I smiled sadly.
She waved one hand.
"Close enough for this conversation."
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then her expression became serious.
"Are you in trouble?"
"I don't know."
She leaned forward.
"Do you have a lawyer?"
I took out my phone.
My hands trembled as I found Rachel's number.
She answered on the third ring.
"What happened?"
Whitmore's wager.
The Cantonese warning.
Mr. Lam stopping the signing.
My manager removing me from duty.
Rachel listened without interrupting.
Then she asked several precise questions.
What exactly had I seen?
Which statements had I heard?
What did I say in Cantonese?
Had I handled the contract?
Had I photographed any documents?
Had anyone asked me to provide confidential files?
I answered carefully.
I hadn't handled the contract.
Hadn't taken photographs.
Hadn't accessed restricted information.
I had recognized the open revision heading and spoken about a discrepancy I previously reported.
Rachel was quiet.
Then she said, "All right."
I felt my chest tighten.
"Am I in trouble?"
She took a breath.
"I can't promise this will be simple. But you did something important by distinguishing your concern from a proven conclusion."
I closed my eyes.
"We need to document everything immediately while your memory is fresh. Your employer may also have relevant incident records, and the parties need to preserve the transaction materials."
Then I whispered, "Whitmore knew my name."
Rachel went silent.
"He said I was supposed to be gone."
For several seconds, she didn't answer.
Then her voice became very serious.
"Write down those exact words."
"Do not meet with Whitmore or his representatives alone."
"Do you think he'd hurt me?"
"I don't know. But you've described a direct threat and a potentially high-stakes financial dispute. Use sensible precautions."
"I'll contact the appropriate counsel and discuss next steps. If Mr. Lam's legal team reaches out, direct them to me."
When I ended the call, Teresa was watching me.
She reached across the table.
Then said quietly, "You're not doing this by yourself."
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
And I believed her.
Back in the private dining room, Raymond Lam was discovering that Naomi Bennett's warning had not been an empty accusation.
His lawyer, Irene Ho, joined by secure video call.
She was a fifty-one-year-old Hong Kong attorney with decades of experience in commercial finance and international transactions.
She spoke quickly and precisely.
The moment Mr. Lam explained the concern, she requested the exact version of the disbursement schedule presented for signature.
His adviser provided it through the approved document system.
Irene examined the file.
Then asked for the version the Jade Harbor investment committee had authorized.
That document was retrieved.
The comparison took time.
Not a miraculous glance at one page.
The files contained multiple schedules, references, and supporting terms.
The lawyer needed to determine whether the alleged changes were genuine, whether they had been approved elsewhere, and whether the final instructions corresponded with the parties' agreement.
Whitmore became increasingly restless.
He checked his watch.
Complained about the delay.
And repeatedly insisted that the documents were consistent with negotiated terms.
Mr. Lam remained calm.
He asked his team to continue.
Eventually, Irene identified a material difference.
The approved schedule required the forty-million-dollar modernization reserve to remain subject to specified project controls and release conditions.
The version presented for signing allowed a category of payments that could be directed through a newly named advisory entity without the same restrictions.
The amount was the same.
The purpose was not.
Irene looked toward Mr. Lam through the screen.
"This requires an explanation and supporting approval."
Mr. Lam nodded.
"Do we have that approval?"
"No record has been located in the materials available to me."
Whitmore interrupted.
"Because it's in the final side agreement."
Irene turned toward him.
"Please provide the executed side agreement."
Whitmore hesitated.
Then looked toward his executive.
The man began searching his tablet.