The night air off the harbor was cold, but the deck of the yacht was burning with tension.
Elena stood frozen in her light blue maid's uniform, her hands shaking as she held the silver serving tray.
Around her, wealthy elites in designer tuxedos and sparkling evening gowns laughed and drank champagne under the glowing lights.
Victoria: You stupid, clumsy girl! Look at what you did to my custom dress!
Elena: I'm so sorry, Mrs. Vance! Someone bumped into my arm, I didn't mean to spill the wine!
Victoria: You useless nobody! You aren't even worth the dirt on my shoes!
Before Elena could step back, Victoria's hand flew across the air with a loud, ringing slap that echoed over the water.
The force of the hit knocked Elena off her feet, sending her crashing onto the hard wooden deck floor.
Glasses shattered, cake slices scattered across the wood, and a crimson mark immediately flared on Elena's pale cheek.
The crowd gasped in shock, but nobody moved to help the young maid as she wept on the ground.
Among the spilled red wine and ruined pastries, a heavy metal object slid out from Elena's torn apron pocket.
It was an ornate vintage gold pocket watch, its front cover popping open on impact to reveal a complex mechanical face engraved with a royal crest.
Victoria sneered, lifting her hand to strike the sobbing girl a second time.
Victoria: Get up and clean this mess right now, or I'll have you thrown into the harbor!
Elena: Please, ma'am... don't hit me again...
Suddenly, the deep roar of a high-powered engine sliced through the night air.
A sleek black luxury yacht sped through the dark water, its blinding headlights cutting through the mist as it pulled right alongside the main deck.
A tall man wearing a long grey trench coat and black leather gloves stepped onto the wooden deck, his heavy footsteps echoing with terrifying authority.
He didn't look at the crowd, nor did he look at Victoria.
His dark eyes locked straight onto the golden watch lying in the pool of spilled wine near the maid's shaking hand.
He knelt down, picked up the watch, and snapped it open, his jaw tightening into a hard, dangerous line.
Julian: Where did you get this watch?