Chapter 25 - The Gala Disaster
Thursday evening was supposed to be the crown jewel of Emma’s quarterly calendar. The Grand Lawson was hosting the annual Mayor’s Charity Gala, a massive, high-profile event attended by the city’s elite, including several members of the hotel’s board of directors. It was Emma’s final opportunity to publicly demonstrate the flawless operational excellence of her team before the fatal board vote on Friday morning.
The grand ballroom looked breathtaking. Thousands of crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the immaculate tables, and the culinary team was executing a flawless, five-course service. Emma stood by the main doors, coordinating via earpiece with Daniel, who was monitoring the security feeds in the control room.
"Everything is perfect, Emma," Daniel’s voice crackled in her ear. "The Mayor just sat down for the main course. The board members look visibly impressed."
"Don't relax yet," Emma whispered into her lapel microphone. "Julian is in the building. Keep your eyes on the basement access points."
As if summoned by her warning, the unthinkable happened.
Right as the Mayor stood up to deliver his keynote address, a loud, mechanical grinding noise echoed through the ventilation shafts. A second later, the grand ballroom plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness. The massive chandeliers died, the microphone cut out with a harsh squeal, and the emergency backup lights failed to engage.
Panic instantly rippled through the room. Four hundred high-profile guests gasped, murmuring in confusion and fear.
"Daniel! What just happened?" Emma demanded into her radio, clicking on a high-powered tactical flashlight she kept in her blazer pocket.
"Someone physically severed the main breaker ties in the subterranean electrical grid!" Daniel shouted over the radio, alarms blaring in the background of his transmission. "And they smashed the backup generator panel! It’s a complete blackout, Emma! It’s going to take maintenance at least an hour to bypass the damage."
Emma swept her flashlight across the panicked ballroom. She saw Richard Vance and the other board members shaking their heads in disgust, their faces illuminated by the frantic glow of hundreds of cell phones.
May you like
Suddenly, Emma spotted him. Standing near the rear exit doors, bathed in the faint, eerie light of an exit sign, was Julian. He was looking directly at her, a sickening, triumphant smile plastered across his face. He mouthed the words, "You lose," before turning and slipping out into the dark hallway.
Emma’s heart hammered in her chest, but she refused to panic. She had scrubbed floors in the dark. She knew this building better than anyone.
