Chapter 2 - THE PHOTOGRAPH
Evelyn stopped breathing.
The ballroom disappeared around her.
All she could see was the photograph.
Her father.
Adrian.
11:42 p.m.
Charles had officially been found unconscious at 12:18 a.m.
Evelyn turned toward the man she was seconds away from marrying.
"You told me you were in Boston that night."
Adrian's expression hardened.
"I was."
"Then explain this."
She showed him the screen.
For the first time all evening, Adrian Vale looked genuinely shaken.
Richard rose immediately.
"This isn't the place."
Evelyn looked at him.
"Sit down."
A murmur swept through the ballroom.
Richard's face darkened.
"Evelyn."
"I said sit down."
Adrian reached for her hand.
She pulled away.
"Who sent you that?"
"Does it matter?"
"Yes."
"No, Adrian."
Her voice trembled.
"What matters is whether it's real."
Adrian glanced at the guests.
Phones were already appearing.
People were recording.
"Can we discuss this privately?"
"Answer me."
He lowered his voice.
"I stopped by Charles's office."
Evelyn felt something inside her crack.
"You lied."
"I didn't lie."
"You told me you weren't in Chicago."
"I was flying to Boston that night."
"After seeing my father?"
Adrian hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
Noah stepped into the aisle.
"What happened in that office?"
Richard moved toward him.
"Stay out of this."
Noah laughed bitterly.
"My father died in that office."
Security guards shifted uneasily near the walls.
Adrian turned back to Evelyn.
"Charles asked me to come."
"Why?"
"He wanted to discuss the merger."
"There was no merger then."
"There was going to be."
Evelyn stared at him.
"What are you talking about?"
Adrian realized his mistake.
Richard closed his eyes.
Noah heard it too.
"What do you mean there was going to be?"
Nobody answered.
Evelyn stepped closer to Adrian.
"My father opposed your family."
"At first."
"He told me Richard Vale was dangerous."
Richard's voice cut through the ballroom.
"Your father said many things when he was under pressure."
Evelyn looked at him.
"What pressure?"
Silence.
Martin Shaw quietly began moving toward a side exit.
Noah saw him.
"Martin!"
Martin froze.
Every eye turned toward him.
Evelyn lifted her dress and walked down the aisle.
"Where are you going?"
Martin swallowed.
"I don't belong here."
"You disappeared after my father died."
"I resigned."
"You vanished."
"I had personal reasons."
"Then why are you here tonight?"
Martin looked toward Richard.
It lasted barely a second.
But Evelyn saw it.
So did Noah.
Richard's face became stone.
Martin loosened his tie.
"I was invited."
"By whom?"
Martin said nothing.
Evelyn moved closer.
"Did my father sign merger documents before he died?"
Martin's face drained of color.
Richard stepped forward.
"Enough."
Evelyn ignored him.
"Martin."
Martin looked at her.
For a moment, guilt overwhelmed fear.
"Your father didn't die because of the merger."
The ballroom went completely silent.
Evelyn felt Noah beside her.
"What does that mean?"
Martin's eyes filled with panic.
"I shouldn't have come."
He turned.
Noah grabbed his arm.
Martin jerked free.
Then the lights went out.
Someone screamed.
Glass shattered.
Security shouted for everyone to remain still.
Evelyn felt a hand grab her wrist.
She pulled away.
"Adrian?"
No answer.
Emergency lights flickered on.
May you like
Martin Shaw was gone.
And on the floor where he had been standing was a small black flash drive.
