Chapter 1 - The Slap That Never Landed
The slap never landed.
Instead...
A tray of champagne crashed onto the marble floor.
Crystal glasses exploded beneath the ballroom chandeliers.
The music stopped.
Hundreds of wealthy guests turned at once.
Standing between an elegant woman in diamonds and an elderly woman in a wheelchair...
Was a waitress.
Emily Carter.
Until that moment, no one in the room had even noticed her.
Her black uniform was soaked with champagne.
One hand still gripped the tray.
The other firmly held the woman's raised wrist.
"Don't touch her," Emily said quietly.
Victoria Harrington's eyes widened.
"How dare you?"
"I'm trying to teach this old woman some manners."
Emily didn't let go.
"I don't care who you are."
"You don't hit someone who can't defend herself."
The ballroom fell silent.
Several guests instinctively stepped backward.
No waitress had ever spoken to Victoria Harrington like that.
Ever.
The elderly woman in the wheelchair looked up at Emily with surprised, grateful eyes.
Emily offered her a small smile.
"It's okay."
"I've got you."
She had no idea who the woman really was.
She believed she was simply protecting a stranger.
Across the ballroom...
Hidden beside a marble column...
A tall man in a tailored black suit watched everything.
He never moved.
Never spoke.
But every guard in the room watched him instead of the guests.
Alexander Moretti.
The most feared man in Chicago.
His gaze never left Emily.
The woman she had just defended...
Was his mother.
Eleanor Moretti.
Four years earlier, an attack had left Eleanor unable to walk.
Since then, Alexander trusted almost no one near her.
Tonight was the first charity gala she had attended since the attack.
Every entrance had been secured.
Every guest had been checked.
Every threat had been anticipated.
Except one.
Victoria suddenly jerked her arm free.
"You've just destroyed your career."
Emily calmly bent down.
Picked up the wheelchair's fallen shawl.
Draped it gently over Eleanor's shoulders.
Then looked directly at Victoria.
"If protecting someone costs me my job..."
"So be it."
The ballroom became deathly quiet.
For the first time that night...
Alexander Moretti smiled.
May you like
Because the waitress everyone thought had just ruined her life...
Had unknowingly earned the respect of the only man in Chicago whose gratitude was worth more than a fortune.
