Chapter 10 - The Missing Watch
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The air in the study felt electric, heavy with unspoken promises. But before he could bridge the final gap between us, his desk phone shattered the silence with a shrill, demanding ring. The moment was lost, swallowed back into the corporate machine.
The next few days were agonizingly tense. Vanessa had not returned to the estate, but her absence felt more like a brewing storm than a victory.
On Friday afternoon, I was overseeing the cleaning crew in the master suite, preparing for a massive charity gala James was hosting that weekend.
I walked into his massive walk-in closet to retrieve a load of dry cleaning. As I pulled a dark suit jacket off the rack, my foot kicked something hard on the plush carpet.
I looked down.
Resting half-hidden beneath a shoe rack was a glittering, diamond-encrusted Patek Philippe watch. I knew from the insurance logs that the watch was valued at over two hundred thousand dollars.
I frowned, picking it up. James was incredibly meticulous; he never left valuables on the floor. I walked out of the closet, intending to place it back in his secure display case.
“Stop right there!”
I jumped, nearly dropping the heavy timepiece.
Standing in the doorway of the master bedroom was Vanessa Sterling. Behind her stood two grim-faced private security officers from the corporate headquarters.
“Ms. Sterling,” I stammered, confused. “What are you doing here? Mr. Whitmore is at the office.”
Vanessa didn't answer me. She smiled—a cold, terrifyingly triumphant smile—and pointed directly at the watch in my hand.
“There it is,” Vanessa said loudly to the security guards. “I told you the new estate manager was a thief. I came to the house to retrieve the watch for James’s gala tonight, and it was missing from the vault.”
“I didn't steal it!” I protested, my blood running completely cold. “I just found it on the floor of the closet! I was putting it back!”
“A likely story,” Vanessa sneered, stepping into the room. “You’ve been siphoning money and valuables since the day you manipulated your way into this house, you pathetic gold-digger. Grab her.”
The two security guards stepped forward, their faces blank and professional. One of them grabbed my arm roughly, snatching the watch from my hand.
“Call the police,” Vanessa ordered, her eyes shining with malicious glee. “I want her arrested for grand larceny. And call child services. A convicted felon cannot retain custody of a minor.”
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“No!” I screamed, pure terror ripping through my chest at the mention of Chloe. “Please! I didn't do it! Don't take my daughter!”
“You should have stayed in the gutter, Grace,” Vanessa whispered as the guards dragged me out into the hallway.
