Chapter 6 - The Private Lounge
Julian guided Maya through the chaotic ballroom, his heavy suit jacket swallowing her small, trembling frame. He ignored the frantic flashes of smartphone cameras and the panicked shouts of the city’s elite. He led her into the VIP lounge, a soundproofed room paneled in dark mahogany, and locked the heavy double doors behind them. The sudden silence was deafening.
"Sit down," Julian said softly, gesturing to a plush leather sofa. He walked over to a crystal decanter, poured a glass of water, and handed it to her. "Drink this. You are in shock."
Maya took the glass with both hands, the rim rattling against her teeth as she took a small sip. Her cheek was still a furious, angry red from Victoria's slap. Julian felt a cold, calculated rage building in his chest, but he kept his face completely impassive.
"Tell me exactly what happened, Maya," Julian instructed, sitting in the armchair opposite her. "How did you know to record him?"
Maya swallowed hard, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "I was assigned to your table for the evening. I know how important you are, Mr. Sterling, so I was paying close attention to your section. I noticed your Chief Operating Officer—Marcus, I think his name is—acting very strangely. He was sweating, checking his watch every two minutes, and looking around nervously."
"And the video?" Julian pressed, leaning forward.
"He asked me to fetch a fresh napkin," Maya explained, her voice gaining a fraction of stability. "But as I turned away, I saw him reach into his tuxedo pocket out of the corner of my eye. It looked so wrong, so deliberate. I stepped behind the ice sculpture, pulled out my phone, and zoomed in. I didn't know what he was dropping into the glass, but I knew I couldn't let you drink it. I ran out and slapped the glass away before I even realized what I was doing."
May you like
Julian leaned back, absorbing her words. This waitress, earning minimum wage, had risked her job, her reputation, and her safety to protect a billionaire she didn't even know.
"You didn't just knock a glass over, Maya," Julian said, his blue eyes softening. "You saved my life. And I am going to make sure nobody ever lays a hand on you again."
