Chapter 29 - The Last Night Before the Gala
Cole House prepared for another foundation anniversary.
The foyer looked almost exactly as it had years earlier.
Fresh flowers.
Crystal glasses.
Black-tie guests expected.
Evelyn stood beneath the chandelier.
Malcolm joined her.
“Nervous?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“A little.”
He smiled.
Nia arrived carrying an event binder.
She was no longer working for Bellmont.
Her audit firm had been hired independently to review foundation controls.
She held up the binder.
“I have become the boring person.”
Evelyn smiled proudly.
“Excellent.”
Nia looked toward the spot where she once stood in a maid’s uniform.
“Feels weird.”
Malcolm said,
“Good weird?”
“Mostly.”
Evelyn touched her arm.
“You know what I remember most?”
Nia expected the confrontation.
“The glass breaking?”
“No.”
“What?”
“That you didn’t know who I was.”
Nia stared.
Evelyn continued.
“You defended me before Malcolm came downstairs.”
Malcolm smiled.
“That has always bothered me.”
Nia frowned.
“Why?”
“Because I got credit for appearing dramatically on stairs.”
Evelyn laughed.
“You did.”
“I barely did anything.”
Nia pointed at him.
“Correct.”
They laughed.
Then Evelyn became quiet.
“That was the important part.”
“What?”
“You didn’t defend the CEO’s mother.”
She looked at Nia.
“You defended an old woman somebody was humiliating.”
Nia’s eyes softened.
“Yes.”
Evelyn squeezed her hand.
“That is why I trusted you.”
Guests began arriving.
Music filled the mansion.
Malcolm looked up at the chandelier.
Three years ago, the room had exposed his family.
Tonight it would host people they no longer needed to impress.
At least not in the same way.
Then a crash came from the service entrance.
Everyone turned.
A young server stood frozen beside a broken tray.
Champagne spreading across the floor.
Her face went white.
“I’m sorry.”
Nia started toward her.
So did Evelyn.
The girl looked terrified.
“I’m so sorry.”
Evelyn smiled.
“It’s glass.”
The server stared.
“We clean it.”
The girl exhaled.
Nia glanced at Evelyn.
They both knew.
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Tomorrow’s gala had already begun differently.
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