Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN WITH THE PHONE
Marcus did not understand.
Elena did.
Not the whole thing.
But enough to feel fear move through her faster than pain.
Three nights earlier, Elena had found Victoria in Leo’s nursery after midnight.
No lights.
Only the blue glow of a phone.
Leo was asleep.
Victoria stood beside the crib photographing him.
Not ordinary photos.
Close-ups of:
his face,
his hands,
a blanket with the Carter family crest,
a stack of unopened luxury baby products arranged beside the changing table.
Elena had stepped into the doorway.
“Mrs. Carter?”
Victoria turned sharply.
Then smiled too quickly.
“Brand photos.”
“What brand?”
Victoria’s eyes changed.
“None of your business.”
Elena glanced at the products.
A silver baby bottle.
Designer stroller accessories.
Skin-care products.
A cream blanket with a gold logo.
All items Elena had never used with Leo.
The next morning, one of those bottles appeared in a trash bin with its label removed.
Elena took it out.
Photographed it.
Then searched the product name.
Maison Petit.
Luxury baby brand.
Their website had a campaign:
THE CARTER FAMILY EDIT.
No photographs yet.
Coming soon.
Elena felt uneasy.
She knew Marcus hated publicity around Leo.
He refused a magazine nursery feature.
Refused birth-announcement sponsorships.
Refused family social-media campaigns.
He had said:
“He’s a baby, not content.”
So why was Victoria photographing Leo beside branded products?
Elena had not confronted Marcus.
Not yet.
She wanted proof first.
Then she found it.
A draft contract accidentally left in the printer room.
CARTER FAMILY X MAISON PETIT.
Campaign value:
$3.2 million.
Talent:
Victoria Carter.
Leo Carter.
Parent/guardian authorization:
Marcus Carter.
Signature attached.
Elena stared.
She had seen Marcus sign dozens of household forms.
That signature looked right.
Too right.
She photographed every page.
May you like
Then Victoria walked in.
And saw the phone in Elena’s hand.
