Chapter 5 - The Statement —
The agreement arrived at 8:14 the next morning.
Marina read it on her phone while Teresa toasted bread.
The amount was more than Marina earned in several months.
For one terrible second, she imagined saying yes.
Rent caught up. Medicine purchased without checking the balance. Lucas getting a new backpack instead of insisting the old one was fine.
Then she reached the statement she was expected to sign.
She would confirm that she had mishandled the bowl.
She would apologize for distress caused to Enzo and his family.
She would agree not to discuss the incident publicly.
“They want me to say I did it,” she said.
Teresa put down the knife.
“Then they aren’t paying for your arm.”
Helena had recommended a lawyer named Ana Ribeiro. Marina called her before she could talk herself out of it.
Ana listened without interrupting.
“Send me the agreement,” she said. “And keep every message.”
“I can’t afford—”
“We can discuss that after I see what they sent.”
By noon, Ana had called back.
“Don’t sign it.”
Marina looked at the overdue electricity notice beside the toaster.
“What happens if I don’t?”
“I can’t promise you an easy week.”
At the restaurant, Paulo was having a difficult morning of his own.
Roberto had called every employee into the service corridor.
“No one speaks to customers about yesterday. No one posts. No one shares footage.”
Paulo kept his face still.
Roberto looked directly at him.
“The security system is undergoing maintenance. If anyone asks, the dining room camera wasn’t recording.”
A server frowned.
“It was working last night.”
Roberto’s gaze snapped toward her.
“Did I ask for your opinion?”
The meeting ended.
Paulo waited until the others returned to work. Then he stepped into the stockroom and called Marina.
“There was a camera.”
She straightened in her chair.
“Above the bar?”
“It points at that table.”
“Can you get the recording?”
“I don’t have access.”
Through the stockroom door, he heard Roberto speaking on the phone.
“Yes,” the manager said. “I understand. Before the owner gets back.”
Paulo lowered his voice.
“I think they’re going to erase it.”
Marina gripped her phone.
“Paulo, don’t do anything that gets you hurt.”
May you like
He looked toward the office.
A technician carrying a black equipment bag had just walked inside.
