Skip to content You’ve spent enough of your life recognizing it when it tries to hide. It shows up in tense shoulders, careful voices, apologies spoken before they’re asked for. Right now, it’s in the way Ximena grips her backpack until her knuckles pale. And when Esteban glances at her—just once, too quickly—you know this isn’t only about missing pay.
You straighten slowly, letting silence speak.
“Carolina Reyes,” you say again. “Why wasn’t she paid?”
Esteban exhales, offering a small, dismissive laugh. “I’m sure there’s been some confusion. Payroll isn’t handled by me directly. If an employee involved a guest in a private issue, we’ll address it.”
