Chapter 6

The ballroom's opulence felt suffocating as I moved through the crowd. Crystal chandeliers cast fractured light across faces that turned to watch me—some curious, others calculating. I'd barely made it halfway across the floor when I noticed Marcus Webb cutting through the crowd, his security team flanking him like dark shadows.

"Mrs. Montgomery," Marcus called out, his voice carrying an authority that silenced nearby conversations. "We need to speak with you."

I stopped, aware of the eyes now fixed on us. "About what?"

Marcus's smile didn't reach his eyes. "There's been an incident in the VIP suite."

Before I could…