He also acknowledged that he knew Julian was his cousin and that the relationship should have been reviewed under the partnership’s conflict rules.
When asked about employee timekeeping, Victor said Renee had managed payroll corrections.
Investigators showed him messages in which he personally directed Renee to delay certain adjustments.
Victor said the messages referred to verification problems rather than withholding earned pay.
The interview continued with questions about individual dates and records, and no final finding was announced that day.
Afterward, Victor stood on the courthouse steps and faced a reporter who asked whether he owed Lily an apology.
He said his lawyers had advised him not to discuss the employment matter.
The reporter asked whether he still believed Lily had stolen food.
Victor paused long enough for nearby cameras to capture his uncertainty.
Then he said the allegation remained disputed.
Lily watched the brief interview later because Noah sent her a link.
She turned off the video before the end.
It troubled her that Victor could still not admit the purchase receipt existed, but she no longer needed his words to understand what she had done.
Her own copy of the receipt was safe in the folder, and witnesses had confirmed the transaction.
She returned to studying for her hospitality exam.
CHAPTER 40: A BOWL OF SOUP FOR MARCO
Marco came to Lily’s breakfast shop after a difficult Saturday shift and ordered soup because he said he could not look at another burger.
Lily brought the bowl to his table and sat for a few minutes during her break.
He explained that the new management had corrected more pay records but that some employees still expected every announcement to conceal another threat.
Lily said trust could not be ordered from a meeting room.
Marco admitted that he had once stayed quiet when Victor humiliated her in front of customers because he was afraid of being fired himself.
He apologized without asking her to say it had been harmless.
Lily told him she remembered that day clearly and appreciated what he did after the firing.
She said the apology mattered because he was willing to acknowledge the part he had not played well.
Marco looked relieved and embarrassed at once.
He asked whether she would ever return to Harbor Table if the partnership offered her a management position.
Lily said she did not know and would not make a decision merely to give the public a satisfying ending.
She enjoyed her current workplace and wanted to finish school before accepting responsibility for a larger operation.
