But something inside him did.
A single sentence could be dismissed as arrogance.
Two could establish attitude.
A pattern required time.
So he stayed.
At 10:44, he called the floor line again.
The phone rang.
Paige looked at Luke.
Luke shook his head.
She let it ring.
Elijah watched her make the decision.
She looked uncomfortable.
But she obeyed.
That mattered too.
Systems were rarely maintained by one cruel person alone.
They survived because several uncomfortable people decided that silence was safer.
By 11:00, Elijah had been waiting for an hour.
The dining room had filled gradually.
Not completely.
There were still open tables.
One table near the windows remained empty for nearly forty minutes after a reservation cancellation.
Elijah watched Paige receive the cancellation call.
He expected her to offer him the table.
She did not.
Instead, Luke walked over, checked the reservation book, and said:
“Hold it. Someone important may walk in.”
At 11:34, nobody had.
At noon, Elijah approached the host stand.
Paige stiffened before he spoke.
“I've been sitting for two hours.”
“I know, sir.”
“I called the floor line twice.”
She looked at the telephone.
“No one answered.”
“We've been slammed.”
Elijah looked around.
Two hosts were arranging menus.
One server was polishing stemware.
A bartender was discussing golf with a member.
The room was active.
It was not slammed.
“Someone already didn't answer,” Elijah said.
Paige swallowed.
“I'm sure someone will get to you.”
“Someone has been getting to everyone else.”
Before Paige could reply, Luke appeared.
He had been watching from several yards away.
“Is there a problem?”
Elijah turned.
“I have a reservation.”
Luke's expression held no warmth.
“We've established that.”
“I've been here two hours.”
“The floor is busy.”
“You have empty tables.”
“For reservations.”
“I have one.”
Luke's eyes hardened slightly.
“Mr. Brooks, isn't it?”
“Yes.”
Something like amusement entered Luke's expression.
He lowered his voice.
“Something has been off since you came in here today.”
Elijah stared at him.
Luke continued:
“You seem very determined to make yourself the center of attention.”
“I've been sitting quietly for two hours.”
“You've approached the desk multiple times.”
“Once.”
“You've called.”
“Twice.”
“Exactly.”
Elijah let the silence sit.
Then:
“I have a membership card. I showed it to you two hours ago.”
Luke gave a short breath through his nose.
“Right. The membership card.”
He leaned forward.
“I'll be honest with you.”
“That would be useful.”
“A card like that on someone dressed like you isn't something I see every day.”
Elijah's eyes narrowed.
Luke mistook restraint for submission.
“You understand why that might raise an eyebrow.”
“It shouldn't raise anything.”
Luke smiled thinly.
“You can be offended if you want. I'm explaining reality.”
“The card is real.”
“So you keep saying.”
“You scanned it.”
Luke waved one hand.
“We'll get you seated.”
“When?”
“When we can.”
Elijah checked his watch.
“It's noon.”
“And?”
“My reservation was at ten.”
Luke's voice became colder.
“You are beginning to cause a scene.”
Elijah looked around.
Nobody was looking at them.
“I've barely raised my voice.”
“You're making my host uncomfortable.”
Paige stared at the floor.