Chapter 2: What the Phone Already Knew
Corinne's voice cut across the ballroom.
"I said remove them."
Still nobody moved.
The guard took one step back instead of forward.
The hotel manager, who had been standing near the far wall all evening, was now walking quickly toward Desmond — not to stop him, but with his head slightly bowed.
Priscilla noticed.
Her smile faltered.
"What is happening?" she said to no one.
Desmond looked down at Nadia's hand still gripping his sleeve.
"How long?" he asked quietly.
Nadia said nothing.
"How long has this been going on?"
Weston stepped forward.
"This is not the place —"
"She has a bruise on her face at a public event." Desmond's voice did not rise.
"When exactly is the place?"
Corinne moved toward them, diamond necklace catching the light.
"You have no idea who you are speaking to."
Desmond looked at her for the first time.
"I know exactly who I'm speaking to, Corinne."
The use of her first name stopped her cold.
"I've known your family for thirty years.
I watched you build this foundation on someone else's name." He paused.
"On my family's name."
Corinne's face changed.
From the stage, a phone buzzed loudly against a glass surface.
Weston glanced down at his screen — and went pale.
Nadia saw his expression.
"Weston.
What is that?"
May you like
He didn't answer.
He turned the phone face-down.
