Chapter 3 - The Video They Thought Was Funny
Chicago police arrived at 10:14.
By then, Preston had called his father three times.
On the fourth attempt, someone answered.
“Dad.”
Preston moved away from the table.
“We have a situation.”
Dominic sat beside me while a paramedic examined my scalp.
I hated every second of it.
Not because of the pain.
Because people were staring.
Dominic noticed.
“Want to leave?”
“No.”
“You don’t have to prove anything.”
“I’m not leaving before I give my statement.”
His eyes softened.
“There she is.”
“Who?”
“The woman who argues with me at breakfast.”
Despite everything, I almost smiled.
Across the room, Preston’s voice rose.
“No, Dad, you don’t understand. It’s Vale.”
Pause.
“No. Dominic Vale.”
Longer pause.
Preston looked toward us.
Then he whispered:
“His wife.”
Whatever his father said made Preston sit down.
Detective Rachel Monroe approached me.
“Elena?”
“Yes.”
“I need you to tell me what happened.”
I did.
Mia confirmed the harassment.
Frank confirmed Dennis's instructions.
Two diners provided videos.
Then Detective Monroe examined Preston’s friend’s phone.
She looked at him.
“You recorded the entire incident?”
He stared at the floor.
“Yes.”
Preston snapped.
“Stop answering questions!”
Detective Monroe turned.
“You should probably worry about your own answers.”
Then another man entered.
Gray hair.
Expensive coat.
Face red with anger.
Charles Hale.
Preston's father.
He walked directly toward Dominic.
“Vale.”
Dominic remained seated.
“Hale.”
Charles looked at me.
His expression changed when he saw my hair.
Then he looked at his son.
“What did you do?”
“Dad, they’re exaggerating.”
Charles walked over and slapped the table with his palm.
“What did you do?”
Preston flinched.
“It was a joke.”
Charles stared at him.
“A joke?”
“We were drunk.”
Charles turned toward Dominic.
“I'll handle this.”
Dominic stood.
“No.”
“We’ve done business together.”
“Not anymore.”
Charles froze.
“That’s unnecessary.”
Dominic stepped beside me.
“My wife asked your son not to touch her.”
“I understand.”
“No. You understand now.”
Charles lowered his voice.
“Tell me what makes this right.”
I answered before Dominic could.
“Nothing.”
Charles looked at me.
I continued.
“You can't buy back what happened.”
“I’m trying to apologize.”
“You're trying to protect your son.”
His expression tightened.
I gestured toward Preston.
“Let him apologize.”
Charles turned.
Preston looked furious.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes,” Charles said.
Preston looked at me.
“Fine. Sorry.”
I stared at him.
“That’s your apology?”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to understand why you're sorry.”
“I said it.”
“You're sorry because my husband walked through the door.”
Nobody spoke.
I continued.
“If Dominic hadn't come tonight, would you be sorry?”
Preston looked away.
That answered everything.
I turned to Detective Monroe.
“I want to proceed.”
Preston jumped up.
“Are you kidding me?”
“No.”
“You're ruining my life over this?”
I touched the shaved side of my head.
“You made your decision.”
Police escorted Preston and two of his friends away for questioning.
Charles Hale watched.
Before leaving, he turned toward Dominic.
“This will become public.”
Dominic looked at me.
“It already should be.”
Charles frowned.
Dominic continued.
“Your son filmed it because he thought humiliating a waitress was entertainment.”
May you like
Then Dominic glanced at the scattered hair.
“Maybe tomorrow he learns what it feels like when everyone watches him instead.”
