Chapter 16 - RETURN TO THE ASHWORTH
Twenty-four hours later, Della walked back into the Ashworth Grand Hotel.
The shattered mirror had already been replaced.
Of course it had.
Money repaired appearances quickly.
The Vance Foundation gala continued exactly as scheduled.
Politicians.
Developers.
Judges.
Executives.
Cameras.
Champagne.
Cordelia stood near the ballroom entrance wearing white.
Her smile vanished when she saw Della.
"You."
Della stopped several feet away.
"Me."
Cordelia looked toward Luca.
"You brought her?"
Luca remained silent.
Della answered.
"I brought myself."
Something in Cordelia's expression changed.
She was no longer quite as arrogant as she had been beside the mirror.
The world had watched the hospital video.
Witnesses had begun speaking publicly.
Sponsors were leaving the Vance Foundation.
Her assault case had not disappeared.
"Della."
Cordelia lowered her voice.
"My father told me to apologize."
"Then don't."
Cordelia blinked.
"I don't want an apology somebody ordered."
Della walked past her.
The gala began.
Conrad Vance took the stage.
Sixty-four.
Silver hair.
Perfect tuxedo.
Publicly charitable.
Privately feared.
He spoke about rebuilding neighborhoods.
Creating opportunities.
Protecting families.
Della nearly laughed at the last phrase.
Then she saw Owen.
Across the ballroom.
Black suit.
Thinner than before.
A bruise beneath his left eye.
Alive.
Every instinct screamed at her to run toward him.
Then she remembered his warning.
If you see me, don't come toward me.
Owen looked at her.
His eyes dropped toward her stomach.
Pain crossed his face.
Then he turned away.
Della's hands trembled.
Luca appeared beside her.
"That's him?"
"Yes."
"Why isn't he coming over?"
"Because somebody's watching."
They searched the room.
Arthur Mercer stood near Conrad Vance.
Della's blood turned cold.
The missing chairman had not fled the city.
He had come here.
Arthur saw them.
Then smiled.
Luca moved toward him.
Della caught his sleeve.
"Wait."
Across the ballroom, Owen deliberately knocked over a champagne glass.
It shattered.
Every head turned.
Owen crouched to collect the pieces.
His hand pointed beneath a nearby service table.
Della followed the gesture.
A small envelope was taped underneath.
She moved casually across the room.
Cordelia suddenly stepped into her path.
"We need to talk."
"Not now."
"Yes."
Cordelia's face was pale.
"My father didn't tell me you would be here that night."
Della stopped.
"What night?"
"The night I pushed you."
Cordelia swallowed.
"I thought they only wanted you fired."
Della stared.
"Who wanted me fired?"
Cordelia glanced toward Conrad.
Then Arthur.
"My father told me you were dangerous."
"Why?"
"He said Owen had given you something."
Della's heartbeat increased.
"What?"
Cordelia looked terrified.
"I don't know."
May you like
Behind them, the ballroom doors suddenly locked.
The lights went out.
