I quickly accepted the platter.
"Thank you."
Alicia simply nodded before lowering her head and returning to her meal.
I did the same.
The shrimp looked delicious.
The only problem was the sauce.
It was served with pepper.
And I had never been able to eat spicy food.
Not wanting to disappoint Margaret, I peeled one of the shrimp, intending to eat it without the sauce.
Before I could, Margaret spoke again.
"Alicia, why didn't you pass Chairman Blackwood the sauce as well?"
I looked up once more.
Our eyes met.
She knew.
She probably remembered I couldn't eat pepper.
That was probably why she hadn't handed it over in the first place.
For a split second, Alicia parted her lips as though she wanted to explain.
I spoke before she could.
"Director Alicia... could you please pass me the sauce?"
Confusion flashed across her face.
Then came something else.
Concern.
Our eyes remained locked for a moment before she silently reached for the bowl and handed it to me.
