The door closed on my fingers, and the sound Vanessa made wasn't anger. It was relief. I was nobody — the maid who carried trays and kept her eyes on the floor.

The south wing was deathly quiet, far removed from the music and laughter of the prenuptial party. Nora walked down the dimly lit corridor, a feather duster clutched awkwardly in her left hand, her crushed right hand throbbing in rhythm with her heartbeat.

She approached the heavy steel door of the vault room. It was slightly ajar, just as Luca had promised it would be.

Nora stepped inside.

The room was small, windowless, and lined with velvet display cases. In the center of the room sat a massive, state-of-the-art biometric safe, currently glowing with a soft green light, indicating it had recently been accessed.

Nora stood in the center of the room, pretending to dust a display case, her entire body rigid with terror.

Footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Slow, deliberate, clicking heels.

The heavy steel door swung shut behind Nora with a terrifying clack, the electronic lock engaging instantly.

Nora spun around.

Vanessa Bellini stood blocking the exit. She had changed out of her midnight silk dinner gown into a sleek black cocktail dress. In her hand, she held a small, glittering object.

The emerald.

“Well, well,” Vanessa smiled, a twisted, wicked expression. “The clumsy little maid wanders exactly where she isn't supposed to be.”

“Mrs. Kessler told me to clean,” Nora stammered, backing away until her hips hit the biometric safe. “Please, let me out.”

Vanessa laughed, walking slowly toward her.

“You really are stupid, aren't you?” Vanessa mocked. “Did you think I didn't know you had the business card? My bodyguard told me you were wandering the halls.”

Vanessa stopped two feet away. She held up the massive, flawless green emerald, watching the light catch its facets.

“Silas brought me the replica tonight,” Vanessa whispered. “It’s already in the safe. A perfect fake. And this...” She tossed the real emerald lightly in the air and caught it. “This is my ticket to freedom. Luca is a powerful man, but he’s boring. I want his money, not his life.”