Chapter 6 - THE FAMILY DINNER TRAP
By Sunday evening, Maya had the complete package: high-definition video stills of Linda and Nicole leaning over the front desk forging her signature, Eleanor’s official notarized statement detailing the fraud, and a complete itemized list of every single dollar misappropriated during the venue takeover.
Her phone had continued to buzz all day with escalating messages from her family. The narrative had shifted from you overreacted to why aren't you answering your mother's calls? You're tearing the family apart over a childish whim.
At 6:00 PM, a text arrived from Linda that pushed Maya’s plan into its final phase.
Linda Vance: We are having a family dinner at the Golden Dragon downtown tonight at 7:00 PM to clear the air and discuss how you’re going to apologize to Nicole. Be there, Maya. Don't hide behind your work like a coward.
Maya stared at the screen, a slow, calculated smile touching the corners of her mouth.
"Oh, I'll be there, Mom," Maya murmured to herself. "I wouldn't miss this family dinner for the world."
The Golden Dragon was an upscale, traditional Chinese restaurant with private dining rooms enclosed by sliding wooden lattice doors. When Maya arrived at 7:15 PM, the private room was already loud with conversation.
Seated around the large round mahogany table were Linda, Nicole, Evan, Uncle Robert, Aunt Susan, and two of Nicole’s bridesmaids. As Maya slid the lattice door open and stepped into the room, all conversation abruptly ceased.
Linda sat at the head of the table, her face set in an expression of severe, righteous matriarchal disapproval. Nicole sat beside her, wearing a smug, vindictive little smirk, her engagement ring positioned perfectly under the overhead chandelier.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up," Linda said, her voice dripping with frost. "We were beginning to think you were too busy sulking to face your own family after the disgraceful scene you pulled yesterday."
Maya didn't say a word. She calmly pulled out the empty chair directly across from Nicole, sat down, folded her hands on the table, and looked around the room.
"It’s good to see everyone could make it," Maya said, her voice unnervingly serene. "I figured it was time we cleared the air once and for all about yesterday."
Nicole scoffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "An apology would be a great place to start, big sister. You ruined the happiest day of my life because you couldn't stand the thought of anyone else getting attention for five minutes. Mom told us how stressed you've been since your husband left, but honestly, your behavior was unhinged."
Murmurs of agreement rippled around the table. Uncle Robert shook his head, stirring his tea. "She’s right, Maya. You owe Nicole a massive apology. Stealing your own family’s joy because of a kid's birthday party is pathetic."
Linda leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. "Well? We’re waiting, Maya. Apologize to your sister, and maybe we can find a way to let you back into family gatherings."
Maya didn't flinch. She didn't raise her voice. Instead, she reached into her designer leather handbag, pulled out a thick manila folder, and slid it across the glossy mahogany table. It stopped precisely in front of Nicole’s water glass.
"An apology?" Maya asked quietly. "Let’s review the paperwork first."
Nicole frowned, looking down at the folder. "What is this? More of your boring architectural nonsense?"
"Open it, Nicole," Maya said. "Consider it an architectural report on the structural integrity of your engagement."
Nicole reached out with a manicured hand, untied the string, and pulled out the contents. The first page was Eleanor Gable’s official incident report from The Crystal Pavilion. The second page was the forged venue modification form bearing the clumsy digital paste of Maya’s signature. And the third page—clipped neatly to the back—was a printed still-frame photograph from the venue’s CCTV cameras, clearly showing Linda and Nicole standing at the front desk on Thursday afternoon manipulating the paperwork behind Maya’s back.
The color drained from Nicole’s face so fast she looked like a sheet of bond paper. Her hands began to tremble, the papers rustling against the tablecloth.
Linda leaned over, squinting at the documents. "What is this nonsense? What are you trying to pull, Maya—"
Linda stopped dead as her eyes landed on her own face in the CCTV still-frame, captured clearly by the overhead camera while she leaned over the venue manager's counter.
The room went dead silent. You could hear the faint clatter of chopsticks from the main dining room outside the lattice door.
"Falsification of a commercial service contract," Maya said, her voice cutting through the silence like a scalpel. "Section 43 of the local commercial code. Also known as fraud, forgery, and deliberate misappropriation of reserved property under false pretenses. Maximum civil penalty: full restitution of all associated event costs, plus legal fees and potential misdemeanor charges for fraudulent representation."
Nicole dropped the papers as if they were burning hot, her breath catching in her throat. "I—this is... you’re insane! You’re framing us! You said we could use it!"
"Did I?" Maya raised an eyebrow, pulling her phone from her pocket and tapping the screen. "Because I have my complete text logs from the last three months, my email archive, and the venue director's sworn affidavit stating that neither of you ever contacted me, and that you deliberately lied to the management claiming you had my verbal proxy."
Evan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his linen blazer suddenly looking far too tight. "Wait a minute... Nicole, you told me Maya insisted on surprising us with the venue."
"Evan, shut up!" Nicole shrieked, her voice cracking with panic.
"Why should I shut up?" Evan shot back, his face reddening. "I look like an absolute idiot sitting here while you and your mother ran a criminal enterprise just to save a few thousand dollars on a wedding venue!"
May you like
Linda slammed her teacup down onto the saucer, liquid splashing across the table. "Maya! How dare you pull legal threats on your own flesh and blood over a minor scheduling mix-up! We are your family!"
"No," Maya stood up slowly from her chair, her presence dominating the entire room. "You were my family. As of yesterday afternoon, you are just defendants in a very expensive lawsuit."
