Before Arthur could cut the first piece, a sharp motion shocked the room.
Little Lily sprinted toward the high table with incredible speed for her size.
She reached up her tiny arms and grabbed the thick linen tablecloth tightly.
With a hard pull, she yanked the heavy cloth toward the slick floor.
setup cracked into pieces as the huge cake fell over backward.
The massive multi-tiered cake crashed down directly onto the white marble surface.
White frosting and yellow sponge cake scattered everywhere across the clean floor.
Plates shattered with loud popping sounds that rang through the entire ballroom.
Gasps of total shock echoed from every corner of the large open room.
Arthur dropped his fork and stepped back in absolute surprise and sudden confusion.
Several wealthy women screamed loudly and pulled back their long expensive dresses.
Clara dropped her serving tray in horror when she saw her young daughter.
She sprinted across the slick floor as fast as her shoes allowed.
Clara fell to her knees right in the messy middle of the ruined dessert.
She wrapped her arms around Lily to shield the small girl from danger.
Her eyes were wide with panic as she looked up at her boss.
Maid: Lily!
Clara held her daughter tight against her black maid apron while trembling slightly.
Maid: Mr. Moretti, please! She is only three years old!
She feared that she would lose her job and her steady living allowance.
Arthur looked down at the massive sticky mess spread across his floor.
His face grew dark with confusion as he looked at the terrified mother.
Guests began whispering to each other about the rude behavior of the child.
Julian stepped forward from the crowd with a dark frown on his face.
Julian: This maid should be fired immediately for letting her child loose.
He pointed an angry finger at Clara and her frightened little toddler.
Ethan began to cry softly because his special birthday cake was destroyed.
Arthur held up his right hand to quiet the noisy murmuring crowd.
He did not shout or lose his temper like the others expected.
Instead, the powerful man slowly crouched down to eye level with Lily.
He looked directly into the young girl's large dark eyes with interest.
Mr. Moretti: Lily, why did you do that?
He asked the simple question in a calm and very gentle voice.
Lily looked back at the rich man without flinching or running away.
She swallowed hard and pressed her back against her mother's chest.
The entire crowd stopped talking to hear what the child would say.
Lily: I could not let him eat it.
Her tiny voice echoed softly off the high ceiling of the ballroom.
Arthur leaned closer to the child and kept his tone very quiet.
Mr. Moretti: Why could you not let him eat his cake?
Lily raised her hand and pointed across the wide room toward the exit.