Chapter 1: The Gift That Never Reached His Hands
Chapter 1: The Gift That Never Reached His Hands
The silence in the ballroom stretched so long that even the orchestra falved.
Daniel Carter studied the young maid standing before him. A red handprint bloomed across her cheek, but she never lowered her eyes.
She looked terrified.
Not guilty.
Victoria slipped her hand gently around Daniel's arm.
"Daniel," she said with a sympathetic smile, "she's clearly confused. Security should escort her out before she causes another scene."
The guests nodded in agreement.
That was the logical solution.
Daniel almost agreed.
Almost.
Then he noticed something strange.
Emily wasn't looking at Victoria.
She wasn't looking at the audience.
She kept staring at the small velvet box resting on a silver tray beside the stage.
His anniversary gift.
Without taking his eyes off Emily, Daniel asked quietly,
"What exactly am I not safe from?"
Victoria answered before Emily could.
"She's frightened, darling. Perhaps someone promised her money if she embarrassed us."
Emily shook her head so violently tears escaped her eyes.
"No, sir."
She pointed toward the velvet box.
"Please don't touch those cufflinks."
The room erupted with whispers.
Victoria laughed softly.
"Now she's accusing my gift?"
Daniel slowly turned toward the box.
Years of building a cybersecurity empire had taught him one lesson above all else:
The smallest anomaly often revealed the largest attack.
He looked back at Emily.
"If you're lying, your life changes forever."
Emily swallowed.
"If I'm lying... arrest me."
"But if I'm telling the truth..."
"...don't open that box."
Daniel remained silent for several seconds.
Then, to everyone's surprise, he picked up his phone.
"Marcus."
His chief of security answered instantly.
"I want the ballroom sealed."
Victoria's smile disappeared for the first time that evening.
"Daniel... what are you doing?"
Without answering, he handed the unopened gift directly to Marcus.
"Take this to the forensic lab."
"No one opens it."
"Not even me."
The ballroom exploded into confusion.
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Victoria felt something she had not experienced in years.
Fear.
