Marcus instinctively shifted forward, placing himself slightly between Victoria’s wrath and the young server. "Victoria, please, keep your voice down. Let's not make a scene—"
"Don't you dare tell me to keep my voice down, Marcus!" Victoria snarled, her face contorting into an ugly mask of entitlement. She turned back to Chloe, her gaze venomous. "And as for you—you are an accessory to his gross negligence. You both need to be fired immediately. Do you know who I am? My family practically owns this entire establishment!"
Chloe swallowed hard, standing her ground despite the trembling in her knees. She glanced at Marcus, then back at Victoria, her voice dropping to a calm, icy register that defied her junior status. "Firing someone over an accidental spill is unjust. Mistakes happen to everyone, even people who think they own the world."
Victoria’s jaw dropped. The audacity was intoxicating in its insolence. She opened her mouth to unleash another tirade, ready to demand the manager on duty, the owner, the board of directors—anyone who could strip this insolent girl of her apron and throw her out onto the street.
"Enough."
The single word did not come from a shout, nor did it carry the shrill panic of Victoria’s outbursts. It was a low, commanding baritone that seemed to vibrate through the floorboards, silencing the entire restaurant instantly.
Victoria spun around, expecting to find the head chef or an intimidated floor supervisor. Instead, standing at the edge of the table was a woman whose quiet elegance commanded absolute authority.