Chapter 10 — Resolution and Relief
Liam stared at the notification on his phone screen.
The payroll alert showed a retroactive adjustment to his account balance.
It included full compensation for every disputed overtime shift he had worked under Bianca.
The total matched the exact hours logged on the security camera timestamps.
Aiden walked over from the prep station to check on him.
“Did you get the update from HR?” Aiden asked.
Liam nodded slowly.
“It looks like everything has been fully corrected,” Liam replied.
“Good,” Aiden said. “We want to make sure every employee is treated fairly around here.”
Liam slipped his phone back into his jacket pocket.
He felt a profound sense of relief wash over him.
The heavy burden of unfair expectations had finally been lifted.
He looked around the commercial kitchen.
The stainless-steel prep tables gleamed under the overhead lights.
The metal trays were neatly stacked on the shelves just as he had left them.
Everything was orderly and transparent.
Liam walked out the back doors into the cool evening air.
The security camera overhead blinked with a steady green light.
He took a deep breath of the night breeze and headed home.
THE END