Chapter 2 – The Woman Everyone Ignored
The ballroom fell silent.
Victor Halden took another slow step toward Alyssa, his polished shoes clicking across the marble floor.
"You've got courage," he said with a cold smile.
"Or maybe you're just foolish."
Alyssa never lowered her eyes.
She carefully set the champagne tray onto a nearby table.
"I know what I saw."
Victor laughed.
"And who exactly are you?"
"A waitress."
"Exactly."
He glanced around the ballroom.
"Look around."
Five hundred guests.
Senators.
Judges.
Investors.
Television reporters.
CEOs.
"Not one of them is saying a word."
He leaned closer.
"Because they know whose side wins."
Charlotte struggled to stand, one hand protectively covering her pregnant stomach.
"Please..." she whispered.
"Just let it end."
Victor grabbed her wrist.
Before he could pull her away—
Alyssa stepped between them.
"Let her go."
The ballroom gasped.
Victor's smile disappeared.
"You think I won't hit you too?"
Alyssa answered quietly.
"I think you've already forgotten where you are."
Victor frowned.
"What?"
She nodded toward the massive crystal chandelier.
"There are cameras."
He laughed again.
"My foundation owns this hotel."
"I'll erase everything."
A calm voice interrupted.
"No."
Everyone turned.
The hotel's elderly security director, Marcus Doyle, stepped forward carrying a black hard drive.
"The ballroom cameras don't record to the hotel."
Victor's confidence faltered.
Marcus continued.
"They upload live to an independent cloud server every thirty seconds."
A murmur spread through the guests.
Victor looked at the hotel manager.
"You never told me that."
"You never asked."
May you like
For the first time that night...
Victor looked uncertain.
