Chapter 2 - The Fingerprints
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Victor spoke.
“Let her go.”
Dmitri hesitated.
“Sir—”
“I said let her go.”
Dmitri released my arms.
I stepped away, rubbing my wrists.
The ballroom had become unnaturally quiet.
Three hundred people were watching me.
A poor maid.
A man everyone feared.
A broken champagne glass between us.
Victor walked toward me.
“Start from the beginning.”
I swallowed.
“I was working table eighteen.”
“And?”
“I heard Clara and Leon talking.”
Clara finally spoke.
“This is absurd.”
Victor raised one hand.
She stopped.
I continued.
“They said something would happen during the toast.”
Leon laughed.
“She misunderstood a conversation.”
“I know what I heard.”
Victor looked at Dmitri.
“Bring me the second glass.”
Dmitri immediately left.
Clara stepped closer.
“Victor, this woman is frightened. She probably drank something herself.”
I stared at her.
“I don't drink.”
Her eyes hardened.
Victor noticed.
“Why would she lie?”
“Because she struck you.”
“She stopped me from drinking.”
Clara said nothing.
A few minutes later, Dmitri returned with a sealed evidence bag.
Inside was another champagne glass.
My stomach dropped.
There was a faint smear along the stem.
Dmitri looked at Victor.
“Her fingerprints are confirmed.”
Victor studied the glass.
“Where was it found?”
“In the kitchen.”
I shook my head.
“I never touched that glass.”
Leon folded his arms.
“Convenient.”
Victor looked at him.
“Very.”
Leon’s expression changed.
Victor turned toward me.
“Did you touch any glasses in the kitchen?”
“Only the tray I was assigned.”
“Could someone have used your tray?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you leave it unattended?”
“For less than a minute.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“When?”
“When Marcus called me to the service station.”
Marcus immediately stepped forward.
“She’s telling the truth.”
Victor looked at him.
“Did you see anyone near her tray?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Marcus looked toward Clara.
Clara’s face remained calm.
“Leon.”
The ballroom seemed to freeze.
Leon turned.
“What?”
Marcus pointed.
“You were in the service corridor.”
“I was checking the wine inventory.”
“There was no wine inventory in that corridor,” Marcus said.
Leon took a step forward.
Dmitri moved between them.
Victor remained completely still.
Then Clara said quietly, “Marcus, you should be careful.”
Marcus went pale.
I suddenly understood.
This wasn't just about me.
People were afraid.
Victor looked at me again.
“You said my fiancée knew.”
“I saw her talking to Leon.”
“And you believe they were planning to hurt me?”
“I don't know what they were planning.”
Victor nodded.
“That is the first honest thing you've said tonight.”
Then he turned to Dmitri.
“Lock down the hotel.”
The room erupted in whispers.
Clara grabbed Victor’s arm.
“You can't do this.”
He looked down at her hand.
“Why not?”
“Because this is humiliating.”
“No.”
Victor gently removed her hand.
“This is necessary.”
He looked at me.
“You're coming with me.”
I stared at him.
“Where?”
“Somewhere we can talk without three hundred witnesses.”
Dmitri opened a private corridor.
Victor walked ahead.
I followed.
Then I heard Clara behind us.
“Victor.”
He stopped.
She smiled.
“You're making a terrible mistake.”
Victor turned.
“Maybe.”
He continued walking.
Inside the private office, Victor closed the door.
He placed the evidence bag on the desk.
Then he looked at me.
“You have ten minutes to convince me you didn't do this.”
I nodded.
“I can do it in five.”
For the first time that night, Victor almost smiled.
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed.
“What do you mean she was never scheduled tonight?”
I looked up.
Victor slowly lowered the phone.
“Lena.”
“Yes?”
“Who hired you to work this gala?”
I stared at him.
“Mrs. Chen.”
May you like
Victor’s face went cold.
“There is no Mrs. Chen.”
