Chapter 4 - The Man in the Gray Suit
Adrian stood immediately.
“Lock the east doors.”
The security man stopped.
He was tall, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a gray suit.
Clara recognized him.
He had been following Vanessa all evening.
Adrian pointed.
“You.”
The man turned slowly.
“What’s your name?”
“Calvin Reed.”
“Who employs you?”
“Event security.”
Daniel Cross frowned.
“No, he doesn’t.”
The room went silent again.
Calvin moved.
Fast.
He shoved past a waiter and ran toward the terrace.
Daniel’s men followed.
Guests screamed as a champagne tray crashed.
Adrian did not move from his mother’s side.
“Get him.”
Calvin reached the terrace doors.
Locked.
He spun.
Two security guards tackled him before he could reach another exit.
Clara watched them pull him to his feet.
A small velvet pouch fell from his jacket.
Daniel picked it up.
Inside were two more pieces of jewelry.
Celeste stopped crying.
Vanessa looked furious.
Adrian turned toward her.
“Friend of yours?”
“I have no idea who he is.”
Calvin laughed.
That laugh changed everything.
He looked directly at Vanessa.
“Seriously?”
She stared at him.
“You were hired through the event contractor.”
“No.”
Daniel checked his tablet.
“He isn’t listed anywhere.”
Calvin looked around.
Then at Adrian.
“You want the truth?”
Vanessa’s voice became sharp.
“Don’t say another word.”
Adrian’s eyes moved toward her.
Calvin smiled.
“That sounds like someone you don’t know.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You’re a criminal.”
“Maybe.”
Calvin shrugged despite the guards holding him.
“But I’m a criminal with text messages.”
Vanessa’s face emptied.
Adrian noticed.
“So show me.”
Calvin shook his head.
“Not for free.”
Daniel tightened his grip.
Adrian stayed calm.
“You planted the bracelet.”
Calvin glanced at Clara.
“Yeah.”
Clara exhaled.
The humiliation did not disappear.
But the room changed around her.
Several guests who had stared at her with suspicion now looked away.
Vanessa stepped toward Calvin.
“He’s lying.”
Calvin laughed again.
“You paid me five grand to put it in her bag.”
Clara’s stomach twisted.
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve never seen you before tonight.”
Calvin’s smile disappeared.
“Then maybe your father will remember me.”
The name hit harder than Clara expected.
Victor Sterling.
Vanessa went completely still.
Adrian slowly stood.
“My mother’s documents.”
He pointed toward the folder.
“The disabled cameras.”
Then toward Clara’s bag.
“The stolen jewelry.”
His voice dropped.
“How much of this was planned?”
Calvin said nothing.
Adrian approached.
“Who told you my mother would be alone in her sitting room tonight?”
Calvin looked toward Vanessa.
That was answer enough.
Vanessa suddenly reached into her purse.
Daniel reacted instantly.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Vanessa froze.
Then slowly pulled out her phone.
“I’m calling my attorney.”
Adrian nodded.
“Please do.”
“You have no right to detain me.”
“You’re free to stand beside the police when they arrive.”
Vanessa’s expression cracked.
“Police?”
“You attempted to coerce my mother.”
“You can’t prove that.”
“Then I suppose you have nothing to worry about.”
Vanessa looked at Evelyn.
And Clara saw something darker than anger.
Fear.
Not fear of Adrian.
Fear of what Evelyn might remember.
Adrian noticed Clara watching.
“What?”
Clara hesitated.
Then lowered her voice.
“Mrs. Beaumont told me something earlier.”
Evelyn turned toward her.
Clara continued.
“She said tonight wasn’t the first time Ms. Sterling tried to make her sign papers.”
Adrian’s face changed.
“When was the first?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“After my accident.”
Adrian became very still.
The accident had happened eight months earlier.
A fall down a short staircase inside the Beaumont family’s country estate.
Doctors had called it a terrible misstep.
Evelyn had never walked normally afterward.
Adrian looked at his mother.
“What does Vanessa have to do with your fall?”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t remember falling.”
Vanessa suddenly looked toward the exit.
Evelyn whispered.
May you like
“But I remember her standing behind me.”
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