Chapter 4 - The Ascent
The grand staircase was blocked by armed guards, so Genevieve led Isabel through the servant corridors—narrow, dimly lit passageways built for the catering staff.
They moved quickly, shedding the bulky layers of their gowns. Genevieve ripped the train off her Vera Wang dress, leaving her in a sleek, mobile white slip, while Isabel kicked off her heels, running barefoot on the wooden floorboards.
"Julian’s lead security guy, Marcus, is a sociopath," Genevieve whispered as they climbed a spiral iron staircase to the second floor. "If he catches us, he won't ask questions. He'll just shoot."
"Then we don't let him catch us," Isabel replied, her heart pounding.
As they reached the third-floor landing, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. Genevieve pulled Isabel behind a heavy velvet curtain just as Marcus, a towering man with a scarred jaw, marched past, speaking rapidly into a radio.
“Mr. Vance wants the first wife found. Check the perimeter. Shoot on sight.”
Isabel held her breath, pressing her back against the wall. Genevieve’s eyes were cold and calculating. Once Marcus turned the corner, they slipped out of the curtain and sprinted toward the heavy oak doors of the master study.
"The door is locked electronically," Isabel whispered, looking at the keypad.
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Genevieve smirked. "Julian thinks I’m just a pretty face. He types his code in front of me all the time. He’s arrogant."
She punched in a six-digit code. The light turned green. The heavy doors clicked open, and they slipped inside the lion's den.
