Chapter 1 - The First Course of DefianceThe crystal flute felt cold against Maddie’s fingers, but the champagne burned like a necessary fire down her throat. The grand ballroom of White Oak Manor, which had been buzzing with the frantic energy of a hundred and eighty-seven whispering guests just thirty minutes ago, was now hollow.
Only two tables remained occupied in the sprawling room: the head table, where Maddie sat in her twelve-installment lace gown, and a small round table near the exit, where her father, Frank, sat with his head in his hands.
The kitchen doors swung open. Eli reappeared.
He didn't carry a massive tray this time. He held a single, elegant porcelain plate, balancing it with the grace of a ghost gliding through a graveyard. He stepped up to the head table and placed it gently in front of her.
“Course one, Miss Price,” Eli said, his voice smooth and blessedly devoid of pity. “Pan-seared scallops with a sweet corn purée and a balsamic reduction.”
Maddie stared at the perfectly arranged dish. “It looks beautiful.”
“The chef was instructed to throw it all away,” Eli noted casually, adjusting a silver fork beside her plate. “I told him that would be a criminal offense against good seafood. And against your father’s wallet.”
Maddie looked up, catching Eli’s dark, observant eyes for the first time. There was a quiet intensity in them, a sharp contrast to the plain black vest and white shirt of his uniform.
“You’re very bold for a waiter, Eli.”
“I’ve found that catering to disaster requires a certain level of honesty,” he replied, pouring a splash more champagne into her glass. “Are you actually going to eat, or are you just staging a very expensive sit-in?”
Maddie picked up her fork. She cut a scallop, dragged it through the purée, and took a bite. The flavor exploded on her tongue—rich, buttery, and perfect. A single tear betrayed her, slipping down her cheek, but she chewed, swallowed, and took another bite.
“I’m eating,” she said fiercely.
“Good.” Eli nodded. “I’ll inform the kitchen to fire the soup course.”
As Eli walked away, Frank slowly approached the head table. He looked ten years older than he had that morning. “Maddie, sweetheart... the venue manager said we have the room until midnight. But we don't have to stay. I can pack the car.”
“Dad, sit down.” Maddie pointed to the empty groom’s chair with her fork. “Eat Tyler’s scallops.”
“I couldn't possibly stomach—”
“Eat them, Dad.” Her voice cracked, but the steel underneath held firm. “You worked Saturdays for two years for this plate of food. You are going to sit down, and you are going to eat it.”
May you like
Frank hesitated, then slowly sank into the chair marked Groom. He picked up a fork. They sat in silence in the massive, empty room, the sound of their silverware scraping porcelain echoing off the chandeliers.
For the first time all night, Maddie felt a strange, terrifying sense of control. Tyler had taken her dignity, her future, and her father's savings. But he was not going to take her dinner.
