Chapter 3: The Woman Chosen to Take the Blame
Vanessa lowered her foot and snatched her phone from Ethan.
“This woman invaded a private event,” she said.
“Security should remove her.”
Margaret walked into the center of the ballroom.
“You knew I was coming.”
“I had no idea.”
“You sent me an invitation yesterday.
No name, just a note telling me Naomi Reyes was in danger.”
Vanessa laughed, but her fingers curled around the phone.
“Anyone could have sent it.”
Margaret placed a folder on the nearest table.
“Anyone could not have accessed Naomi’s sealed personnel file.”
Naomi stared at her.
“My file was sealed?”
“After Philadelphia,” Margaret said.
“Only three people had permission to see it.
Last month, someone used a Sterling Foundation account to open it.”
“That proves nothing,” Vanessa replied.
“Our foundation screens hundreds of applicants.”
Ethan stepped between them.
“Naomi never applied through your foundation.”
“No,” Margaret said.
“Vanessa submitted the recommendation that brought her here.”
A murmur traveled through the ballroom.
Vanessa lifted her chin and faced Ethan.
“Your house needed staff.
I recommended someone qualified.”
“You called her pathetic,” Ethan said.
“Then your earrings appeared in her locker.”
Vanessa pointed at Naomi.
“Because I discovered who she really is.”
Naomi’s face tightened.
“Say what you mean.”
“You were removed from protection work after Philadelphia.”
“I resigned.”
“After a man nearly lost his life.”
Margaret’s palm struck the folder.
“You know that report was incomplete.”
“I know what the camera recorded.” Vanessa raised her phone.
“Would everyone like to see Ethan’s gentle little maid throwing a man through a glass door?”
“Don’t,” Naomi whispered.
Vanessa’s smile returned.
“So there is something you fear.”
Ethan reached for the phone, but Vanessa stepped back.
“Touch me, and three news outlets receive the video.”
Arthur Whitmore rose from the head table.
“Ethan, enough.”
“Father, she planted those earrings.”
“Security found them in Naomi’s locker,” Arthur said.
“Until we know more, she leaves the house.”
The young server hurried forward.
“Mr.
Whitmore, I saw Vanessa near that locker.”
Vanessa turned on her.
“You saw me speaking to the housekeeper.”
“I saw you kneeling beside Naomi’s bag.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“I’m not.”
Vanessa moved close enough to make the girl retreat.
“Do you understand what happens when temporary staff accuse invited guests?”
Naomi stepped between them.
“Speak to me, not her.”
“There she is,” Vanessa said.
“The protector who cannot control herself.”
Margaret opened the folder.
“Vanessa chose Naomi because the Philadelphia report gave her a ready-made scandal.
If the earrings were found, everyone would believe the worst.”
“Then prove I planted them,” Vanessa said.
“You can’t.”
Arthur held out his hand.
“Naomi, give me your staff keys.”
Ethan stared at him.
“You’re choosing Vanessa’s accusation over a witness?”
“I’m protecting this family.”
Naomi slowly removed the keys from her belt.
Before she could place them in Arthur’s palm, a security officer entered carrying a velvet box.
“We searched Miss Reyes’s room,” he said.
“The earrings were under her mattress.”
Naomi’s hand stopped in midair.
Vanessa turned toward the guests.
“First she deceived this family.
Then she stole from me.
Now she has frightened a young server into lying.”
“That box was never in my room,” Naomi said.
May you like
Vanessa tapped her phone, and every screen in the ballroom received the same video link.
“Then perhaps,” she said, “everyone should see what else you deny.”
