The Waitress He Pushed Into the Pool

Chapter 4 - The Deal He Expected

Nathan requested a meeting with Arthur before the board formally abandoned the agreement.

Arthur agreed to meet with counsel present. He did not invite Mara to watch Nathan lose his contract. She had already told her story enough times.

Nathan arrived in a dark suit.

“My behavior was unacceptable,” he began.

“Yes.”

“I've offered to compensate her.”

“You asked her to change her statement.”

Nathan looked toward the lawyer beside him.

“Settlement discussions are confidential.”

Arthur folded his hands.

“Then discuss the agreement.”

Nathan opened a presentation showing projected savings, staffing plans, and occupancy figures. Arthur had seen every page before. This time, he stopped at the proposed employee reporting structure.

All complaints would pass through local management before reaching the operating company's board.

“Who hears an employee when the manager is the problem?” Arthur asked.

“We have procedures.”

“Peter had procedures.”

The independent review had found six complaints rewritten without the employees' approval. Two involved Nathan. Others concerned different guests. Peter had protected people he considered valuable to the hotel and blamed staff he considered replaceable.

Nathan had also offered him a regional position if the operating agreement went through. The offer was in an email Peter had retained.

Arthur slid a copy across the table.

“You were recruiting the man responsible for reporting complaints against you.”

“He's an experienced manager.”

“He deleted part of a recording.”

Nathan's lawyer placed a hand on the folder before he could answer.

The meeting ended without signatures.

Outside, Nathan found Mara near the staff entrance. She had returned to collect her belongings while still on leave. Her sister was waiting in the car.

“You got what you wanted,” he said.

Mara stopped a few feet from him.

“I wanted you to stop shouting at an old man.”

“I've lost a deal worth millions.”

She looked at the shoulder he had bruised. The mark had faded to yellow.

“And you still think that's the worst thing that happened by the pool.”

Nathan opened his mouth.

For once, he had no answer ready.

Mara walked to the car. Her sister unlocked the door before she reached it.