Chapter 2 β The Man from the Balcony
The crowd instinctively parted.
Polished dress shoes echoed across the marble floor as a tall man descended the grand staircase with calm, measured steps. Unlike the guests whispering among themselves, he showed no urgency. His composure alone was enough to silence the ballroom.
Vanessa saw him and immediately forced tears into her eyes.
"Mr. Whitmore!" she cried. "Thank goodness you're here. This maid assaulted me in front of everyone!"
Security officers stopped a few feet from Emma, waiting for instructions.
Emma lowered her gaze. She had never met the man before, but judging by the respect on every face around her, he carried enormous authority.
Richard Whitmore, chairman of the Whitmore Foundation and owner of the historic Ashcroft Manor where the charity gala was being held, surveyed the room without speaking.
His eyes rested first on the elderly woman in the wheelchair.
The scarf still hung loosely around her neck.
Deep red marks circled her skin.
Then he looked at Emma.
Her hands trembled, but she stood protectively beside the older woman instead of defending herself.
Only after several long seconds did Richard turn to Vanessa.
"You say she attacked you?"
"She shoved me for no reason!" Vanessa snapped. "I want her arrested. I'll have her blacklisted from every hotel and event company in this city."
Several guests nodded nervously.
That sounded exactly like something Vanessa's powerful family could accomplish.
Richard folded his hands behind his back.
"I see."
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Vanessa mistook his calmness for agreement.
She smiled triumphantly.
"I knew you'd understand."
Richard slowly looked toward the security cameras mounted in each corner of the ballroom.
Then he asked one simple question.
"Would you like me to believe your story..."
He paused.
"...or the recording that captured everything?"
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
The color drained from her face.
For the first time that evening, genuine fear replaced arrogance.
Because she had completely forgotten one detail.
Ashcroft Manor had been renovated only months earlier.
May you like
Every public room was monitored by high-definition security cameras.
And every second of what she had done to the elderly woman had been preserved forever.
