“They go into the trash.”
“That doesn’t make them yours.”
Walter began standing.
Maya immediately looked toward him.
“Sit down.”
Grant placed a folder on the counter.
“Effective immediately, you’re suspended pending review.”
Adrian’s stomach tightened.
The paperwork had already been prepared.
This was not a conversation.
It was removal.
Maya stared at the folder.
Then asked one question.
“Who complained?”
Grant did not answer.
That was the answer.
Walter stood anyway.
“This is because of me.”
Maya turned.
“No.”
“If I stopped coming—”
“No.”
Her voice softened.
“You existing in the same room is not misconduct.”
Adrian looked down.
The sentence struck harder than she knew.
Grant pushed the folder closer.
“Clean your locker.”
Adrian wanted to reveal himself.
Every instinct told him to stop the scene.
But the evidence chain was not finished, and if he exposed himself too early Grant could still describe everything else as misunderstanding, personality conflict, or coincidence.
Adrian stayed silent.
He hated himself for it.
Maya removed her apron.
Folded it.
Set it beside the register.
Then she went to the back and returned carrying a cardboard box.
Inside were several personal items.
And the recipe notebook.
Walter looked devastated.
Maya put one hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Blame yourself for what somebody else chose.”
She was comforting him.
While losing her job.
Adrian watched her step outside into another Seattle rainstorm.
That night, the undercover investigation ended.
Adrian sat inside his apartment with evidence covering the dining-room table.
Customer reviews.
Photographs of Brooke’s notebook.
Schedules.
Recipe dates.
Complaint records.
Internal emails.
And something Renee had discovered after Adrian asked corporate legal to trace Grant Holloway’s historical submissions.
Several successful products Grant claimed to have developed matched Maya’s original files almost word for word.
Her submission dates came first.
His came later.
Grant had not simply failed to credit her.
He had built part of his regional reputation using her work.
Adrian called Renee.
“Friday.”
“What happens Friday?”
“Mandatory meeting.”
“Who?”
“Everyone connected with the flagship.”
“Grant?”
“Yes.”
“Brooke and Paige?”
“Yes.”
“Legal?”
“Yes.”
“HR?”
“Yes.”
Renee paused.
“You’re done being David Palmer?”
Adrian looked toward his mother’s photograph.