Chapter 6 - The Fall of Victoria
While Dominic was being dismantled in the federal courthouse, Victoria Vance was experiencing her own public reckoning.
Deprived of Dominic’s credit lines, Victoria, Richard, and Chloe had been forced to move out of the LaGuardia motel and into a small, two-bedroom apartment in Queens funded by Richard’s modest social security checks.
Victoria, however, refused to accept her new reality.
She believed that if she could simply talk to her high-society friends, she could secure a loan or raise enough capital to help Dominic launch a new firm.
At four o'clock that afternoon, Victoria walked into the tea room of the The St. Regis New York, wearing her favorite faux-fur coat and oversized designer sunglasses.
She had managed to keep one of her high-end credit cards active, unaware that it was tied to an overdraft line that had been flagged two hours prior.
She spotted her usual social circle sitting at a corner table—Evelyn Montgomery, wife of a hedge fund manager, and Beatrice Sterling, a prominent Manhattan philanthropist.
“Evelyn! Beatrice!” Victoria announced loudly, gliding toward their table with a practiced smile. “It has been an absolute nightmare of a week! The banks had a massive security breach, and our accounts were temporarily frozen!”
Evelyn and Beatrice turned, looking at Victoria with cold, distant expressions.
Neither of them offered her a seat.
“Hello, Victoria,” Evelyn said, her voice dropping into a chilly tone. “We were wondering if you were going to show your face in Midtown again.”
Victoria blinked, her smile faltering. “Pardon?”
Beatrice pulled out her iPad, turning the screen toward Victoria.
Displayed on the screen was a front-page article from The New York Post’s Page Six:
MAFIA-STYLE COWARDICE: PRIVATE EQUITY EXEC AND MOTHER ABANDON WAR HERO’S DAUGHTER AND NEWBORN ON HOSPITAL SIDEWALK.
Below the headline was a crystal-clear security camera photo from St. Vincent’s Hospital.
It showed Dominic opening the door for Victoria while Audrey stood on the sidewalk holding baby Leo, clutching a folded twelve-dollar bill in her trembling hand.
Below the photo was a full biography of General Charles Brooks, detailing his military career, his medals, and his ongoing work with veterans’ hospitals across the nation.
The comment section already had over forty thousand shares, with local unions, veteran organizations, and corporate leaders calling for a complete boycott of any business associated with the Vance family.
Victoria felt her heart stop. “This... this is a misunderstanding! Audrey was being dramatic! She wanted to take the bus!”
“She had abdominal surgery five days prior, Victoria,” Evelyn said, standing up from the table and grabbing her designer handbag. “My husband’s brother served under General Brooks in Fallujah. The General built three children’s hospitals in upstate New York.”
Beatrice stood up as well, looking at Victoria with absolute revulsion.
“To treat a mother like that... to treat a veteran’s daughter like trash while riding around in her car... you are a disgraceful, monstrous woman,” Beatrice spat.
“Wait! Let’s have tea! Let me explain!” Victoria pleaded, reaching out for Evelyn’s arm.
“Don't touch me,” Evelyn snapped, stepping back. “If you ever approach our table again, I will have security remove you from the premises.”
The two women walked away, leaving Victoria standing alone in the middle of the crowded tea room.
A waiter approached her moments later, holding a small silver tray with a receipt.
“Ma’am,” the waiter said softly. “The management has asked that you settle your outstanding tab for the table and vacate the premises immediately.”
Victoria reached into her purse, handing over her card.
Thirty seconds later, the waiter returned, his face neutral.
May you like
“Declined, ma’am. Please provide another form of payment, or we will be forced to call precinct security.”
Victoria burst into tears, dropping her purse onto the carpet as the surrounding patrons turned to stare, whispering and pointing at the woman whose cruelty had become the most famous story in New York.
