Chapter 7 - THE GHOST AT THE PARTY
Elena entered the Hale mansion through the service corridor at 8:43 p.m.
She wore a dark wig at first.
Mara walked fifteen feet behind her carrying a catering tray she had no business carrying.
Owen was already inside.
One of Hale Holdings’ older directors had invited him as legal counsel.
The plan was simple.
Do not confront Victor immediately.
Let him see Elena once.
Disappear.
Watch what he did.
Panic was evidence only if it produced mistakes.
Elena removed the wig upstairs.
Walked to the balcony.
Looked down.
Victor was laughing beside Serena.
Two guests whispered about fifty million.
Victor heard them.
Raised his glass.
Then looked up.
Elena watched his face collapse.
That moment almost destroyed her.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Immediate.
Absolute.
He did not look confused.
He looked guilty.
Still, Elena turned away.
She moved into the hallway.
Mara shut off the mansion’s secondary lighting circuit.
Not the whole electrical system.
Only enough to create chaos.
Victor charged upstairs.
“Elena!”
Serena followed.
The emergency backup kicked in.
Elena dropped her wedding ring where he would find it.
Inside, she had scratched:
YOU LET GO.
Then she disappeared through a staff staircase.
Victor found the ring.
His face changed.
Serena watched.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Victor.”
“Nothing!”
Too loud.
Downstairs guests stared.
Then Victor did something Elena had not expected.
He called his private security chief.
“Lock the house.”
Owen heard.
He immediately texted Elena.
Victor was not just frightened.
He intended to contain whoever had entered.
Then another message came.
May you like
Serena had disappeared from Victor’s side.
And Elena suddenly realized she might not be the only person searching his secrets tonight.
