Chapter 2 - Half a Sandwich|
Noah found a space heater in a storage closet and carried it into the narrow staff passage.
Victoria sat with her hands wrapped around a paper cup of warm water. Her wet clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, and the borrowed coat nearly swallowed her shoulders.
"Coffee would be better," she admitted.
"I agree. Unfortunately, coffee is currently considered a luxury in your new restricted-access zone."
She smiled despite herself.
"Your manager really doesn't like me."
"My manager doesn't like anyone who reminds him that rules are supposed to serve people."
Noah checked the clock.
His shift would not end for another five hours. He had already received one warning for defending Victoria, and Richard had made it clear that he was watching.
Still, Noah went to the staff cafeteria and returned with a sandwich.
He cut it in half and placed one piece in front of her.
"Turkey and cheese. It's not exactly a royal banquet."
Victoria stared at it.
"You bought this for me?"
"Bought it for myself. Then I made a terrible financial decision."
He pushed the plate closer.
"Take it before I change my mind."
She hesitated.
"When did you last eat?"
"Breakfast."
"What did you have?"
"Half a granola bar."
Noah's smile faded.
He did not ask why.
He simply sat beside her and began eating his half.
Victoria took a small bite. The sandwich was ordinary, but the warmth of the food made her realize how hungry she had become.
She ate slowly, saving part of it in a napkin.
Noah noticed.
"Planning to review it later?"
"Breakfast."
He looked at her, suddenly serious.
"Victoria, you don't have to pretend everything is fine."
"I'm not pretending."
"Then tell me what you need."
She considered the question.
"A place where I can sit without being treated like a criminal would be a good start."
Noah nodded.
"I can help with that much."
A bell rang in the corridor.
Richard's voice followed.
"Bennett! Front desk. Now."
Noah stood.
"Stay here. I'll be back."
Victoria caught his sleeve.
"Don't let him ruin your job over me."
"I'm not going to lose my job over a sandwich."
She gave him a skeptical look.
"You're a terrible liar."
He grinned.
"I've been told."
When Noah returned to the lobby, Richard was waiting beside the reception desk with a printed document.
"Your reassignment notice."
Noah read it.
His position at reception had been changed to overnight support, effective immediately. His next two scheduled shifts had also been shortened.
"This wasn't on the schedule yesterday."
"Management can adjust staffing as necessary."
"Why am I being punished for helping someone sit down?"
Richard leaned over the desk.
"Because you challenged me in front of guests. You embarrassed the hotel."
"You embarrassed yourself."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"Careful."
Noah looked at the notice.
"Put the reason for the reassignment in writing."
Richard laughed.
"You want documentation? Fine. Your conduct demonstrated poor judgment, failure to follow supervisory direction, and inappropriate involvement with an unauthorized visitor."
"She isn't a visitor. She hasn't asked for anything except a dry place to sit."
"Then she can sit somewhere else."
Richard snatched the paper back.
"You have a habit of making poor career decisions, Bennett. I suggest you stop before you have no career left."
Noah returned to the passage.
Victoria had overheard enough to understand what had happened.
"You should have let me leave."
He shook his head.
"Would that have made you warmer?"
"No. But it might have saved you trouble."
He sat down beside her.
"Sometimes doing the right thing is inconvenient."
She studied him.
"That's easy to say when the consequences aren't permanent."
Noah looked at the floor.
"My mother lost her apartment when I was seventeen. We spent three weeks sleeping in my uncle's car. People looked through us as though we were invisible."
He paused.
"I remember one woman who gave us a bag of groceries. She never asked our names. She never made us explain ourselves. I still remember her."
Victoria's expression softened.
"Did you ever see her again?"
"No."
"Then how do you know she changed anything?"
He smiled sadly.
"Because I remember what it felt like when somebody noticed we were there."
For a moment, Victoria could not speak.
She had spent years surrounded by people who offered help only when they expected something in return.
Noah had given her food without asking for her story.
He had risked his position without knowing whether she could repay him.
She looked at the sandwich in her hands.
"Thank you."
Noah nodded.
"You're welcome."
Then a sharp voice came from the corridor.
"Mr. Bennett, I need you in my office."
Richard stood in the doorway, holding another document.
This time, it was not a reassignment notice.
May you like
It was a formal disciplinary warning.
And at the bottom, Richard had already written Noah's name.
