Chad scrambled around on the floor, his expensive suit trousers soaking up dark gravy and vegetable soup.
Chad: I'm picking it up... see? I'm cleaning it all up!
Victoria: Make sure you wipe down the spots near my sister's shoes, too.
Chad: Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am.
Maya watched him with a mixture of pity and quiet satisfaction, holding her wrapped hand close to her chest.
Maya: I was only five minutes late because the rear delivery entrance was locked from the inside, Chad.
Chad: I know... I'm sorry, Miss Vance! I didn't know the door was locked!
Victoria: Wait a minute. Why was the rear delivery door locked from the inside?
Maya: Someone put a heavy chain through the handles from the inner lobby.
Victoria turned her head toward the head of corporate security, who was standing nearby.
Victoria: Captain Davis, who had access to the rear delivery hallway this morning?
Captain Davis: Only executive management keycards can lock those doors from the inside, ma'am.
Victoria's eyes darted back down to Chad, who froze on the floor with a handful of wet paper napkins.
Victoria: Chad... did you intentionally lock the delivery entrance this morning?
Chad: What?! No! Why would I do something like that?!
Maya: Now that I think about it, I saw a man in a navy suit near the door when I drove up in the delivery van.
Victoria: Captain Davis, check the security feed for the rear hallway from thirty minutes ago on your tablet.
Captain Davis pulled out his rugged military-grade tablet, tapping the screen quickly with his thumb.
Captain Davis: Loading the feed now, Mrs. Vance... yes, here it is at 8:42 AM.
Victoria: Who is on the screen, Captain?
Captain Davis: It's Mr. Chad, ma'am. He walked out to the delivery corridor, slid a steel bar through the handles, and walked back inside.
A loud gasp went through the crowded hallway as the truth came to light.
Victoria: You intentionally trapped the delivery driver outside so she would be late?
Chad: It was a joke! It was just a little team prank to test the catering company's response time!
Victoria: You staged a delay just so you could throw a public temper tantrum in front of your staff?
Chad: No! I wanted an excuse to cancel the catering contract! My cousin owns a competing food delivery business!
Maya: So you humiliated me just to give a contract to your family member?
Chad: I didn't know who you were! I thought you were just some random gig worker!
Victoria: That makes it ten times worse, Chad!
Victoria stepped forward, kicking Chad's leather briefcase away from his desk chair on the side.
Victoria: You misused your corporate security clearance, tampered with fire exit doors, and staged an attack on an innocent vendor.
Chad: Please, Mrs. Vance! It was just business! Everyone in corporate cuts corners!
Victoria: Not in my company they don't.
Captain Davis: Locking fire exit doors is a direct violation of city safety codes and corporate policy, Mrs. Vance.
Victoria: Call the police, Captain. Have him arrested for reckless endangerment and corporate fraud.
Chad: Arrested?! You can't call the cops on your own vice president over a lunch order!
Victoria: Watch me.