Two days later, the video of the red carpet slap had accumulated over forty million views across social media platforms.
Chloe sat in her small childhood bedroom, staring at the screen of her phone with swollen, red eyes.
Chloe: Everyone is laughing at me... every single comment is calling me a monster.
There was a soft knock on the door before her mother stepped inside, carrying a small tray with tea.
Chloe's Mother: Chloe, sweetie... you need to eat something. You haven't left this room in forty-eight hours.
Chloe: How can I leave, Mom?! My face is on the front page of every gossip site in the country!
Chloe's Mother: The landlord called this morning. He saw the news.
Chloe: What did he say?
Chloe's Mother: He's refusing to renew the lease on your apartment downtown. He says he doesn't want the publicity near his building.
Chloe buried her face in her hands, letting out a loud, shuddering breath.
Chloe: What about Brandon? Has he called you back?
Chloe's Mother: Brandon packed his bags and moved back to his parents' house in Ohio yesterday morning. He blocked your number, Chloe.
Chloe: He promised he would love me forever!
Chloe's Mother: He loved the lifestyle he thought you two were going to have. Once the money and status disappeared, he ran away.
The front door downstairs opened and closed with a loud thud as Arthur walked into the house, looking exhausted.
Chloe: Dad? Is that you?
Chloe ran down the stairs, looking at her father with wide, hopeful eyes.
Chloe: Dad, did you fix it with the bank? Can I go back to work at the shop?
Chloe's Father: You are not working at my shop, Chloe.
Chloe: Why not?! I need money to pay my credit cards!
Chloe's Father: My mechanics told me today that if I hire you back, every single one of them will walk out the door.
Chloe backed up against the hallway wall, clutching her robe tightly.
Chloe: They can't do that! You're the owner!
Chloe's Father: They respect Mrs. Whitmore, Chloe. Half of their families received charity help from her foundation over the years.
Arthur pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket and set it squarely on the kitchen counter.
Chloe's Father: This is an application for a local diner downtown. They need a morning dishwasher.
Chloe: A dishwasher?! Dad, I have a degree in marketing!
Chloe's Father: No corporate firm in this city will touch your resume after what happened on that carpet, Chloe.
Chloe stared at the paper in absolute disbelief.
Chloe: You expect me to wash dishes for minimum wage?
Chloe's Father: I expect you to earn your own food and pay back the ten thousand dollars you drained from my savings account for those wedding flowers.
Chloe's Mother: Arthur, isn't that a bit harsh?
Chloe's Father: Harsh, Martha?! We almost lost our house because of her arrogance! It ends today!