Chapter 9 - THE AFTERMATH
Victoria Vance stood frozen amidst the chaos. Her phone wouldn't stop ringing. News was already breaking online that the Vance Autumn Gala had been abruptly canceled due to "unforeseen venue lease revocations."
Reporters were already tweeting about a massive legal fallout between Vance Fashion and Sterling Capital.
Victoria looked down at her red dress. The dress that was supposed to make her the queen of New York fashion tonight now felt like a humiliation shroud.
Maya stepped forward, picking up her silver serving tray one last time.
She took the stack of thirty thousand dollars in cash that Victoria had thrown across the room, along with her own plastic server badge.
Maya handed the stack of cash to a young, wide-eyed busboy who had been hiding near the kitchen doors during the whole ordeal.
"Take this," Maya told the young boy with a gentle smile. "Divide it equally among the kitchen staff, the bussers, and the dishwashers tonight. Consider it a bonus for dealing with unpleasant guests."
The busboy’s eyes went wide. "Ms. Vanderbilt... thank you!"
Maya then turned back to Victoria.
"You told me I'd never work in New York again," Maya said softly, looking down at the disgraced designer. "You were right about one thing. I won't be working as a server in New York anymore. My work here is done."
May you like
Victoria opened her mouth to speak, to beg, to offer an apology—anything to save her brand—but no sound came out. The crushing weight of her own hubris had finally closed around her neck.
Evelyn Vance turned her back on Victoria, walking away toward the exit without saying another word to her daughter-in-law.
