Richard looked toward his associates.
Neither spoke.
Naomi quietly stepped backward.
She had no desire to become involved in a dispute between investors.
But Kenji stopped her.
“Miss Carter.”
“Yes, sir?”
“May I ask one more question?”
“Of course.”
“Why did you leave academic research?”
The question caught her off guard.
Naomi looked down.
“My mother needed care.”
Kenji waited.
Naomi continued.
“She became ill during my graduate studies. I returned home to help her.”
Aiko's expression softened.
“Did you complete your degree?”
“Yes.”
“And your doctoral research?”
“I postponed it.”
“For how long?”
Naomi gave a small smile.
“Longer than I expected.”
Kenji nodded.
“Family responsibilities can change the direction of a life.”
Naomi looked at him.
“Yes, sir.”
He studied her thoughtfully.
“My wife was ill for several years before she passed away.”
Naomi's expression changed.
“I'm very sorry.”
“Thank you.”
Kenji looked toward the window.
“For a long time, I believed that the most important thing I could give my family was financial security.”
He paused.
“Then I discovered that time was something money could not purchase.”
Aiko reached across the table and touched her father's hand.
Richard remained silent.
For a brief moment, the conversation was no longer about investments or business.
It was about people.
And Naomi understood that Kenji Takamura was not merely being polite.
He was remembering someone he loved.
Richard cleared his throat.
“Kenji, I sympathize with everyone here, but perhaps we should return to the agreement.”
Kenji looked at him.
“Yes. We should.”
Richard relaxed slightly.
Then Kenji asked a question that changed everything.
“Richard, why did you believe this young woman was incapable of speaking Japanese?”
Richard blinked.
“What?”
“You challenged her.”
“It was a joke.”
“You mocked her education.”
“Come on.”
“You suggested she could not locate Japan on a map.”
Richard's face tightened.
“Are we seriously going to analyze every word I said?”
Kenji remained calm.
“I am trying to understand how you evaluate people.”
Richard laughed without humor.
“That's ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
Kenji leaned forward.
“You have asked my family to invest an extraordinary amount of money in your judgment.”
Richard said nothing.
“You have told us that you understand communities, international partnerships, and long-term relationships.”
Kenji gestured gently toward Naomi.
“Yet you looked at this woman, saw her uniform, and concluded that you knew the limits of her intelligence.”
Aiko added, “And when she demonstrated that your assumptions were wrong, you tried to dismiss her achievement.”
Richard's cheeks flushed.
“I didn't come here to be interrogated.”
Kenji nodded.
“Neither did she.”
The words landed heavily.
Richard stared at him.
For the first time, he seemed unable to produce an immediate response.
Kenji continued.
“Respect is not something reserved for people who can make you money.”
Naomi felt a sudden tightness in her throat.
Her mother had said almost the same thing years earlier.
Richard looked around the table.
His associates avoided his eyes.
Aiko watched him steadily.
Hiroshi sat motionless.
And Naomi stood beside the table, still wearing the uniform Richard had treated as evidence of inferiority.
Richard made one final attempt to regain control.
He reached for his checkbook.
“Fine.”
He opened it.
“You want me to honor the bet?”
Naomi looked at him.
Richard clicked his pen.
“Let's settle this.”
He began writing.
Aiko frowned.
“What are you doing?”
Richard smiled tightly.
“Keeping my promise.”
He tore a check from the book and held it toward Naomi.
She glanced down.
The amount was ten thousand dollars.
Not one million.
Ten thousand.
Richard held it between two fingers.
“There. That's more money than most waitresses make in months.”
Naomi didn't move.
Richard's smile became strained.
“Take it.”
She looked at the check.
Then at him.
“That's not the amount you offered.”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“Are you seriously complaining?”
“No, sir.”
“Then take it.”
Naomi folded her hands.
“I don't want your money.”
Richard laughed sharply.
“Oh, please. Everyone wants money.”
Naomi met his gaze.
“Not like this.”
His smile vanished.
“You're refusing ten thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
“Because of your pride?”
Naomi shook her head.
“Because you're trying to purchase an ending to a conversation you started.”
Aiko looked at her with admiration.
Richard's voice rose.
“You know what? I think you're enjoying this.”
Naomi answered calmly.
“No, sir. I would have preferred to serve your dinner and finish my shift.”
A nearby diner murmured in agreement.
Richard turned toward the room.
“Can everyone stop listening to our conversation?”
But he had been the one who made it public.
He had raised his voice.
He had invited strangers to laugh.
And now he wanted privacy because the attention no longer favored him.