CHAPTER 1: THE GHOST STEPS FORWARD
CHAPTER 1: THE GHOST STEPS FORWARD
No one breathed.
Emma still held Victoria Langford's wrist.
The billionaire socialite looked utterly stunned that a waitress had dared touch her.
"How dare you?" Victoria hissed.
The words dripped with venom.
Emma immediately released her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you were about to hurt her."
The statement only fueled Victoria's rage.
"Hurt her?" she laughed sharply. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
Emma swallowed.
"No, ma'am."
The answer was honest.
And somehow, that made everything worse.
The ballroom erupted into whispers.
Everyone knew Victoria Langford.
Nobody knew Emma Carter.
One was worth billions.
The other earned barely enough to survive.
The outcome should have been obvious.
Victoria lifted a finger toward the venue manager.
"Fire her."
The manager paled.
Immediately.
Without discussion.
Without investigation.
"Emma," he said quietly, "turn in your uniform."
The words hit harder than any slap.
Her father's hospital treatment.
Her sister's college tuition.
Gone.
Just like that.
Emma looked down at the elderly woman in the wheelchair.
The woman seemed devastated.
"I'm sorry," Emma whispered.
Then she turned to leave.
That was when a deep voice echoed through the ballroom.
"Nobody is firing her."
Silence crashed over the room.
A tall figure emerged from the crowd.
Black tailored suit.
Cold gray eyes.
Power radiating from every step.
The atmosphere itself seemed to change.
People moved aside instinctively.
Some guests actually lowered their heads.
Others looked terrified.
Emma didn't know why.
But everyone else did.
May you like
Vincent Moretti had stepped forward.
And the Ghost of the Underworld looked furious.
