"Sir, perhaps we could play recorded music," Mr. Peterson suggested weakly.
"Recorded music? At a gala of this caliber?" Westbrook looked at him like he'd suggested serving fast food for dinner. "Absolutely not. This is a charity event attended by some of the most influential people in the city. We will have live music, or heads will roll."
It was at that moment that Mr. Peterson made a decision that would change everything. "Sir, we do have someone who can play. Maya here studied music at the conservatory. She can fill in."
Maya's blood ran cold. Every head in the nearby area turned to look at her. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came out. She could only shake her head slightly, her heart pounding.
Westbrook's eyebrows raised as he looked her up and down, taking in her server's uniform, her practical shoes, her hair pulled back in a simple bun. A slow smile spread across his face, but it wasn't a kind smile. It was the smile of someone who'd just found an unexpected source of entertainment.
"The waitress," he said, loud enough for surrounding tables to hear. "Our waitress plays piano." He turned to his nearby guests. "Well, isn't this interesting?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd. People were setting down their forks, turning in their chairs to see what was happening. Maya felt like she was under a spotlight, even though the lighting hadn't changed. Her face grew hot with embarrassment.
"I... I don't think that's appropriate," Maya managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm working. I should get back to serving."
"Nonsense," Westbrook boomed. He'd had several glasses of wine with dinner, and his inhibitions were lower than usual. "If you can play, then play. Consider it part of your service duties tonight. We need music, and apparently you're our only option."
Some of his friends at the nearby table laughed. It was a sound Maya would never forget—that casual, dismissive laughter. To them, this was amusing: the help performing for their entertainment, like a trained animal doing tricks.
"Please, sir, I really don't think—" Maya tried again.