“That’s ridiculous.”
“We have eighty-three transactions,” Rachel replied.
Maria stared at Vanessa.
Daniel’s voice hardened.
“You humiliated customers. You threatened employees. You manipulated bonuses. And apparently, you used company funds to entertain friends.”
Vanessa shook her head.
“You can’t prove I authorized anything.”
Rachel slid forward one final page.
“Your employee login authorized every transaction.”
Vanessa searched the room for support.
Nobody moved.
Then her expression shifted.
She forced a smile.
“Daniel, surely we can discuss this privately.”
“You didn’t offer me privacy when you humiliated me in front of my daughter.”
Sophie looked up at him.
At that moment, Daniel stopped seeing Vanessa merely as a management problem.
She had taught his daughter that money determined who deserved dignity.
He intended to answer that lesson clearly.
Daniel turned to Paul.
“Terminate her employment immediately.”
Vanessa’s smile vanished.
“You can’t fire me like this.”
Daniel never raised his voice.
“I just did.”
The security guards exchanged glances.
Vanessa stepped toward him.
“I built this restaurant!”
Maria suddenly spoke.
“No. We did.”
Vanessa turned.
For the first time, Maria showed no fear.
“The cooks you insult. The servers you threaten. The hosts you blame. We built it.”
Several employees quietly nodded.
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
