Chapter 1 - EAT
Victoria Parker grabbed Claire by the jaw in front of one hundred and twenty banquet guests.
The movement was so sudden that Claire did not understand what was happening until the shrimp touched her lips.
“EAT.”
Claire jerked backward.
Her chair scraped across the ballroom floor.
“I CAN’T eat shrimp!”
Victoria pushed it toward her again.
“Stop whining.”
Claire’s eyes filled with fear.
She had been allergic to shellfish since childhood.
Not mildly.
Enough that every family member knew.
Claire slapped Victoria’s hand away.
The shrimp flew onto the table.
“GET OFF ME!”
The room went quiet.
Claire stumbled backward and covered her mouth.
Nothing had gone down.
But panic hit anyway.
She dry-heaved once.
Then again.
Guests stared.
Victoria’s face twisted.
Not concern.
Rage.
“You ruined my party!”
Claire looked at her in disbelief.
Victoria snapped her fingers.
Two security guards moved immediately.
They grabbed Claire by both arms.
“LET GO!”
Victoria pointed toward a private hospitality room beside the ballroom.
“Lock her in there.”
The guards dragged Claire toward the door.
Claire struggled.
“Victoria!”
No one intervened.
The door shut behind her.
Lock clicked.
Claire stood inside the darkened room breathing hard.
Then heard a voice from the hallway.
A man.
Quiet.
Urgent.
“Where is Claire Parker?”
Another voice answered:
“Mrs. Parker said she left.”
Claire froze.
She recognized the first man.
Daniel Ross.
May you like
Independent auditor.
The person who had asked to speak with her privately tonight.
