Chapter 6 - A Public Execution of Pride
Victoria’s eyes widened with wicked delight as she recognized the desperate man causing the disturbance. ""Well, well, well,"" Victoria crowed, clapping her hands together dramatically. ""It seems our little 'queen' has an uninvited boyfriend from the gutter! Guards, let him through! Let’s hear what this man has to say about Julian Moretti's pristine new companion!""
The guards hesitated, glancing toward Julian. Julian gave a subtle, barely perceptible nod. The guards backed away, allowing Ryan to stumble directly into the open circle.
Ryan stopped dead in his tracks five feet away. When he saw Elena standing there in an emerald gown that cost more than his entire house, looking utterly majestic beneath the crystal chandeliers, his jaw dropped in raw, unadulterated shock. But then his eyes shifted to Julian Moretti—the man who had ordered his wrist shattered the night before.
Ryan shrank back instinctively, a whimper escaping his throat.
""Tell everyone!"" Victoria ordered loudly, stepping toward Ryan with a cruel, triumphant smirk. ""Tell this room full of dignitaries who this woman really is! Don't be shy, darling!""
Ryan swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he looked between Julian's icy stare and Victoria's manic insistence. ""S-she's... she's a waitress. From Cello's. A greasy little dive bar on the East Side. She doesn't have a penny! She dumped me to leech off rich men!""
A wave of derisive laughter rippled through Victoria’s inner circle.
""A waitress!"" Victoria laughed hysterically, turning to face the crowd of journalists and socialites who had gathered with their phones and cameras raised. ""Julian Moretti, the titan of New York, brought a cheap, dish-washing waitress to the city's most elite event! And he gave her his mother's emeralds! How utterly pathetic!""
Victoria picked up a flute of red sangria from a passing waiter’s tray. Her eyes glittered with pure sadism as she closed the distance to Elena.
""You don't belong here, trash,"" Victoria whispered, drawing back the glass to fling the dark, staining wine straight into Elena’s face and over the emerald gown. ""Go back to the kitchen where you belong!""
Before the liquid could leave the glass, Elena’s server instincts took over.
Years of catching falling glasses and dodging drunken patrons made her reaction instantaneous. Elena’s hand shot out, catching Victoria’s wrist mid-air with an iron grip forged by years of hard labor.
Victoria gasped in shock, trying to pull away, but Elena didn't let go. With a sharp, controlled twist of her wrist, Elena pivoted the glass.
The crimson sangria splashed entirely across Victoria’s face, drenching her platinum hair, running down her throat, and soaking the front of her precious designer gown in violent crimson streaks.
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Victoria let out an ungodly shriek, clutching her face as mascara ran down her cheeks like blackened tears.
""You clumsy, vile cow!"" Victoria screamed, completely losing her composure, clawing blindly at her dress. ""I will ruin you! I will have you killed!""
