Chapter 5 - The Ballroom Test
The ballroom fell quieter when Victor entered.
I felt it happen.
People didn't stop talking completely.
They simply talked softer.
Victor noticed everything.
“Don't squeeze my arm so hard,” he murmured.
“I thought you wanted me beside you.”
“I'd also like circulation in my fingers.”
I loosened my grip.
“Sorry.”
“Better.”
For twenty minutes, nothing happened.
Then Liam appeared.
I stopped.
“What is he doing here?”
Victor's expression hardened.
“I didn't invite him.”
Liam crossed the ballroom toward us.
“Claire, I need to talk.”
“No.”
“Please.”
Victor stepped between us.
“She said no.”
Liam swallowed.
“I'm trying to fix this.”
“You can't fix betrayal in a ballroom,” I said.
“I know where Vale keeps his records.”
Victor became very still.
“What records?”
“Payments. Judges. Police. Businesses.”
Paul appeared beside us.
“Why are you telling us now?”
“Because Vale is going to destroy Claire to get to Victor.”
I looked at my brother.
“You already helped him.”
“I know.”
For the first time, Liam didn't make an excuse.
“I know what I did.”
He handed Victor a small flash drive.
“This is everything.”
Victor didn't take it.
Paul did.
“Where did you get this?”
“I stole it.”
Paul stared at him.
“That was stupid.”
“I've established that I'm good at stupid.”
Despite everything, I almost laughed.
Then Victor's attention shifted beyond Liam.
“Paul.”
“I see him.”
Anthony Vale had entered the ballroom.
But he wasn't looking at Victor.
He was looking directly at me.
He approached slowly.
“Claire.”
“Mr. Vale.”
“You clean up well.”
Victor stepped forward.
I touched his arm.
“No.”
Victor looked at me.
“I can speak for myself.”
Vale smiled.
“That's exactly what I like about you.”
“You don't know anything about me.”
“I know Victor Hayes paid almost a quarter-million dollars to remove your brother's debts.”
Nearby conversations stopped.
Vale wanted everyone to hear.
“You know what that makes you?”
I held his gaze.
“Expensive?”
A few guests laughed.
Vale's smile tightened.
“It makes you his weakness.”
“No.”
I glanced at Victor.
“It makes him a man who did something decent and desperately doesn't want anyone knowing.”
More laughter.
Even Paul coughed to hide a smile.
Victor looked mildly offended.
Vale didn't.
His face darkened.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“I think you're trying to scare me because you can't scare him.”
Vale's eyes hardened.
“And does Victor know what your brother gave me?”
Liam went pale.
“What are you talking about?”
Vale removed his phone.
A photograph appeared.
Me.
Leaving Victor's study that morning.
Another photograph.
Victor arriving at my apartment.
Another.
Us entering the ballroom.
“Everybody has a weakness,” Vale said.
Victor's voice cut through the room.
“You're confusing weakness with choice.”
Vale turned.
Victor stepped beside me.
“I chose to protect her.”
“Why?”
Victor looked at me.
For the first time, the room seemed to disappear.
“Because she walked into a room where everyone feared me and treated me like I was human.”
I swallowed.
Vale scoffed.
“How touching.”
Paul stepped forward.
“And you should probably leave.”
Vale looked at him.
“Why?”
Paul held up Liam's flash drive.
“Because while you've been performing for the ballroom, we've been verifying your financial records.”
Vale's face changed.
Liam whispered, “I told you I wanted to fix it.”
Victor looked toward security.
“Escort Mr. Vale out.”
Vale stared at me.
“This isn't finished.”
Victor stepped between us.
“Yes.”
His voice was calm.
“It is.”
The ballroom doors closed behind Vale.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Victor turned to me.
“You disobeyed almost every instruction I gave you tonight.”
“I know.”
“You publicly insulted Anthony Vale.”
“Yes.”
“You also publicly insulted me.”
“Only a little.”
Victor stared at me.
Then he laughed.
Not smiled.
Laughed.
The entire ballroom seemed stunned.
I wasn't.
For the first time, I saw the man beneath the reputation.
And I realized that somewhere between the bloody study and that ballroom, I'd stopped being afraid of Victor Hayes.
That was dangerous.
May you like
Because I was beginning to feel something much worse.
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