The crowd of high-society guests began pulling out their smartphones, taking photos and recording video as the police led Victoria and Julian toward the main exit doors.
Victoria: Stop taking photos of me! Stop recording!
Guest C: You tried to murder your fiancé! You deserve to be on the front page of every newspaper in the state!
Guest D: Rot in prison, you greedy monsters!
Julian hung his head in total shame, avoiding eye contact with the board members and corporate executives he had lied to for years.
Julian: Ethan... please... don't strip my corporate shares... my whole life is in that firm!
Ethan: Arthur is filing emergency paperwork tonight to remove you from the corporate board permanently, Julian. You won't own a single share by morning.
Julian: You're destroying my life!
Ethan: You destroyed your own life the second you decided to trade my life for a trust fund check.
Detective Miller tipped his hat respectfully toward Ethan and Maya as his officers led the handcuffed pair out into the hallway.
Detective Miller: We'll need you both to come down to the precinct tomorrow morning to sign formal witness statements, Mr. Vance.
Ethan: I'll be there first thing in the morning, Detective. Thank you for your fast response.
Detective Miller: Thank your chef over there. If she hadn't acted fast, we would be investigating a homicide instead of an arrest.
The officers walked out, the heavy banquet doors closing behind them as quiet returned to the grand hall.
Ethan turned back to face the remaining guests, taking a deep breath as he adjusted his tuxedo jacket.
Ethan: Ladies and gentlemen... I apologize for the dramatic interruption to tonight's event.
Arthur: Ethan, should we officially cancel the rest of the gala evening?
Ethan: No, Arthur. We are not canceling anything. Tonight was supposed to celebrate a bright future, and that's exactly what we are going to do.
The guests broke into enthusiastic applause, cheering and clapping for Ethan's strength and composure under pressure.
Ethan walked across the marble floor toward Maya, who was standing humbly near the catering staff station with her chef hands folded in front of her white uniform.
Ethan: Maya... I want to speak with you in private for a moment.
Maya: Of course, Mr. Vance. Did I do something wrong with the catering setup?
Ethan: Are you kidding me? You saved my life tonight. Come over to the head table with me.
Ethan walked with Maya toward the head table, where Arthur was already preparing legal estate documents on his tablet computer.
Ethan: Maya, what is your current salary working for this private catering company?
Maya: I make forty-five thousand dollars a year as an assistant line chef, sir.
Ethan: Starting tomorrow morning, you are no longer an assistant line chef for a catering company.
Maya blinked in confusion, her blue eyes wide with surprise.
Maya: Sir? Am I being fired?
Ethan: Fired? Absolutely not. I am offering you the position of Head Executive Chef for all Vance Estate properties and corporate dining venues.
Maya: Executive Chef?! But... sir, I'm only twenty-six years old!
Ethan: You have more integrity, sharp instinct, and bravery than any senior chef I've ever met in my life. The starting salary is two hundred thousand dollars a year, plus full health benefits and an estate housing allowance.
Maya gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as tears of gratitude welled up in her eyes.
Maya: Two hundred thousand dollars?! Mr. Vance... I don't know what to say!
Ethan: You don't have to say anything, Maya. You earned every single penny by standing up for the truth when everyone else was blind.