Chapter 6 - THE BLACK-TIE BETRAYAL
Ricardo couldn't wait for Vale to strike. He had to take the offensive. A charity gala was being held at the Pierre Hotel that weekend, hosted by a prominent judge heavily embedded in Vale’s pocket. Both Dominic Vale and his ruthless head of security, Kenji Sato, would be there.
"You are coming with me," Ricardo announced, tossing a sleek, black garment bag onto my bed. "Vale knows I discovered the theft. He doesn't know who found it. If things go wrong, I need someone I can trust to access the digital ledgers on his private server while I keep him distracted."
"Ricardo, I'm a nanny, not a spy," I protested, even as I unzipped the bag to reveal a breathtaking, backless emerald gown.
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"You are the smartest person in my inner circle, Clara," he said, stepping close enough that I could smell the bergamot and cedar of his cologne. "And I trust you with my life."
The gala was a glittering snake pit. Billionaires and politicians mingled under crystal chandeliers. I walked in on Ricardo’s arm, feeling the weight of a hundred stares. Dominic Vale was waiting near the champagne tower, a slick, arrogant smile on his face. Beside him stood Kenji Sato, a man whose reputation for cruelty rivaled Ricardo's. The trap was set.
