Chapter 2
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Cassandra Vance thrived on the attention of her peers. She was currently holding a glass of vintage champagne, animatedly complaining to a circle of wealthy wives about the 'incompetence of the lower classes' while dramatically waving her hands. She possessed a terrifying combination of endless wealth and a complete lack of empathy, moving through life under the absolute certainty that the world and everyone in it belonged to her.
Elena was doing her best to navigate the narrow space behind Cassandra’s group. She held the silver tray high, stepping carefully over the trailing hems of expensive evening gowns. She was entirely focused on her task, moving with the quiet grace she had perfected over years of hosting such events.
Suddenly, Cassandra took a sharp, unpredictable step backward to emphasize a point in her story, her high heel catching the edge of the plush carpet.
The collision was inevitable. Cassandra bumped hard into Elena’s shoulder. The heavy silver tray tipped. Elena desperately tried to correct the balance, but gravity was unforgiving. A single, half-full crystal flute of champagne toppled over, spilling its golden contents directly onto the back of Cassandra’s shimmering emerald gown.
The cold liquid splashed against the silk, leaving a dark, undeniable stain.
Cassandra let out a sharp, high-pitched gasp, spinning around with a look of pure, unadulterated fury twisting her perfectly manicured features. The surrounding socialites immediately stepped back, their eyes wide with dramatic horror as they looked from the stained designer dress to the woman in the simple white apron holding the tray.
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"I am so incredibly sorry, ma'am," Elena said immediately, her voice calm and polite. "Please, let me get a towel and some club soda to help clean that up."
"You clumsy, stupid little girl!" Cassandra shrieked, her voice echoing over the soft string quartet playing in the background. "Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? It’s custom Oscar de la Renta! You couldn't afford a single thread of this fabric if you worked for a hundred years!"
