Chapter 7 - Public Reckoning
Nobody moved. The security guards remained frozen like statues.
Olivia gasped, clutching her chest. "Maya? Where did you steal those clothes?! Did you rob a store?!"
Vanessa scoffed, stepping forward with her phone pointed at Maya’s face. "Look at you trying to play dress-up! You’re a waitress! Guys, film this—the drama queen is crashing a corporate party!"
Julian stepped in front of Vanessa’s phone, his terrifying stare causing her to instantly lower her arm.
" lower your phone, Miss Davis," Julian said, his voice dropping an octave into pure ice. "Or my legal team will ensure you spend the next ten years paying off defamation damages."
"Mr. Sterling!" Richard gasped, sweating profusely through his tuxedo collar. "I apologize for this interruption! This woman is nothing! She was my wife, but she’s unhinged. I pushed her out of my life three days ago—"
"You didn't push her out, Richard," Julian said smoothly, stepping aside to let Maya take center stage. "You discarded the majority shareholder of the firm you work for."
The CEO of Vance & Partners stepped forward, visibly trembling. "M-Mr. Sterling... what do you mean?"
Maya stepped toward Richard. Her heels clicked with sharp, decisive rhythm against the marble floor.
"Three days ago, Richard, you shoved my face into my daughter's birthday cake," Maya said, her voice echoing clearly across the ballroom. "You told me I had no house, no car, no family, and no money. You told forty-seven people I wouldn't last a week."
May you like
She gestured lightly to Thomas, who stepped forward and opened a leather document holder.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly," Maya said, looking directly into Richard’s terrified eyes. "I am Maya Ainsley. Sole heiress to Ainsley Global, owner of Sterling-Ainsley Holdings, and effective five minutes ago... the new owner of Vance & Partners."
