Chapter 8 - The Woman in the Red Dress|
Roman told Sadi the truth that night.
Five years earlier, he had financed part of a waterfront infrastructure project through Voss Holdings.
Gerald Vale handled the property acquisitions.
Roman's company provided financing and security.
At the time, Roman had been trying to turn his inherited empire away from the criminal operations that had made his family feared.
He had believed a legitimate redevelopment project could help accomplish that.
Then he discovered that several property owners had signed agreements under suspicious circumstances.
Roman ordered an internal investigation.
The investigation uncovered intimidation, false promises, and payments to intermediaries whose work could not be explained.
He withdrew from the partnership.
But some of his companies remained connected to the original contracts.
And Roman had signed documents he now regretted.
"I should have investigated Gerald before giving him access to my name," he admitted.
Sadi sat beside the fireplace.
"Did you know he was targeting Harbor House?"
"No."
"Can you prove that?"
"Not completely."
She looked at him.
"Then we'll need the truth, even the parts that make you look bad."
Roman nodded.
"I know."
It was not a perfect answer.
But it was an honest one.
And Sadi would rather have an uncomfortable truth than another comforting lie.
The following evening, she stood before a mirror wearing a crimson silk evening gown.
The dress fell softly over her figure and gathered near the floor.
Diamond earrings caught the warm bedroom light.
Her hair was swept into a loose, elegant arrangement.
For a moment, she barely recognized herself.
Three years earlier, she had worn a stained diner uniform and calculated whether she could afford groceries.
Tonight, she was attending one of the most exclusive events in the city.
But the woman beneath the beautiful dress had not changed.
She still hated cruelty.
She still believed that everyone deserved dignity.
And she still refused to confuse a person's value with the balance of a bank account.
Roman entered wearing a dark navy three-piece suit.
He stopped in the doorway.
Sadi looked at him through the mirror.
"What?"
He shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Roman."
He smiled faintly.
"You're beautiful."
She turned toward him.
"You're biased."
"Completely."
He approached and gently kissed her forehead.
Then his expression became serious.
"You don't have to prove anything tonight."
"I know."
"I mean it."
Sadi rested her hands against his chest.
"I'm not going because Trevor thinks I'm worthless."
She looked into his eyes.
"I'm going because people like him shouldn't be allowed to decide who deserves a home."
Roman kissed her hand.
"Then let's go."
The Grand Meridian Hotel glittered beneath enormous crystal chandeliers.
Hundreds of guests mingled around white floral arrangements and champagne towers.
Cameras flashed near the entrance.
When Roman and Sadi stepped inside, conversations faltered.
Heads turned.
Whispers moved through the ballroom.
Roman Voss had arrived.
And beside him stood the woman the internet had spent two days discussing.
Sadi held his arm without lowering her eyes.
Across the room, Trevor saw them.
His expression changed immediately.
He was standing beside Gerald Vale, a broad-shouldered man with silver hair and a smile that never reached his eyes.
Gerald studied Sadi.
"So that's Mrs. Voss."
Trevor swallowed.
"Yes."
"She looks more confident than you described."
"She's putting on an act."
Gerald smiled coldly.
"Then let's see how long it lasts."
An hour later, Sadi slipped away from Roman to speak with a city councilwoman Elena had arranged for her to meet.
She carried copies of Harbor House's legal documents in a small silver evening bag.
Before she reached the woman, Trevor blocked her path.
"Enjoying your fairy tale?"
Sadi stopped.
"Move, Trevor."
"You think a fancy dress makes you somebody?"
"No."
She looked him directly in the eye.
"I knew I was somebody before I put it on."
His expression darkened.
"You're going to regret coming here."
"Are you threatening me again?"
He stepped closer.
"You're destroying your husband's reputation."
"Roman can answer for his own decisions."
Trevor leaned toward her.
"You don't understand what you're involved in."
"Then explain it."
Before Trevor could answer, a large man in a black shirt approached from behind him.
Sadi had seen him earlier standing near Gerald Vale.
His name was Damon Pike.
He was the head of Vale's private security.
"Mr. Bennett," Damon said quietly.
"Mr. Vale wants the documents."
Sadi tightened her grip on her evening bag.
"These belong to me."
Damon reached for it.
She stepped backward.
"Don't touch me."
The man's hand closed around the strap.
Sadi resisted.
The strap snapped.
She stumbled over the hem of her dress and fell onto the polished marble floor.
Several guests gasped.
Her silver bag skidded across the tiles.
Papers spilled beside her.
Damon stepped forward, raising his shoe as he moved to pin the documents beneath it.
Sadi lifted her hand instinctively.
"Stop!"
A dark figure appeared between them.
Roman.
He caught Damon's raised leg before the shoe could descend.
With one controlled movement, he forced the man's foot back onto the floor.
The ballroom fell silent.
Trevor went pale.
Roman looked down at Sadi.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
Then she looked at Damon.
"Get away from me."
Roman turned.
His eyes were colder than anyone in the room had ever seen.
"Do as she says."
Damon stepped backward.
Gerald Vale emerged from the crowd, his expression carefully composed.
"Roman, surely we can resolve this privately."
Roman glanced at the people recording on their phones.
"Apparently, your employees prefer an audience."
Gerald's smile vanished.
Sadi began gathering the scattered documents.
Roman offered her his hand.
She accepted it and stood.
But instead of leaving, she turned toward the watching guests.
"Does anyone here want to know why they're trying to take these papers?"
Nobody answered.
Sadi raised a copy of the Harbor House transfer.
"Because this document helped steal a women's shelter."
A murmur swept through the ballroom.
Gerald stepped forward.
"Mrs. Voss, you're making serious accusations."
"Then you won't mind answering serious questions."
At that moment, Chloe appeared near the stage.
She was carrying a microphone.
Her hands were shaking.
But her voice was clear.
"My name is Chloe Vale."
Every face turned toward her.
"And I need to tell everyone what my father and my fiancé have been hiding."
Before she could continue, the ballroom's lights went out.
May you like
A piercing fire alarm shattered the silence.
And in the sudden darkness, somebody grabbed Sadi's wrist.
