Chapter 1 - THE BALLROOM LOCKDOWN
The ballroom fell into a suffocating silence as Dmitri’s radio message echoed through the crowd.
Victor Romano wiped a drop of blood from his lip and stared directly at his fiancée.
Clara took a stumbling step backward, her perfectly manicured hands trembling.
Her untouched glass of champagne slipped from her fingers and shattered against the marble floor.
"Victor, this is a terrible misunderstanding," Clara stammered, her face draining of color.
Leon Mercer, Victor’s most trusted adviser, slowly backed toward the heavy mahogany service doors.
He did not make it far before two heavily armed security guards stepped into his path.
"Nobody leaves this room," Victor commanded, his voice barely a whisper, yet it carried over the terrified guests.
Dmitri shoved Leon against the wall, disarming him of a hidden pistol in seconds.
Victor turned his cold, dark eyes away from the traitors and looked down at Lena.
She was still pinned against the pillar, her breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps.
"You just saved my life," Victor said, his tone softening slightly.
"They were going to kill you and let me take the blame," Lena whispered, her hands gripping her cheap uniform.
"I just wanted to finish my shift and pay for my mother's medicine."
Victor’s jaw tightened as he realized the depth of the betrayal and the innocence of the girl who stopped it.
"Dmitri, take Clara and Leon to the basement," Victor ordered without looking back at them.
He reached out and gently pulled Lena away from the cold pillar.
May you like
"You are not going back to the kitchen," Victor told her.
"You are coming with me."
