Nobody did.
“The owner?” she whispered.
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“Every restaurant in this group ultimately answers to him. So does our hotel division, our commercial property division, and the investment team reviewing your company's proposal.”
Vanessa's face became pale.
She suddenly remembered her father's warnings about the importance of maintaining a good relationship with Reed Hospitality Group.
She remembered the presentation she had prepared that afternoon.
She remembered boasting to her colleagues that the deal was practically guaranteed.
And she remembered every word she had spoken to Marcus.
Her lips parted.
“Mr. Reed, I had no idea.”
Marcus looked at her.
“That's the problem, Ms. Cole.”
She took a small step forward.
“Please, you have to understand. I thought—”
“You thought I was someone you could disrespect without consequences.”
“No. That's not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Vanessa looked around the dining room.
Every face seemed to be watching her.
She had spent the evening demanding attention. Now she wished desperately that nobody would look at her.
“I was upset,” she said. “The meeting I was supposed to have fell through, and I wasn't thinking clearly.”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Being upset explains why you were frustrated. It doesn't explain why you believed you had the right to mistreat someone.”
Vanessa swallowed.
“I apologize.”
Marcus glanced at Talia.
“Who are you apologizing to?”
Vanessa looked confused.
“To you, obviously.”
“What about her?”
Talia stood quietly beside Richard.
Vanessa's cheeks flushed.
She had not expected that question.
“I'm sorry,” she said stiffly, turning toward Talia.
Talia did not immediately respond.
Marcus spoke again.
“An apology isn't a password, Ms. Cole. It doesn't automatically open every door you've just closed.”
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
For the first time that evening, she had no clever response.
Daniel opened the leather folder he had brought with him.
“Marcus, there's another matter we should discuss.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Now?”
“I'm afraid so. The board meeting is scheduled for tomorrow morning, and the investment committee requested a final review of the Cole proposal.”
Vanessa's head lifted.
She had almost forgotten the agreement.
Almost.
“What does that have to do with this incident?” she asked.
Daniel regarded her carefully.
“Nothing should have to do with this incident unless it is relevant to the decision being made. But the committee has been reviewing several concerns about your company's management practices.”
Vanessa stiffened.
“What concerns?”
Daniel opened the folder.
“Unresolved contractor payments. Complaints from employees assigned to your development projects. Questions about the way certain costs were reported during the preliminary negotiations.”
Vanessa stared at him.
“These are administrative issues. They have nothing to do with tonight.”
“Perhaps,” Daniel replied. “That is what the committee will determine.”
Marcus took the folder from him and examined the first page.
He had already been concerned about the proposal before entering the restaurant.
The investment would have involved a major redevelopment project, combining a hotel, retail spaces, and residential apartments on a property owned by Cole Strategic Development.
The location was attractive.
The projected returns were promising.
But the preliminary review had uncovered inconsistencies.
Several subcontractors claimed they had not been paid on time. A former project manager had raised concerns about cost estimates. An internal audit had identified expenses that required further documentation.
None of these allegations had been conclusively established.
Marcus had insisted that the company investigate before approving the investment.
Vanessa, however, had repeatedly tried to accelerate the process.
She had called Daniel's office several times, claiming that the delay would damage the relationship between the two companies.