Chapter 2 - THE VIDEO BEHIND THE WALL
The first image on the screen showed Victoria entering the hotel three hours earlier.
She wore a silver gown.
Diamonds covered her neck.
Two assistants followed behind her carrying garment bags and cosmetic cases.
A young valet hurried forward to open her car door.
Victoria stepped out.
Then she struck him across the face.
The ballroom erupted in shocked murmurs.
Victoria scrambled to her feet.
“That footage is edited.”
Evelyn did not look at her.
The video continued.
Victoria was shown berating a coat-check attendant.
Then she poured champagne into a housekeeper’s cleaning bucket.
Then she ordered a server to kneel and wipe wine from her shoe.
The server had been seven months pregnant.
Some guests turned away in shame.
Others stared at the floor.
They had witnessed those moments.
None of them had intervened.
Evelyn faced the room.
“Tonight’s gala was advertised as a fundraiser for injured hospitality workers.”
Her eyes moved from one powerful face to another.
“Yet the people serving this event were insulted, threatened and touched without permission before dinner was even served.”
Victoria pointed at Evelyn.
“You disguised yourself.”
“You created a trap.”
Evelyn finally looked at her.
“I created an opportunity.”
“You chose what to do with it.”
Victoria’s husband, Senator Adrian Langford, rose from his table.
His smile was carefully controlled.
“Evelyn, emotions are clearly running high.”
“We should discuss this privately.”
Evelyn watched him approach.
“Sit down, Adrian.”
His smile disappeared.
“I am trying to protect you from making a mistake.”
Evelyn tilted her head.
“You tried to have me declared legally dead.”
A silence fell over the room.
Adrian stopped moving.
Victoria looked sharply at him.
“What is she talking about?”
Evelyn raised one hand.
The screen changed.
A legal document appeared.
PETITION FOR DECLARATION OF PRESUMED DEATH.
Beneath it was Adrian Langford’s signature.
Victoria stared at the screen.
“You told me the Vale board filed that.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“Do not speak.”
Victoria took a step back.
“You told me Evelyn’s plane crashed.”
Evelyn’s voice cut through the room.
“My plane did not crash.”
The next video showed a dark private hangar.
A mechanic moved beneath Evelyn’s jet.
He opened a panel.
Then he removed a fuel-pressure sensor and replaced it with a damaged one.
The mechanic’s face was clearly visible.
The ballroom guests recognized him.
He was standing near the back wall wearing a catering jacket.
The man turned and ran.
Two guards moved to stop him.
But before they reached him, the lights went out.
Someone screamed.
A heavy object crashed near the stage.
Then a gunshot exploded through the darkness.
When the emergency lights came on, Evelyn was no longer standing beside Victoria.
May you like
There was blood on the floor.
And the pink diamond ring was gone.
