Chapter 6 - The Gala of Storms
By the end of autumn, news of William Carter’s sudden personal transformation had spread throughout New York high society.
The cold, ruthless billionaire who used to avoid social events was now being seen at public parks, Little League games, and local bakeries with an attractive brown-eyed woman and three happy little boys in tow.
The ultimate test of our new relationship came in November, with the annual Carter Enterprises Charity Gala at the Plaza Hotel.
It was a black-tie event attended by the city's most powerful politicians, corporate titans, and old-money aristocrats.
William had spent three days insisting that I attend as his official partner. He hired a top designer to bring dresses directly to the mansion, resulting in a stunning sapphire-blue silk gown that draped perfectly to my ankles, paired with simple silver earrings.
When I walked down the grand marble staircase on the night of the gala, William stood at the bottom in a custom black tuxedo. His breath visibly hitched as he looked up at me.
"You are breathtaking, Maya," he whispered, offering his arm as I reached the floor.
"I feel like Cinderella," I admitted, laughing softly as I took his arm. "Just promise me my dress won't turn into rags at midnight."
"If anyone tries to change a single thing about you, I'll buy the hotel and fire them," William promised, kissing the back of my hand.
The gala was a sea of glittering diamonds, velvet suits, and champagne towers.
For the first hour, everything was magical. William kept his hand firmly on the small of my back, introducing me to his board members and close friends not as his housekeeper, but as the woman who held his heart.
Then, during the charity auction, trouble arrived.
Richard Sterling—William's primary corporate rival and a major shareholder in Carter Enterprises—approached our table, holding a glass of scotch. Beside him stood a reporter from the Wall Street Journal.
"William!" Richard boomed with artificial warmth, his sharp eyes darting over to me. "I see you brought a guest tonight. We were all expecting you to bring a prominent legal partner, but I hear you’ve taken a... more hands-on approach to your domestic staff?"
A few nearby guests quieted down, listening closely.
"Maya is my partner, Richard," William said, his voice instantly turning to ice. "Watch your tone."
"Oh, come now, William," Richard sneered, taking a sip of his drink. "We all read the gossip blogs. A bankrupt housekeeper from Queens suddenly running the Carter mansion? I’m just concerned about the company's image. Investors like stability, not... fairy-tale charity cases."
I felt a sting of humiliation, but before William could step forward to tear Richard apart, I placed a gentle hand on William's forearm, stopping him.
I stepped forward, meeting Richard's arrogant glare with a calm, sweet smile.
"Mr. Sterling," I said, my voice carrying clearly over the surrounding tables. "I may have come from Queens, and I certainly know the value of a dollar after building my life back up from zero. But as someone who manages Mr. Carter’s household, I can tell you that true stability isn't bought with an inheritance. It’s built with character."
I took a slow step closer to him, my eyes sharp. "And judging by your company’s third-quarter earnings report, which showed a twelve percent loss due to high executive turnover, I’d say you could use a little more character in your own boardrooms."
Several high-society women behind Richard muffled their chuckles. The reporter beside him immediately began scribbling in his notepad.
May you like
Richard’s face flushed red. He opened his mouth to retort, but William stepped beside me, putting his arm around my waist, his face filled with towering pride.
"My partner expressed it perfectly, Richard," William said coolly. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we have a charity dance to open."
