Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN EVERYONE TRUSTED
Elena couldn’t move.
She stared at the picture of Sofia.
Her little girl.
Her entire world.
“How did you get that?”
Victoria placed the phone back in her hand.
“You would be surprised how easy it is to learn everything about someone.”
Elena’s voice trembled.
“Leave my daughter out of this.”
Victoria smiled.
“That depends on you.”
For the first time in years, Elena felt completely powerless.
She had faced difficult bosses.
She had worked two jobs.
She had raised Sofia alone.
But this was different.
This woman wasn’t just cruel.
She was dangerous.
“You’re going to give me the flash drive,” Victoria said.
Elena looked at her.
“And if I don’t?”
Victoria walked toward the mirror and adjusted her earrings.
“Then tomorrow morning, your employer receives a report saying you stole from the Blackwood family.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Of course it is.”
Victoria smiled.
“But lies are easier to believe when they come from the right person.”
Elena clenched her fists.
“You think money makes you untouchable?”
Victoria looked at her reflection.
“No.”
She turned.
“Power does.”
A knock suddenly came from outside.
“Ms. Sinclair?”
Victoria’s expression changed instantly.
The cold woman disappeared.
The perfect fiancée returned.
“Yes?”
“It’s almost time. Mr. Blackwood is asking for you.”
Victoria smiled.
“I’ll be down in a minute.”
The footsteps disappeared.
Then Victoria leaned closer to Elena.
“Fix your face.”
Elena frowned.
“What?”
“Guests are arriving.”
Victoria opened the door.
“And I would hate for anyone to think something is wrong.”
Elena watched her leave.
The door unlocked.
But she didn’t move.
She was thinking.
Victoria had made one mistake.
She had shown fear.
Only for a second.
When she asked about the flash drive, there was panic in her eyes.
That meant Elena had something valuable.
Something Victoria needed.
Elena slipped her hand into her apron.
The flash drive was still there.
She still had a weapon.
She just needed a way to use it.
Downstairs, the engagement party began.
Music filled the mansion.
Guests laughed.
Champagne flowed.
Ethan Blackwood stood near the staircase, shaking hands and smiling.
When Elena saw him, she almost walked toward him.
Almost.
Then she noticed Victoria beside him.
Her hand rested gently on his arm.
Her smile was perfect.
Everyone loved her.
“Ethan,” a guest said, “you found yourself an amazing woman.”
Ethan smiled.
“I know.”
Elena looked at him.
She wanted to scream.
She wanted to warn him.
But then Victoria looked across the room.
Straight at her.
And smiled.
A warning.
A promise.
Later that night, Elena returned home.
Sofia was waiting.
“Mommy!”
Elena forced a smile and hugged her.
But Sofia immediately noticed something was wrong.
“Mommy, why are you scared?”
Elena froze.
Children always noticed what adults tried to hide.
“I’m okay, baby.”
But she wasn’t.
After Sofia went to sleep, Elena sat at the kitchen table.
She stared at the flash drive.
She needed help.
Someone powerful enough to challenge Victoria.
Someone Ethan would trust.
Then she remembered someone.
Margaret Blackwood.
Ethan’s mother.
The woman Victoria was trying to control.
The next morning, Elena arrived early.
She went to Margaret’s private sitting room.
“Mrs. Blackwood?”
No answer.
She opened the door.
And froze.
Margaret was sitting in her chair.
Holding a glass of water.
Her hands were shaking.
“Elena?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Margaret looked frightened.
“Did Victoria send you?”
Elena’s heart skipped.
“No.”
Margaret lowered her voice.
“Then you need to leave.”
“Why?”
Margaret looked toward the hallway.
“Because if Victoria knows you’re here…”
She stopped.
A shadow appeared under the door.
Someone was standing outside.
May you like
Listening.
Then the door handle slowly moved.
