That frightened Christian more than shouting would have.
She looked toward the directors.
“Were any of you aware that corporate funds were being used to finance private events under Miss Vale’s personal direction?”
The directors exchanged glances.
One answered carefully. “There have been concerns regarding hospitality allocations.”
Christian closed his eyes.
Scarlett noticed.
“Concerns?”
No one answered.
The ballroom became so quiet that the soft hum of the ventilation system seemed suddenly loud.
Scarlett turned back to Meredith. “You treated a stranger with contempt because you believed she had no power to answer you. That tells me far more than how you would have behaved if you had recognized my name.”
Meredith’s eyes filled with tears.
“This was supposed to be my night.”
Scarlett regarded her without cruelty and without sympathy.
“That appears to be the problem.”
Meredith’s composure broke.
She turned toward Christian. “Tell her this isn’t happening. Tell her she can’t walk in here and destroy everything over a joke.”
Christian stared at her.
“A joke?”
His voice cracked.
“You assaulted the person who can terminate our credit structure before Monday.”
Meredith flinched.
Christian’s anger finally erupted.
“One decision from her can cost this company more money than your entire family has controlled in three generations.”
Scarlett’s eyes moved to him.
“And yet,” she said, “you allowed someone using your name to believe she owned the room.”
Christian went still.
That accusation hit deeper.
Scarlett stepped away from the table. “This is not merely about Meredith.”
Christian bowed his head again. “I understand.”
“No. I don’t think you do.”
She glanced around the ballroom.
At the staff who had been afraid to interfere.
At executives who had watched in silence.
At guests who had found the humiliation entertaining until they learned Scarlett’s identity.
“What happened tonight required more than one arrogant person. It required a room full of people who believed cruelty was acceptable when the target seemed socially unimportant.”
No one met her gaze.
Scarlett turned to the directors.
