Loretta touched her arm. "Today you may get a chance to say something."
"Will Mr. Kincaid be angry?"
"He may be. But whether you speak is your choice, and nobody gets to fire you again for telling the truth about your own work."
Patricia introduced herself to Teresa and explained the interview arrangements. An independent reviewer had already looked at the termination documents and found serious irregularities in the process. Teresa would receive a written explanation of her options, including reinstatement, back pay subject to the appropriate review, and a chance to apply for the new guest-services leadership position if she wished. Loretta did not promise an outcome without asking whether Teresa wanted it, a distinction that made Teresa trust her more than a sudden offer of money might have done.
At nine-thirty, the conference hall began to fill. Employees from operations, accounting, property management, and events settled into rows of chairs. Several stood along the walls because Bradley had encouraged everyone to attend the expected announcement, and Sloane had advertised a livestream. A large screen displayed the company logo above the words BELMONT ROW: THE NEXT CHAPTER.
Sloane positioned her phone near the aisle. She had permission to record the general event, though Patricia's team required her to keep the camera away from confidential employee records and any materials the auditors had not cleared for public disclosure. She called Bradley over and asked for a final picture beneath the banner. He smiled broadly, straightened his jacket, and whispered that by lunch she would be dating the most important executive in the building.
Behind the stage, Dennis opened the finance application for the fourth time that morning. The pending payment remained unapproved. He had no new explanation for Lakeside's missing attendees and no consultant name to give the auditors. One of Elaine's colleagues had already asked him whether he would be willing to describe the approval process in an interview, and he had requested a lawyer before answering substantive questions.
At nine-fifty, Bradley's assistant handed him the printed order of events. The program listed remarks from Patricia, a short message from the new owner, and then the introduction of the chief executive nominee. Bradley noticed that the owner's remarks would come by telephone rather than from someone on stage. He liked that. He imagined Patricia dialing a distant investor, letting him exchange a few impressive pleasantries, and then delivering the appointment everyone had been expecting.
In the first row, Loretta sat beside Teresa. Nia was two seats away, and Patricia moved toward the stage with the notes she had prepared for the ownership committee. Loretta glanced at the same wall clock she had watched from the lobby the week before. It was nine-fifty-eight. When she closed her notebook and rested it on her lap, she could feel Teresa trying not to tremble beside her.
"Are you all right?" Loretta whispered.
Teresa nodded, then admitted, "I don't know. I'm scared he will see me and send me away."