Page 69 of Don't Tell

He stops 3 ft. from me and pitches his voice loud enough for Devon to hear.

"Ms. Jenkins, there are concerns about your conduct at tonight's event."

"What? What are you talking about? What concerns?"

"A guest has reported inappropriate contact with one of the guests tonight. Hallway cameras have been reviewed. The Cresswell takes fraternization with guests extremely seriously."

"That doesn’t make any sense."

"I’m terminating your employment effective immediately."

The roaring in my ears starts at the back of my skull and works forward.

The catering staff at the other end of the room stop what they're doing. Carmen is in the doorway behind Roger. Carmen has a cleaning rag in one hand. Carmen's mouth is open.

Frank comes around the corner from the lobby and crosses the floor faster than I have ever seen Frank move. He stops at Roger's elbow.

"Roger."

"Frank."

"This is not the time for this."

"This is precisely the time for this. I'm terminating — "

"Roger, step out of the ballroom with me. Now."

"You will step away from me, Frank, or I will be terminating you tonight as well."

Frank's mouth closes and he looks at me.

He tries to do something about this, and I see him register the calculation, but he takes one step back.

It is not his fault.

He has worked in this hotel longer than anyone. He has a wife and a granddaughter. He has a pension that will not survive a termination for cause.

I look down at the floor.

Roger is talking again.

"I'll need your ID badge. You will collect your personal belongings from your locker. Security will escort you off the premises."

I don’t move or speak.

The door to the ballroom opens.

Cade walks in.

He is in the same suit he was in earlier. He doesn’t hurry.

Roger sees him. He straightens, and his mouth opens.

Cade crosses the floor. He doesn’t look at Roger and doesn’t acknowledge that Roger is in the room. He stops in front of me, reaches out, and takes my hand.

He doesn’t say anything.

He turns and walks me toward the door.