Chapter 5
The Grand Ballroom of The Plaza Hotel smelled of expensive lilies and old money—a scent that used to comfort me but now just smelled like rot disguised by perfume. I stood in the center of the empty dance floor, my hand resting on the swell of my stomach, watching the event staff drape gold silk over the round tables.
"Mrs. Wells?" The event manager, a nervous man named Arthur with a clipboard clutched to his chest, stepped forward. "Regarding the menu cards... Mrs. Wells senior insisted on the foie gras, but I recall you wanted the truffle risotto?"
"Let Margaret have her liver," I said, my voice smooth. "I'm more concerned about the visual presentation."
I turned to the AV technician, a young man in a black hoodie who looked out of place among the crystal chandeliers. He was up on a ladder, adjusting a spotlight. I caught his eye and gave a subtle nod.
"Excuse us a moment, Arthur," I said. "I need to check the sightlines for the toast."
I walked over to the tech booth, my heels clicking a sharp, rhythmic cadence on the parquet floor. The technician climbed down. He didn't look at my face; he looked at the thick white envelope I slid across the mixing board. It contained five thousand dollars in cash—a 'rush fee' that wouldn't appear on any invoice.
"The secondary laptop is installed?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
"Hardwired into the main projector feed," he murmured, pocketing the envelope. "Encrypted. Password locked. Even if they cut the main power, the battery backup will keep the stream running for at least ten minutes. No one can override it from the booth."
"And the remote?"
He handed me a small, sleek clicker, no larger than a lipstick. It felt cold and heavy in my palm, like a live round of ammunition.
"Perfect," I whispered, slipping it into my pocket. "Make sure the audio levels are high. I want them to hear every word."
***
Two days before Thanksgiving, the penthouse felt more like a stage set than a home. Lucian was packing a leather weekender bag, his movements brisk and agitated.
"It’s a disaster, Tiff," he said, throwing a stack of dress shirts into the bag. "The London merger is falling apart. If I don't fly out tonight, the whole deal implodes."
I sat on the edge of the bed, folding a tiny pair of socks. I didn't look up. If I looked at him, I might spit in his face.
"It's Thanksgiving, Lucian," I said, infusing my voice with just the right amount of disappointed wife. "Your mother will be furious."
"I'll be back by the gala," he promised, stopping to kiss the top of my head. "I'll take the red-eye Thursday morning. I wouldn't miss our big night."
He wouldn't miss it, indeed. But he wasn't going to London. My phone buzzed in my pocket—a text from Marcus Rivera confirming that Lucian’s driver was currently heading toward Amelie’s penthouse in SoHo. A 'babymoon' before the storm.
"Go save the company," I said, finally looking up. My eyes were dry. "Do what you have to do."
When the front door clicked shut, the silence that followed wasn't lonely; it was cleansing. I walked into the nursery. The room was bathed in soft moonlight, the crib waiting empty in the corner. I ran my hand over the smooth wood of the railing.
"He won't be here when you come home," I whispered to the darkness, pressing a hand against the kicking from within. "I promise you, little one. By the time you sleep in this crib, the air in this house will be clean."
***
Thanksgiving evening arrived with a biting wind that whipped down Fifth Avenue. The Plaza Hotel was a fortress of light, the paparazzi swarming the entrance like moths to a very expensive flame.
I stepped out of the limousine, the flashbulbs exploding in a blinding staccato rhythm. I had chosen my armor carefully: a floor-length gown of midnight-blue velvet that clung to my curves and highlighted the eight-month swell of my pregnancy. It was a statement. I wasn't hiding my condition; I was weaponizing it.
"Tiffany! Over here! Tiffany!"
A second car pulled up. Lucian emerged, looking impeccably tailored and falsely weary. He buttoned his tuxedo jacket and strode toward me, flashing his signature charming grin for the cameras. He reached for my waist, pulling me close for the money shot.
"Missed you," he murmured in my ear, his breath smelling of peppermint and deceit. "London was brutal."
"You look rested," I replied, my smile fixed and razor-sharp. "The flight must have been comfortable."
He stiffened slightly but didn't break character. We walked up the red carpeted stairs, a picture-perfect power couple. At the top, Margaret Wells waited. She was draped in silver sequins, looking like a glittering reptile.
She leaned in to air-kiss my cheek, her eyes raking over my body with critical precision. "Tiffany, darling. You look... swollen. Are you sure that dress isn't too tight? We wouldn't want you fainting during the speeches."
"I feel fantastic, Margaret," I said, my voice carrying over the din of the crowd. "I've never felt more awake."
I gripped my clutch tighter. Inside, nestled against my phone, was the remote trigger. My thumb brushed against the button, a tactile reassurance.
"Shall we?" Lucian offered his arm, oblivious to the fact that he was escorting his executioner.
"Let's," I said, taking his arm. "I have a surprise for everyone."
We walked through the gilded doors and into the arena.
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