofia said. “I’m arranging an independent copy. Your lawyer can coordinate with mine.”
Marina looked at Ana.
“And Roberto?”
“He’s been removed from his duties while we review everything.”
Sofia took a breath.
“I should have built a place where you could ask for help without being afraid. I didn’t.”
Marina waited.
There was no request that she return. No plea to keep the restaurant’s name out of it.
That mattered.
After the call, Ana’s assistant brought in a newly received document.
Marina saw Ricardo’s company logo at the top.
“Another offer?”
Ana read the first page.
“No.”
She turned it toward Marina.
Ricardo had accused her of attempting to damage his reputation for financial gain.
May you like
Attached was a witness statement.
Signed by Roberto Farias.
