Chapter 2
The man on my phone screen was my supervisor.
Daniel Price.
I stared at his face.
For three years, Daniel had managed the housekeeping department at the Grand Meridian.
He controlled our schedules.
Approved overtime.
Signed disciplinary reports.
And decided which employees received raises.
He was forty-five, always dressed in expensive-looking suits, and rarely missed an opportunity to remind us that jobs at the hotel were difficult to replace.
I had never liked him.
But I never imagined he could be involved in attempted murder.
Marcus leaned toward my phone.
"Who's that?"
I swallowed.
"Daniel Price. My supervisor."
One security guard frowned.
"He's the housekeeping manager."
I nodded.
"Yes."
The video showed Daniel approaching Vanessa near the service corridor.
He handed her a cream-colored envelope.
She opened it.
Looked inside.
Then nodded.
Daniel glanced toward Evelyn.
A minute later, he disappeared into the corridor.
Vanessa walked toward the railing.
And then came the push.
Marcus watched the recording without speaking.
When it ended, he looked toward Vanessa.
"Explain that."
She folded her arms.
"Daniel gave me some paperwork."
"What paperwork?"
"Wedding arrangements."
Marcus stared at her.
"Why would the housekeeping manager be handling your wedding arrangements?"
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Then closed.
I watched fear spread across her face.
She recovered quickly.
"This is absurd. I'm a guest here."
Marcus stood.
"My mother nearly died."
His voice was quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
"And you're worried about being questioned?"
Vanessa looked toward the exit.
"I won't be treated like a criminal."
She started walking.
One security guard stepped in front of her.
"Ma'am, please remain here until the police arrive."
Her expression hardened.
"You have no authority to detain me."
The guard looked at Marcus.
Marcus took out his phone.
"Call the police. And preserve every security recording from this rooftop."
The guard nodded.
Vanessa tried moving around him.
I stepped backward.
I didn't want to touch her.
I didn't need to.
My recording was enough to raise serious questions.
But Vanessa suddenly turned toward me.
Her face twisted.
"You have no idea what you're getting involved in."
I stared at her.
"Then explain it."
She leaned closer.
"People like you should learn when to stay quiet."
My stomach tightened.
I'd heard words like that before.
From wealthy guests who believed staff members were invisible.
From managers who thought money gave them permission to humiliate employees.
But this was different.
A woman had nearly died.
And Vanessa was threatening the person who saved her.
I held her gaze.
"I know what I saw."
She stepped back.
Then smiled coldly.
"You'll regret this."
Before I could answer, Marcus moved between us.
"Don't threaten her."
Vanessa looked shocked.
"Marcus—"
"Not another word."
His voice was firm.
Then he turned toward me.
"Are you hurt?"
I looked down.
My knees were bleeding.
One wrist had begun swelling.
I hadn't noticed how badly I'd injured myself.
"I'm okay."
He shook his head.
"You're not."
He called for the hotel's medical team.
Then returned to Evelyn.
His mother sat in a chair surrounded by security personnel.
She was trembling.
Her ivory gown was torn near the hem.
A bruise was forming on her arm.
When she saw me, she reached out.
"Come here, child."
I approached carefully.
She took my hand.
Her fingers were cold.
"You saved my life."
I swallowed.
"I'm glad I reached you."
Tears filled her eyes.
"What's your name?"
"Nia Carter."
She repeated it softly.
"Nia."
Then she began crying.
"I thought I was going to die."
My throat tightened.
I knelt beside her chair.
"You're safe now."
She shook her head.
"No."
Her eyes moved toward Vanessa.
"Not until I know why she did it."
I didn't know what to say.
The medical team arrived.
They examined Evelyn.
Then recommended hospital evaluation because of the fall risk, bruising, and shock.
Marcus agreed immediately.
The wedding guests watched as she was escorted toward the private elevator.
Nobody was celebrating anymore.
The string quartet had stopped playing.
Champagne pooled across the marble.
White flowers lay scattered where people had rushed toward the railing.
It looked like the aftermath of a storm.
Then I remembered something.
The bride.
Marcus had been standing beside his bride when Evelyn screamed.
But I hadn't seen her since the rescue.
I looked around.
"Where's your wife?"
Marcus turned.
"What?"
"The bride."
His face changed.
"Camille."
He looked toward the ballroom entrance.
She wasn't there.
He pulled out his phone.
Called her.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Whitmore, the police are on their way."
Marcus nodded.
Then asked, "Have you seen Camille?"
The officer looked uncomfortable.
"She left the rooftop shortly after the incident."
My stomach tightened.
"Left?"
"Yes, sir."
Marcus stared at him.
"Where did she go?"
"We're checking."
Vanessa suddenly spoke from behind us.
"Camille was upset. Obviously."
Marcus turned.
"How do you know where she went?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Because she's my niece."
I froze.
I hadn't known that.
The bride was Vanessa's niece.
Marcus stared at her.
Then asked something that changed the atmosphere completely.
"Did Camille know you were going to meet my mother by the railing?"
Vanessa's face went pale.
"Of course not."
But her voice had changed.
I could hear it.
So could Marcus.
The police arrived minutes later.
They separated witnesses.
Collected statements.
And requested the hotel's security footage.
I handed over my recording.
An officer asked me to explain what I'd seen.
I told him everything.
The argument.
The envelope.
The push.
The rescue.
And Vanessa's threat afterward.
He listened carefully.
Then asked whether I'd seen Daniel leave the rooftop.
I nodded.
"Through the service corridor."
He wrote something down.
Another officer approached.
"Sir, there's a problem."
The first officer turned.
"What?"
"The housekeeping manager isn't answering his phone."
My stomach dropped.
The officer continued.
"Security says he left the building through the loading entrance."
I stared at him.
Daniel had disappeared.
The bride was missing.
And Vanessa was still insisting nothing had happened.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
He answered immediately.
"Camille?"
His face changed.
"What do you mean?"
I watched the color drain from his cheeks.
He listened for several seconds.
Then whispered, "Where are you?"
The call ended.
Marcus lowered his phone.
I stepped closer.
"Is she okay?"
He looked at me.
His expression was unlike anything I'd seen before.
"Camille says my mother was supposed to be dead before the ceremony."
I stopped breathing.
May you like
Then he added something even worse.
"She says Vanessa wasn't supposed to push her in front of witnesses."
