Chapter 2 - Henry Explains Why Emma Was Serving
Henry kept one arm around Emma until security moved Brandon away from
the stage.
Then he addressed the room.
“Emma was not here by accident.”
Victoria’s expression changed.
Henry explained that the Caroline Hale Foundation had received anonymous
complaints from temporary event workers for almost a year.
Unpaid overtime.
Tips withheld.
Employees reassigned after reporting abuse.
VIP guests allowed to humiliate staff without consequence.
Most troubling, several complaints mentioned the same outside event
company.
Coastal Luxe Hospitality.
Brandon’s company.
Victoria interrupted.
“This is absurd.”
Henry looked at her.
“Emma asked to work one gala shift without anyone knowing who she was.”
Emma finally spoke.
“I wanted to see whether the reports matched what actually happened.”
The room went quiet again.
She had not expected to be slapped.
She had expected disrespect.
That distinction mattered.
Emma had spent the evening carrying trays, checking staff instructions,
and quietly recording procedural notes after each break.
She had also noticed something else.
The foundation’s gala expenses did not match what was physically in the
room.
The floral invoice was too high.
The rental invoice listed furniture that had never arrived.
And the premium beverage charge was nearly double what the bar manager
said had been ordered.
Victoria stared at Brandon.
He stopped struggling against security.
Henry looked toward the finance director.
“Preserve every invoice.”
Then Emma added one more detail.
“I already photographed the vendor codes.”
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Several board members suddenly stopped looking at Victoria.
They started looking at each other.
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