Chapter 3 - The Woman in Nora’s Bedroom
Nora drove to the mansion that night.
She knew Evan might refuse to let her inside, but she also knew Sophie would still be awake. Her daughter always struggled to sleep when Nora was away.
Snow had begun falling by the time Nora reached the iron gates.
Her access code no longer worked.
She pressed the intercom.
No one answered.
She pressed it again.
Finally, Sylvia appeared on the small screen.
“Nora?”
“Open the gate.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“I need to see Sophie.”
“Evan said you agreed to wait.”
“I agreed to nothing.”
Sylvia glanced over her shoulder.
Someone was standing near her.
Nora could see only the edge of a champagne-colored sleeve.
“Is Bianca there?”
Sylvia’s eyes lowered.
“Nora, please go back to the hotel.”
“Let me speak to Sophie.”
“She’s asleep.”
“That is the third time someone has told me she’s asleep before eight.”
“She’s had a tiring week.”
“What happened this week?”
Sylvia did not answer.
Nora leaned closer to the intercom camera.
“What happened to my daughter?”
“She is safe.”
“Then open the gate.”
The screen went dark.
Nora remained outside for twelve minutes.
Then the gates opened for a delivery van carrying floral arrangements for the Christmas party. She drove in behind it before the gates closed.
The front doors were unlocked.
Music came from the ballroom. Staff members hurried through the halls carrying candles, silver trays and boxes of decorations.
Nora climbed the staircase.
No one tried to stop her.
She entered Sophie’s room first.
The bed was empty.
A small suitcase sat open on the rug.
Inside were Sophie’s winter clothes, two books and the stuffed rabbit she slept with every night.
Nora’s pulse quickened.
She crossed the hall to the master bedroom.
Bianca stood in front of the mirror wearing Nora’s emerald earrings.
Nora stopped in the doorway.
Bianca studied their reflection together.
“You should knock.”
“Take those off.”
“They were in the jewelry case.”
“My jewelry case.”
Bianca removed one earring slowly.
“Evan said you wouldn’t be coming back.”
“Where is Sophie?”
“With her father.”
“Where?”
“I’m not responsible for his schedule.”
Nora stepped into the room.
“You photographed her on the staircase.”
Bianca’s hand paused.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You sent me messages.”
“Why would I help you?”
“Maybe you wanted me here.”
Bianca turned.
The emerald earring remained in her hand.
“You think everything is about you, Nora. The marriage. The house. The company. Evan has spent eleven years living in the shadow of your father’s money.”
“And you decided to rescue him?”
“I reminded him that he could become more than Colonel Bennett’s son-in-law.”
“By moving into my bedroom?”
“By showing him who he could be without you.”
Nora looked toward the black document case lying open on the bed.
Inside were copies of trust records and a temporary custody petition.
She moved toward it.
Bianca closed the case.
“That is private.”
“It has my family’s name on it.”
“It concerns Evan’s future.”
“It concerns my daughter.”
Nora reached for the case.
Bianca pulled it away.
The bedroom door opened.
Evan entered with Sophie beside him.
Sophie wore pink pajamas and clutched her stuffed rabbit.
When she saw Nora, her entire face changed.
“Mommy.”
She ran across the room.
Nora knelt and wrapped her arms around her.
“Are you all right?”
Sophie nodded, but held on tightly.
“Daddy said you didn’t want Christmas with us.”
Nora closed her eyes.
“That isn’t true.”
Evan remained near the door.
“You broke into the house.”
“I came to see my child.”
“This is exactly what the petition describes.”
“What petition?”
“The emergency custody petition.”
Nora stood slowly, keeping Sophie beside her.
“You filed for emergency custody?”
“You are behaving unpredictably.”
“I found your girlfriend wearing my earrings while you prepared to take my daughter away.”
Bianca placed the emerald earring on the dresser.
Sophie looked at her father.
“Can Mommy stay?”
Evan’s expression tightened.
“Go with Grandma.”
“No.”
“Sophie.”
The sharpness in his voice made her flinch.
Nora moved between them.
“Do not speak to her like that.”
Evan looked toward the hallway.
“Sylvia.”
His mother appeared.
“Take Sophie downstairs.”
Sophie held Nora’s coat.
“No.”
Nora crouched.
“I’ll see you soon.”
“When?”
“Very soon.”
“Promise?”
Nora looked at Evan.
He gave her nothing.
“I promise,” she said.
Sylvia led Sophie away.
As soon as they disappeared, Evan handed Nora a sealed envelope.
“Temporary separation agreement. You have until tomorrow morning to sign.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You will not see Sophie until the custody hearing.”
Nora opened the envelope.
At the bottom of the first page was a demand that she surrender access to the mansion, marital accounts and company voting rights.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am protecting what I built.”
“With my money.”
“With years of my life.”
Bianca stood beside him.
Nora noticed the matching confidence in their faces.
They believed she was trapped.
They believed she would choose immediate access to Sophie over everything else.
They were right about one thing.
Nora would choose her daughter.
But they were wrong about what she was willing to surrender.
She folded the agreement and placed it inside her coat.
“I’ll have my attorney review it.”
Evan smiled.
“You don’t have an attorney anymore. Alan Voss represents the company, and the company belongs to me.”
Nora walked toward the door.
Behind her, Bianca spoke softly.
“By tomorrow, the locks will be legal.”
Nora turned.
“How do you know what happens tomorrow?”
Bianca’s smile disappeared.
For the first time, Nora saw fear beneath her confidence.
May you like
Only a flash.
Then it was gone.
