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Charlotte’s words haunted Laura, her face paling at the memory.
“But Georgia helped me,” Laura said defensively. “Still, I didn’t ask her to act like a dog to please customers. She did it for money. That’s her problem, not mine.”
Charlotte’s fury gave way to a bitter laugh. To her, Georgia’s sacrifice had been wasted on an ungrateful soul.
“It’s a shame Georgia paid so much to save a worthless ingrate.”
Laura’s anger flared. “How dare you insult me! I work here honestly and get paid. I don’t trade my dignity like Georgia. I’ve done nothing shameful. Why should I be humiliated?”
Charlotte laughed again. “Let me be clear. If Georgia hadn’t stepped in, you’d be the one suffering at the hands of those customers. You’d be in far worse shape.”
She sneered, “You can’t do what Georgia did.”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t stoop that low,” Laura said, pride stiffening her spine.
Charlotte nodded slowly. “I hope you still feel that way in a week.”
She dismissed Laura, no longer willing to waste breath.
“If you still think you have a choice in a week, a month, or a year, you’re tougher than I thought. But don’t fool yourself. You will break. You’ll become like Georgia.”
Charlotte turned away. “Alright, you can leave now.”
Laura’s face hardened as she turned to go.
Just as she reached the door, Charlotte’s voice called after her.
“Laura, remember–you should be the one enduring everything Georgia’s been through. There will always be moments
when you give in. Since you don’t appreciate Georgia’s kindness, I won’t protect you anymore.”
Laura barely registered the warning. She never believed Charlotte had protected her since she started at Vetro Club. To her, ‘protection‘ was a joke.
But soon, she would learn just how vital Charlotte’s protection had been.
At Vetro Club, guests might tease waitresses, but it rarely went beyond that–an unspoken rule, enforced strictly by
Charlotte.
Laura left the office unaware that Charlotte’s cold stance toward her would soon ripple through the entire club.
One day, a close waitress friend whispered, “Did you do something to offend Charlotte?”
Laura scoffed, “Does she want to punish me?”
“No, she won’t bother with a waitress. She’s just stopped protecting you.”
Laura shrugged it off. “Big deal. If she doesn’t like me, I’ll keep my distance.”
“Suit yourself. But watch your back,” her friend warned, then fell silent.
Charlotte remained in her office, unimpressed by Laura’s attitude.
To Charlotte, Laura was an ungrateful fool. She might not get angry over a waitress, but the belittling of Georgia was
unforgivable.
Later, as Charlotte left her office, she nearly collided with Preston and Simon.
“Mr. Hill, Mr. Mason,” she greeted quickly, stepping back.
Simon joked, “Charlotte, trying to get close to me?”
He teased because Charlotte had almost bumped into Preston.
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Preston shot Simon a warning glance. “Charlotte’s my right hand. Simon, don’t joke with her.”
Charlotte met Preston’s gaze. “Mr. Hill, Georgia…”
“She won’t die,” Preston interrupted.
Charlotte exhaled slightly, relieved.
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Feigning indifference, she updated Preston, “Please rest in my office. The staff have been restless–gossiping and disrupting work. I was about to speak with them.”
Preston’s curiosity piqued. “What are they gossiping about?”
“Georgia,” Charlotte answered. “The private room incident leaked out. Everyone at the Vetro Club knows what she did.”
Charlotte held back details, only referring to it as ‘the incident.‘
Preston understood immediately. His calm eyes sharpened, settling on Charlotte’s face. “Who leaked it?”
“I just found out,” Charlotte hesitated. “I believe it was Raven.”
She had seen Raven lurking outside the private room that day–no one else was there.
“Bring her here,” Preston ordered coldly, his voice like ice.
He narrowed his eyes. “And what happened to Georgia’s voice?”
Charlotte knew.
“A newcomer, Yvette from Public Relations, pulled Georgia into a private room and bullied her. She forced Georgia to sing high–pitched songs without giving her water.”
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