Chapter 29 - The Shadow Gala
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The Seattle Waterfront Convention Center gleamed under the heavy night rain like a monolith of glass and steel. Searchlights swept across the dark waters of Puget Sound, and dozens of luxury limousines dropped off high-society guests in tuxedoes and evening gowns.
In the back of the dark SUV parked two blocks away, Ethan adjusted the collar of a sleek black tuxedo he had pulled from a duffel bag in the trunk. I sat opposite him, wearing a formal black velvet gown that Thomas Sterling’s contact had delivered to our rendezvous point.
"You look breathtaking," Ethan murmured, his eyes lingering on me for a second. "Even in the middle of a war."
"Don't," I said coldly, looking out the tinted window. "Don't pretend this is a date, Ethan. When this night is over, you and I are going to have a very real reckoning about Geneva."
Ethan closed his eyes briefly, accepting the blow.
"Fair enough," he said quietely. "Here's the plan. The main server room is located beneath the Grand Ballroom. I have the keycard to bypass the biometric locks, but I need ten minutes uninterrupted access to override the security encryption."
"And where do I fit into this?" I asked.
"Arthur expects you to be hiding," Ethan said, turning to face me. "If you walk into that ballroom alone, public attention will instantly shift to you. Arthur and Victor Vance will be forced to confront you privately to avoid a public scene. You are the distraction, Clara."
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"You want her to act as bait?" Logan barked from the driver's seat, turning around with a look of pure rage. "Are you out of your mind, Ethan?"
"It's the only way, Logan," I interrupted, my voice calm despite the terror racing through my blood. "I'm doing it."
