Chapter 4 - The Dinner of Perfect Appearances
On the evening of the party, the Ashford mansion glowed like a palace.
Black cars arrived in a steady line beneath the front portico. Politicians, investors, actors, and society reporters entered beneath crystal chandeliers while a string quartet played near the staircase.
Elena supervised twenty temporary workers.
She corrected table settings, directed servers, and quietly replaced a centerpiece after a candle scorched its leaves. By seven thirty, every visible detail was perfect.
Victoria descended the staircase wearing her emerald gown and the Celestine Diamond.
The ring flashed whenever she lifted her hand.
Sophie followed in the champagne dress.
She looked beautiful and miserable.
Victoria smiled for photographers.
Sophie copied the expression half a second later.
Elena watched from the edge of the ballroom.
Daniel approached her.
“Everything secure?”
“So far.”
“You look worried.”
“I am tired.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Before Elena could answer, Victoria signaled for her.
“The powder room on the second floor needs attention.”
“I checked it fifteen minutes ago.”
“Check it again.”
Elena went upstairs.
As she passed Victoria’s bedroom, she noticed that the door was unlocked.
She entered and found the jewelry box open on the dressing table.
The ring was gone, but she assumed Victoria was wearing it.
Elena straightened the room, collected a used glass, and wiped a streak of makeup from the mirror. She remained inside for eleven minutes.
When she returned downstairs, Victoria was speaking with investors near the fireplace.
The Celestine Diamond was no longer on her hand.
Elena noticed immediately.
Victoria did not.
During dinner, Sophie sat beside her mother and barely spoke. Victoria announced a new hotel project and accepted applause as cameras flashed.
Then a reporter asked about the employee complaints.
Victoria’s smile tightened.
“Ashford Hotels has always treated its staff as family.”
Elena stood near the doorway holding a tray of water.
The words almost made her laugh.
The reporter continued.
“Several former employees claim they were punished for reporting unsafe conditions.”
“Disgruntled workers often create stories after termination.”
Sophie turned toward her mother.
“That is not what happened.”
Victoria looked at her.
“This is not the appropriate time.”
“When is the appropriate time?”
Several guests stopped eating.
Victoria leaned closer to Sophie.
“We will discuss this privately.”
“You always say that.”
Sophie stood.
Her chair scraped loudly against the floor.
Victoria’s voice dropped.
“Sit down.”
Sophie stared at her.
For one dangerous second, Elena thought she might reveal everything she knew about the company.
Instead, Sophie walked away from the table.
Victoria laughed lightly for the guests.
“My daughter has never enjoyed formal dinners.”
The conversation slowly resumed.
Elena found Sophie in the hallway near the library.
“You should go somewhere quiet,” Elena said.
“Why? So she can keep pretending?”
“Not for her. For yourself.”
Sophie’s eyes shone with anger.
“Do you know what she told me yesterday? She said my life would have purpose if I learned to support her.”
Elena lowered her voice.
“Do not make a decision while you are angry.”
Sophie looked at her strangely.
“Sometimes anger is the only thing that makes people brave.”
May you like
She walked toward the staircase.
Elena returned to the ballroom, unaware that the diamond ring was already hidden in Sophie’s pocket.
