Chapter 5 - The Gray Suit
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Nora pushed through the swinging doors of the kitchen, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. She leaned against the stainless steel prep counter, pulling her right hand from her pocket.
The makeshift napkin bandage was soaked through with blood. Her fingers throbbed with an agonizing, rhythmic pulse.
“What did you do to yourself?”
Tony, the head chef, frowned as he walked past with a tray of roasted meats. He didn't wait for an answer, tossing a clean dish towel and a bag of frozen peas onto the counter. “Wrap it tight and ice it. Then get back out there. We’re short-staffed.”
Nora nodded mutely, replacing the bloody napkin with the clean towel. She pressed the frozen peas against her crushed knuckles, biting back a whimper.
She needed to leave. She needed to get to her car, drive to her mother’s tiny apartment where Leo was sleeping, and run. But if she left now, Vanessa’s security guards at the front gate would surely stop her.
Taking a deep breath, Nora tucked the ice pack into her apron and stepped back out into the grand hallway to collect the empty plates from the perimeter tables.
As she approached the cloakroom, she heard the front doors open.
“Name, please,” the security guard asked.
“Vance. I’m a late addition to Ms. Bellini’s guest list.”
Nora froze behind a marble pillar.
She peeked around the edge. Standing in the foyer, handing his coat to the attendant, was the man from the east wing. He was wearing the same immaculately tailored gray suit.
Silas Vance. The appraiser.
He wasn't sneaking around the back corridors anymore. Vanessa had boldly invited him to the main event, likely to finalize the logistics of the emerald theft right under Luca’s nose.
Nora watched as Vance adjusted his tie and walked confidently toward the drawing room.
He was the key. If he had the velvet box, the fake emerald was already in play.
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Nora’s hand throbbed. She felt the heavy cardstock of Vance’s business card burning a hole in her pocket. She couldn't just run. If Vanessa had the power to threaten Leo, running wouldn't be enough. She needed to destroy Vanessa first.
And to do that, she needed to get to the one man in the house who was more dangerous than the bride-to-be.
