Chapter 5 - Her Perfect Day.
Claire grabbed Tessa's hand and pulled her through a catering pantry seconds before the elevator doors opened.
They hid behind racks of linen while footsteps moved slowly down the corridor.
Owen was not rushing.
That frightened Claire more than if he had run.
He knew the doors were locked.
He knew they had nowhere to go.
Tessa pointed toward a narrow dumbwaiter shaft used to send plated desserts upstairs.
Claire shook her head.
"Absolutely not."
Another set of footsteps joined Owen's.
Claire changed her mind.
They squeezed into the service lift and pulled the metal gate shut.
The platform was barely large enough for both of them.
Tessa hit the upper button.
The lift groaned upward.
Below them, the pantry door opened.
Owen's voice floated into the shaft.
"Ms. Hale?"
Claire held her breath.
"Celeste would like a word."
The dumbwaiter rose behind the ballroom kitchen and stopped with a violent jerk.
Claire and Tessa crawled out beside trays of untouched champagne.
No one noticed them because the reception entrance was beginning.
The emcee announced the newlyweds.
Guests cheered.
Celeste entered the ballroom with both arms raised like a victorious queen.
Claire watched from behind a kitchen door.
"She knows we're here," Tessa whispered.
"Then we don't give her another chance to isolate us."
Claire found Victor near the head table.
This time she did not ask for privacy.
"Dad, I need you to come with me now."
Victor saw the fear in her face.
"Where's Adrian?"
"With his bride."
The bitterness in her voice made him stand immediately.
Claire took him into a small lounge beside the ballroom.
She closed the door and turned her back to him.
Then she lowered the top of her gown just enough to expose the bruising across her shoulders.
Victor stopped breathing for a moment.
"Who did that?"
Claire turned around.
"Celeste."
His face emptied of color.
"Tell me exactly what happened."
Claire gave him the phone.
He listened to the recording without interrupting.
When it ended, Victor did not shout.
That was worse.
He placed the phone carefully on the table.
"Where is she?"
"Dad, wait."
"Where is she?"
"There is more."
Tessa entered and told him about the transfers, the false estate, and the ledger.
Victor listened with the rigid stillness of a man discovering that his own house had been robbed while he held the door open.
Then Adrian walked in.
"Dad, the photographer needs us."
Victor turned.
Adrian saw Claire's exposed bruises.
His shoulders collapsed.
Victor understood instantly.
"You knew."
"Not all of it."
"You knew enough."
"Dad—"
Victor crossed the room and grabbed the front of Adrian's tuxedo.
"Your sister came to you like this, and you walked down that aisle anyway?"
Adrian's eyes filled.
"I thought I could fix it after tonight."
Victor shoved him away.
"Cowards always schedule courage for tomorrow."
The door opened again.
Celeste stood there.
Behind her were three photographers.
Her smile was dazzling.
"There you all are."
Her eyes flicked to Claire's bruises, then to Victor's face.
She knew.
Yet she kept smiling.
"The toast is starting."
Victor stepped toward her.
Celeste lifted one finger.
"Before you do something dramatic, Victor, you should know the ballroom cameras have been offline since six."
Claire's blood ran cold.
Celeste's smile widened.
"And if anyone accuses me of anything tonight, I have photographs showing Claire threatening me in the bridal suite."
"That's a lie," Claire said.
"Of course it is."
Celeste shrugged.
"But lies become useful when they're prepared early."
She looked at Adrian.
"Come cut the cake, husband."
Adrian did not move.
Celeste's eyes hardened.
"Now."
Victor stepped between them.
"No."
Celeste tilted her head.
Victor opened the lounge door toward the ballroom.
May you like
"We're doing the toast first."
For the first time that day, the bride looked uncertain.
