Chapter Four: The Slap Beneath the Chandeliers
“Don’t drink it!”
Tessa’s voice cracked through the wedding hall.
Gideon turned just as she reached him. His glass was inches from his mouth.
Tessa grabbed his wrist.
The glass slipped from his hand.
It hit the floor and shattered.
Orange liquid splashed across the marble, staining the hem of Marianne’s dress.
The entire ballroom stopped.
For a second, Tessa heard only her own breathing.
Then Marianne stepped forward.
“What are you doing?” she said.
Tessa’s hand fell away from Gideon’s wrist. She stared at the broken glass, then at the guests, then at Marianne’s furious face.
“I—I’m sorry,” Tessa said. “I saw someone put something in the drink.”
A gasp moved through the crowd.
Mr. Hargrove came rushing from the service entrance, his face red with panic.
“Tessa!” he barked. “Step away immediately.”
Marianne’s eyes narrowed. “You saw someone?”
“Yes.”
“At my wedding?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Marianne looked around at the watching guests, at the cameras still pointed toward them, at the orange stain on her dress. Humiliation sharpened her expression.
“You expect everyone here to believe a waitress ran into the middle of my toast because she saw a mysterious stranger?”
Tessa’s throat tightened. “I have a video.”
“You have a video?” Marianne repeated, voice rising. “You were recording my guests?”
Mr. Hargrove grabbed Tessa’s arm. “That is a serious violation of hotel policy.”
“Let go of her,” Gideon said.
His voice was calm, but it carried.
Mr. Hargrove released her at once.
Gideon looked at Tessa. “Where is the video?”
Tessa reached for her phone.
But Marianne moved first.
The slap cracked across Tessa’s face.
It was not hard enough to knock her down, but it stunned the room. Tessa stumbled back, one hand flying to her cheek. Her eyes filled with tears before she could stop them.
Marianne’s hand trembled.
“Do not turn my wedding into a circus,” she whispered.
The words were cold, but her face had changed.
Tessa saw it.
Marianne was not only angry.
She was afraid.
Gideon stepped between them.
“Marianne,” he said quietly, “you just slapped someone who may have been trying to help me.”
“She’s lying.”
“Then we’ll know in a moment.”
Marianne’s mother appeared at her side like a storm wearing pearls.
Vivian Beaumont smiled at the guests first, then leaned close to Gideon.
“My dear, this poor girl is clearly confused. Perhaps overworked. Let security handle it.”
Tessa looked at Vivian.
Elegant dark blue gown. Perfect makeup. Controlled smile.
Vivian’s gaze touched her like ice.
Tessa’s heart sank.
This was the name in the video.
Vivian wanted no mistakes.
“Please,” Tessa said, holding out the phone. “Just watch it.”
Gideon took it.
Marianne whispered, “Gideon, don’t.”
But he pressed play.
The video began.
The woman in green appeared on the screen, lifting the orange drink.
Gideon’s face went still.
Elena Vale, standing beside the best man, leaned closer and covered her mouth.
The video showed the gloved hand. The quick movement. The glass returning to the tray.
Then came the faint voices.
“Is it done?”
“After the toast, he won’t be in any condition to argue.”
Tessa watched Gideon’s fingers tighten around the phone.
The male voice spoke again.
“Vivian wants no mistakes.”
The ballroom seemed to lose all air.
Gideon lifted his eyes slowly to Vivian Beaumont.
Vivian’s smile remained in place, but her face had gone pale beneath the makeup.
“This is absurd,” she said. “That recording is unclear.”
“It’s clear enough,” Elena said.
Marianne turned to her mother. “What is this?”
Vivian did not answer.
Gideon looked back at Tessa. “You said the woman is still here.”
Tessa nodded. Her cheek burned. Her legs felt weak. But she raised her hand and pointed toward the banquet tables.
The woman in green was no longer at table six.
For one terrible second, Tessa thought she had vanished.
Then Nora, standing near the dessert station, caught Tessa’s eye and subtly tilted her head toward the side exit.
Tessa turned.
The woman in green was walking quickly through a cluster of guests, heading for the hallway.
“There,” Tessa said. “She’s leaving.”
Security moved.
The woman ran.
Chaos erupted.
Guests cried out as security officers pushed through chairs and flowers. A tray of champagne tipped over. Cameras flashed. Someone shouted to block the doors.
The woman in green almost reached the exit.
Then Elena Vale stepped directly into her path.
Elena was smaller, younger, and wearing silver heels that looked impossible to run in. But she did not move when the woman tried to shove past her.
“Going somewhere?” Elena asked.
The woman froze.
Security surrounded her.
Gideon walked across the ballroom, Tessa’s phone still in his hand.
“Take off your gloves,” he said.
The woman looked at Vivian.
Vivian’s lips barely moved.
“Don’t,” Marianne whispered.
But everyone had seen it.
The woman in green obeyed.
Her hands shook as she removed the white gloves.
Inside one glove was a tiny folded note.
A security officer took it and handed it to Gideon.
He unfolded it.
There were only six words written inside.
AFTER THE TOAST, TAKE HIM UPSTAIRS.
Gideon looked at Marianne.
Marianne looked as if the floor had disappeared beneath her.
May you like
“I didn’t know,” she said.
And this time, Gideon believed her.
