Chapter 1 - THE BEDROOM DOOR
The Brooks family dinner had already gone badly before Sophia asked Daniel to follow her upstairs.
Their father’s lakefront mansion was full.
Aunts.
Cousins.
Two board members.
Michael drinking too much bourbon.
Sophia wearing red.
Daniel noticed the color because she never wore red around the Brooks family.
Too visible.
Tonight she wanted to be seen.
“Can I speak to you privately?”
Daniel looked at her.
“About?”
“Michael.”
Across the room, Michael laughed at something their cousin said.
Daniel checked the time.
9:14 p.m.
The trust vote was at nine the next morning.
“Five minutes.”
Sophia smiled.
“That’s all I need.”
Daniel followed her upstairs.
His dark suit looked ordinary.
One shirt button was not.
Inside it:
A live camera.
Encrypted.
Streaming.
Daniel had worn it for three weeks.
He told only two people.
His security consultant, Lucas Vane.
And Michael.
Not because he expected violence.
Because someone inside Brooks Meridian had been leaking confidential board drafts.
Daniel suspected the leak would surface tonight.
Sophia entered the guest bedroom.
Daniel stayed near the door.
“What is this about?”
“Close it.”
“No.”
Sophia walked past him and closed it herself.
Then locked it.
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Sophia.”
She looked at him.
For one strange second, she seemed almost sad.
Then she reached up.
Tore the strap of her own red dress.
Daniel froze.
“What are you doing?”
She messed up her hair.
Grabbed his shirt.
Then screamed.
“HELP! GET OFF ME!”
Daniel’s body went cold.
Sophia threw herself backward onto the bed.
“MICHAEL! HELP ME!”
Heavy footsteps thundered through the hallway.
Sophia squeezed her eyes shut.
Forced tears.
Daniel did nothing.
The door burst open.
Michael entered first.
Family behind him.
Sophia jumped up and ran behind her husband.
“Daniel tried to force himself on me!”
Michael stared at Daniel.
Daniel said nothing.
Sophia pointed.
“DO SOMETHING!”
Michael looked at her.
Then at Daniel.
Then slowly raised his phone.
On the screen:
Sophia.
Tearing her own dress.
Messing her hair.
Grabbing Daniel.
Live.
Sophia’s face turned white.
Michael whispered:
“What the hell did you do?”
For one second, Daniel thought it was over.
Then Sophia looked at the camera feed.
And smiled.
“You recorded me in a bedroom.”
Michael’s face changed.
Sophia stepped closer.
“Ask him why he already had the camera running before I touched him.”
May you like
Daniel’s stomach dropped.
She knew.
