Chapter 1 - The Kick
Vanessa Sterling lifted her foot in front of three hundred people.
She was smiling when she did it.
Naomi Bennett saw the movement before anyone else.
A flash of silver heel.
A tight white dress.
A camera phone raised near the bar.
Then Vanessa kicked toward her.
Naomi moved on instinct.
Her hand closed around Vanessa’s ankle in midair.
The ballroom went silent.
Vanessa gasped.
Then screamed.
“She attacked me!”
Naomi released her immediately and stepped back.
Vanessa stumbled, caught herself against a chair, and pointed.
“You all saw that!”
A young server near the champagne station stepped forward.
“No, ma’am.”
Vanessa turned.
Caleb Ruiz, nineteen, still held a tray against his chest.
“That’s not what happened.”
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“You work here.”
“Yes.”
“Then act like it.”
Adrian Cole pushed through the crowd.
“What happened?”
Vanessa grabbed his arm.
“She grabbed me.”
Naomi said nothing.
She looked up.
Every ceiling camera above the ballroom was dark.
Adrian noticed.
“Why are the cameras off?”
Security director Marcus Hale appeared near the stage.
“System maintenance.”
Naomi finally spoke.
“Tonight?”
Marcus met her eyes.
A beat too long.
Vanessa smiled.
Small.
Satisfied.
Then Naomi said:
“Those aren’t the only cameras in this room.”
The smile disappeared.
Adrian looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
Naomi turned toward the floral arch behind the head table.
A black pin-sized lens sat hidden between white roses.
Then she pointed toward the band riser.
Another.
Then the service entrance.
A third.
Caleb whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Vanessa backed away.
Adrian stared at Naomi.
“You put those there?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Naomi looked across the ballroom.
At Evelyn Cole.
Adrian’s mother.
Evelyn lifted one champagne glass.
Not to drink.
To signal.
Naomi understood.
“Mrs. Cole did.”
Adrian turned toward his mother.
May you like
Vanessa went pale.
And the wedding celebration ended before dessert was served.
