Emily's hands began to tremble slightly.
She tried to hide it.
Monica noticed.
“You recognized my name.”
Emily looked up.
“I…”
“You did.”
Emily nodded.
“I've heard it before.”
“Where?”
“I don't remember.”
Monica studied her.
“You don't remember?”
Emily shook her head.
“I've heard senior people mention it.”
Monica said nothing.
Emily looked toward the unseen manager.
“Is he coming?”
“No.”
The answer was immediate.
Emily seemed surprised.
Monica continued.
“He doesn't need to.”
Emily looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because he already knows I'm here.”
Emily stared at her.
Monica's voice remained calm.
“You should be more concerned about what happens after he sees this.”
Her eyes moved toward the torn boarding pass.
Emily looked down.
“I didn't know.”
Monica's expression softened only slightly.
“You didn't know what?”
“Who you were.”
Monica paused.
“That isn't the problem.”
Emily looked at her.
“Then what is?”
Monica leaned closer.
“The problem is how quickly you decided I didn't belong.”
Emily had no answer.
Monica continued.
“If you had treated me correctly, you wouldn't need to know who I am.”
Emily's face tightened.
The words were quiet.
But they struck harder than shouting would have.