Marco had refused, and two other employees had asked for the statements in writing.
Lily called him at once and told him not to put his job at risk for her.
Marco replied that his job had been at risk since the day he asked why he was closing the kitchen without the promised second worker.
He said he had photographed the blank statement forms and would keep the originals untouched.
Lily asked him not to send photographs through the staff group chat because Victor could remove people from the account.
They agreed to save their own messages and write down what they remembered separately.
After hanging up, Lily sat at the table until dusk.
She had expected to feel proud of buying the burger, but she felt frightened and ashamed about what might happen to her family.
The apartment seemed to shrink around the unpaid bills.
At seven thirty, a black sedan stopped outside the tire shop.
A woman in a navy jacket climbed the stairs and knocked on Lily’s door.
She introduced herself as Eleanor Price, general counsel for Rowan Hospitality, and offered her business card without asking to enter.
Lily was suspicious enough to leave the chain in place.
Eleanor explained that the phone call at Harbor Table had initiated an independent review but that any personnel claim Lily made would belong to Lily.
She said Samuel wanted to offer emergency financial help with no condition that Lily cooperate, but Eleanor recommended that Lily speak to an employment attorney before accepting anything.
Lily told her that money from a wealthy stranger could become another kind of leash.
Eleanor nodded and said that was exactly why she had brought a written proposal rather than a check.
The proposal offered to connect Lily with a nonprofit worker advocacy clinic and reimburse the cost of a consultation if she chose an independent lawyer.
There was no publicity clause, interview requirement, or promise to return to Harbor Table.
Lily read the paper three times before opening the door.
She accepted the contact information and declined the reimbursement until she could ask questions of her own.
Eleanor smiled briefly and said that careful questions were welcome.
As the attorney left, she paused at the stairs.
“One thing may matter more than any contract Samuel can cancel,” she said.
“Victor is afraid of somebody seeing the payroll records.”
CHAPTER 4: THE WOMAN WHO COUNTED HOURS
The worker clinic occupied two rooms above a public library, and its front desk was staffed by volunteers who had once worked in hotels, nursing homes, and warehouses.
