Neither did the man she was about to summon.
As far as they were concerned, I was another beautiful young woman hired to carry champagne and smile.
The investor leaned back in her chair.
"Perhaps you didn't understand me."
I met her eyes.
"I understood."
Her smile disappeared.
Then, without warning, she reached toward my serving tray and shoved it sideways.
Two champagne flutes tipped.
One struck a dinner plate.
The other crashed onto the table, sending liquid across the white linen and into the lap of a startled guest.
A third glass slid off the tray.
It shattered against the marble.
Several people gasped.
I managed to keep hold of the tray, but the sudden movement pulled painfully against my wrist.
The wealthy woman sprang to her feet.
"Look what you've done!"
I stared at her.
She had pushed the tray herself.
Everyone sitting nearby had seen it.
Yet she pointed at me as though I had deliberately attacked her dinner guests.
"Clumsy little idiot!"
I took a slow breath.
"Ma'am, you pushed—"
"Don't you dare talk back to me!"
Her voice echoed beneath the chandeliers.
The young server near the wine station took a step forward.
Then stopped.
The older woman's face was flushed.
"Manager!"
Heads turned toward the ballroom entrance.
"Get the manager over here!"
A tall man in a black suit hurried across the room.
He was fifty-four, with neatly combed silver-brown hair, a narrow face, and the nervous smile of someone who had spent decades agreeing with wealthy guests before they finished speaking.
He stopped beside the table.
"Is everything all right?"
The woman gave him a furious look.
"Does it look all right?"
He glanced at the broken glass.
Then at me.
His expression immediately hardened.
"What happened?"
The investor pointed directly at my face.
"This girl has been insolent, careless, and completely incompetent."
The manager turned toward me.
Before I could answer, he seized my forearm.
His grip was tight enough to hurt.
"Apologize."
I looked down at his hand.
"Let go of me."
He leaned closer.
"You're embarrassing the hotel."
I met his eyes.
"You're hurting my arm."
He tightened his jaw.
"Then stop arguing."
The investor smiled.
"Finally. Someone understands how to manage staff."
The manager turned toward the guests.
"I sincerely apologize for this unfortunate disturbance."
Then he faced me again.
"You're fired."
The words fell into the silence.
He pointed toward the floor.
"Clean this mess before you leave."
I looked at him.
For several seconds, I said nothing.
Then I slowly pulled my arm free.
He tried to keep hold of it.