Naomi looked at him.
“Thank you.”
Henry reached into his jacket and handed her a business card.
“If you ever decide you want to do something other than serve people who don't deserve you, call me.”
Naomi looked at the card.
Henry Lin
Chairman — Lin Pacific Holdings
She knew the name.
Everyone in San Francisco did.
She looked up.
“Why are you giving me this?”
Henry smiled.
“Because I think you may be more valuable than you realize.”
Then he walked away.
Naomi stood alone in the dining room.
She looked down at the card again.
She had no idea what was coming.
The Bet
The next morning, Victor Hale sat inside his downtown office overlooking the bay.
Across from him sat his attorney, Robert Grant.
Victor was angry.
Not because the dinner had gone badly.
Because Henry Lin had asked questions.
Serious questions.
About the waterfront development.
Questions Victor hadn't expected.
Questions Naomi had apparently understood.
“She was listening,” Victor said.
Robert looked confused.
“The waitress?”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“She knew what we were discussing.”
Robert shrugged.
“She works there.”
Victor leaned forward.
“She shouldn't.”
Robert stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
Victor stood.
“She should understand her place.”
Robert sighed.
“You're upset.”
“I'm not upset.”
“You're angry.”
Victor ignored him.
Henry Lin had not signed the investment agreement.
That was the real problem.
Victor's project depended on foreign investment.
Without it, the financing would collapse.
And now Henry had become cautious.
Victor blamed Naomi.
He couldn't explain why.
Perhaps because she had seen him clearly.
Perhaps because she had stood quietly while he tried to humiliate her.
Or perhaps because she had something he didn't.
Composure.
That afternoon, Victor called Henry.
“Dinner tonight?”
“No.”
“Tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Henry—”
“I am reviewing the project.”
“You said you liked it.”
“I said I was interested.”
“What changed?”
Henry was silent for several seconds.
“Your attitude.”
Victor's jaw tightened.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I don't invest billions of dollars with men who don't know how to treat people.”
The line went dead.
Victor stared at the phone.
Then he made a decision.
He would prove Henry wrong.
He would prove that Naomi was insignificant.
That she knew nothing.
That she was just a waitress who had memorized a few words of Mandarin.
That evening, Victor returned to the restaurant.
This time, he brought six guests.
And when Naomi approached the table, Victor smiled.
“Good evening.”
Naomi immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Good evening, Mr. Hale.”
Victor raised his glass.
“I hear you speak Mandarin.”
Naomi said nothing.
“Why don't you prove it?”
Henry Lin was not there.
But two of his associates were.
Naomi looked at Victor.
“I don't understand.”
Victor smiled.
“I've made a bet.”
She frowned.
“A bet?”
“One hundred thousand dollars.”
The restaurant seemed to grow quieter.
Marcus, standing near the bar, looked over.
Victor continued.
“I bet you cannot hold a business conversation in Mandarin with my guests.”
Naomi stared at him.
“You're betting one hundred thousand dollars that I can't speak Chinese?”
“That's right.”
“Why?”
“Because I know you can't.”
Naomi looked at the men around the table.
They were watching her.
Waiting.
Victor leaned back.
“If you can, I'll donate the money to whatever charity you choose.”
“And if I can't?”
“You apologize to me publicly.”
Naomi considered him.
Then she smiled.
“Mr. Hale.”
“Yes?”
“You don't need to bet one hundred thousand dollars.”
His smile widened.
“Why not?”
“Because I don't need your money.”
Victor's smile disappeared.
Naomi picked up her order pad.
“But I will answer your guests.”
She looked at the businessmen.
And began speaking Mandarin.
The room went silent.
The Language He Didn't Understand
Naomi spoke slowly at first.
She explained the menu.
She answered questions about the restaurant.
Then one of the businessmen asked her about the waterfront development.
Naomi looked at Victor.
He nodded confidently.
“Go ahead.”
So she did.
She discussed the project's proposed location.
Its transportation connections.
Its expected residential capacity.
She explained the technology component.
Then she mentioned something that made Victor's expression change.
“The environmental approval has not been finalized.”
One of the investors frowned.
“What?”
Naomi repeated herself.
The man turned toward Victor.
“Is this true?”
Victor forced a smile.
“There are minor administrative matters.”
Naomi continued.
“There is also a dispute concerning the shoreline permit.”
Victor's face hardened.
“How do you know that?”
Naomi looked at him.
“You discussed it at this table last night.”
One of the investors exchanged a glance with another.
Naomi continued speaking.
“The financial projection you presented assumes approval by March.”
“Yes,” Victor said.