Dollar bills flew across the white tablecloth as the woman in red looked at the young waitress and said, “Pick it up. That's all you're worth.” Seconds later, the restaurant manager would fire the waitress and put his hand on her after she refused to accept the humiliation. But the calm woman standing beside that table clearly knew something about Victoria that neither Victoria nor the manager understood yet.

"Maya... Ms. Vanderbilt, please!" Arthur Sterling dropped all his smug authority, practically falling to his knees beside the table. "Sterling Capital had no idea! We just back Victoria’s fashion line! We have thirty million dollars invested in tonight’s gala at the Met!"

"Then I suggest you try to get your money back," Maya replied coldly. "Because five minutes ago, as owner of the historical venue lease, I canceled the reservation for the Metropolitan Museum's Great Hall. Your guests will be standing outside in the rain."

Victoria jumped up from her chair, her diamond bracelets clinking violently. "You can't do that! The contract is signed! The press is already there! Vogue is covering the red carpet!"

"Read clause 14-B of your venue contract, Ms. Vance," Maya said, stepping back and folding her arms. "Any corporate entity engaged in public morality violations or assault on venue staff forfeits their reservation without refund. And considering your manager here just physically put his hands on me while you threatened to ruin my livelihood... I’d say you violated clause 14-B."

Victoria turned frantically to her mother-in-law. "Evelyn! Do something! Call the board! Use your connections!"

Evelyn Vance looked at Victoria with pure disgust.

"My connections?" Evelyn said, her voice dripping with ice. "Victoria, the Vanderbilt trust owns seventy percent of my late husband’s firm. If Ms. Vanderbilt pulls her support, Vance Fashion is bankrupt by midnight. I told you... I told you a hundred times to stop treating service staff like animals. Your arrogance has finally destroyed us."

Victoria’s phone began to ring wildly on the table.