Chapter 2 - The Room Below
The venue manager used the brass key to open the staff corridor.
Behind the door, a narrow staircase led to an old service room beneath the ballroom.
Emma sat inside beside a maintenance table.
She was conscious, frightened and physically unharmed. Her phone charger, purse and shoes had been placed on a shelf outside her reach after Victoria took the device.
Ethan rushed toward her.
Emma did not embrace him.
She looked past him at the bride standing on the stairs.
“She told me this was where employees waited when they forgot their place.”
Victoria lifted her chin.
“You entered a restricted area and became hysterical.”
Emma laughed bitterly.
“I’m the company’s compliance director.”
“You’re Ethan’s jealous sister.”
There it was.
A professional woman’s evidence reduced to family emotion.
Emma stood slowly.
“The door closed behind me.”
Victoria answered quickly.
“It locks automatically.”
The venue manager shook his head.
“No, ma’am.”
Everyone looked at him.
“This room has no automatic lock.”
His voice remained respectful, but no longer submissive.
“Someone used the brass key.”
Victoria’s expression tightened.
She turned toward Ethan.
“Emma was threatening to disrupt the vows in front of investors.”
“Why?”
Emma removed a sealed folder from beneath the maintenance table.
“Because the moment you marry her, she receives the emergency proxy attached to your prenuptial agreement.”
Ethan stared.
“My prenup gives her no company authority.”
“The version you signed last night does.”
He looked toward Victoria.
She said nothing.
Emma opened the folder.
May you like
The final attachment carried Ethan’s verified signature.
And beneath it was a scheduled transfer set to activate seven minutes after the vows.
