You came all the way over here. Monica nodded. Can we talk? Maya led her to a quiet table near the back. The lunch rush had ended.
Metal pans clinked softly in the kitchen. Rain traced thin lines down the front windows. Monica sat. Then she didn't speak. Maya waited.
Finally, Monica said, I lied. Maya's expression changed. About what? When I said I saw some of it. Monica looked at the table.
I saw almost all of it. Islands. Maya felt disappointment before anger. That somehow hurt more. You saw Tyler shove Ethan.
Yes, Linda. Yes, you saw him grab my hair. Monica's voice dropped. Yes, Maya leaned back. Then why didn't you say that?
Monica's eyes filled because Richard Grant was standing 10 feet away. Maya said nothing. Monica forced herself to continue. I know how bad that sounds. It sounds scared.
I was. She wiped her cheek quickly at my last job before I transferred here. I watched a supervisor harass one of the women on our shift. Everybody knew. I knew.
I kept telling myself someone with more authority would handle it. Maya listened. Nobody did. Monica said. The woman quit.
The supervisor stayed. And I told myself I was young. I needed the job. I couldn't afford trouble. She laughed bitterly.
Different room. Same excuse. There was nothing wrong because shame was already doing enough punishment. What changed? Monica looked at her.
You got suspended. The answer came simply. You protected two people and I watched everybody turn what you did into something ugly because Tyler's father had money. Her hands trembled. I don't want to be the person who sees that happen twice.
Maya reached across the table. Monica nodded. I'll give Susan a statement. Good and David. Good.
Monica took a breath then frowned. There might be something else. Maya waited at the reception. Yes. Jason was filming before Tyler ever grabbed you.
Maya sat straighter. I know. No. I mean before Ethan spilled the drink. That was different. Monica searched her memory.