CHAPTER 2 — THE WOMAN WHO FINITALLY MOVED
Silence lasted only another second.
Then someone broke it.
Not Nathan.
Not one of the Whitmore board members.
Not a guest.
A young banquet server abandoned the silver tray in his hands.
Crystal flutes crashed across the marble as he ran toward Caroline.
"Call 911!" he shouted.
The command startled the room more than Caroline's fall.
Another waitress dropped to her knees beside Caroline, carefully slipping off her black dinner jacket before folding it beneath Caroline's head.
"Don't move," she whispered.
"I think..."
Caroline swallowed.
"My baby is moving."
The waitress smiled through terrified eyes.
"Good."
She looked over her shoulder.
"We need an ambulance now!"
Still...
No one from the Whitmore family moved.
Nathan stood halfway between his wife and his mother, looking as though every decision he'd ever failed to make had finally caught up with him.
Vivienne sighed.
"I suppose the staff has decided to embarrass us."
The words echoed.
Several guests exchanged horrified glances.
Embarrass us?
A pregnant woman lay bleeding on the floor.
The room finally began to wake.
Phones appeared.
Someone recorded.
Someone whispered,
"Did she really pull the chair?"
"I saw her foot."
"So did I."
"I thought I imagined it."
Near the entrance, Nora Bell closed her eyes.
Just once.
Then she walked forward.
The leather folder was still clutched against her chest.
"Mrs. Whitmore."
Vivienne didn't look at her.
"Nora."
"I think..."
Her voice shook.
"I think this has gone far enough."
Vivienne finally turned.
"What did you say?"
Nora looked at Caroline.
Then at the blood spreading beneath the pale gold gown.
Twenty-three years.
She had worked for Vivienne Whitmore for twenty-three years.
She had lied.
Covered scandals.
Destroyed documents.
Threatened employees.
Paid witnesses.
She had convinced herself it was loyalty.
Tonight she finally understood what it had really been.
Cowardice.
"I'm done."
Vivienne laughed softly.
"No, Nora."
Her smile never reached her eyes.
"You aren't."
The ambulance sirens grew louder outside.
Nathan finally knelt beside Caroline.
"I'm sorry."
She looked at him for a long time.
Then quietly asked,
"For which time?"
May you like
He couldn't answer.
Because there had been too many.
