Chapter 5 - The Gala
Victoria Russo wore a stunning crimson dress that completely commanded the attention of the ballroom.
She stepped directly into my path, a crystal champagne flute balanced effortlessly in her manicured hand.
"Well, well, the illiterate servant cleans up remarkably nicely," Victoria sneered, looking me up and down with absolute disgust.
"Good evening, Victoria," I replied smoothly, refusing to let her see how wildly my heart was racing.
Dominic's voice crackled to life inside my hidden earpiece.
"Do not engage her, Casey, keep moving toward the basement access doors," Dominic ordered firmly.
I tried to step around her, but Victoria purposefully shifted her weight to block my path.
"I know exactly why my husband sent you here tonight," she whispered, her smile dropping entirely.
"I am here representing the Columbia history department," I lied, keeping my expression pleasantly neutral.
Victoria leaned in so close I could smell the expensive gin on her breath.
"You are here to find the master ledger, but you are already too late," she taunted maliciously.
"I gave Marcus Vance the security access codes to the vault an hour ago," Victoria revealed with a wicked grin.
My blood ran completely cold as the magnitude of her betrayal fully registered in my mind.
Dominic's wife was actively working with his greatest enemy to tear down his empire from the inside.
"Marcus is going to destroy your husband," I whispered, genuinely shocked by her treason.
"Dominic is a relic holding onto a dying empire, and Marcus is the future of this city," she replied coldly.
"If you do not turn around and walk out of this building right now, I will alert the guards to your true identity," she threatened.
"Casey, you have to find a way to neutralize her before she compromises the mission," Dominic urged through the earpiece.
I looked desperately around the crowded ballroom, my mind racing through everything I knew about the Russo family.
I remembered the legal files I had reviewed in the safehouse, specifically the corporate ownership structures.
I smiled at Victoria, channeling every ounce of academic arrogance I could muster.
"If you expose me, I will immediately tell Marcus about the linguistic loophole in your prenuptial agreement," I stated calmly.
Victoria froze entirely, the arrogant smirk vanishing from her perfectly contoured face.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice dropping to a panicked hiss.
"The Italian translation of your prenup contains a specific clause regarding marital treason," I bluffed flawlessly.
"If Dominic falls because of your actions, the contract legally forfeits your entire personal fortune back to the syndicate," I told her.
Victoria stared at me in absolute horror, realizing her betrayal would leave her completely penniless.
"Enjoy the champagne, Victoria," I smiled, stepping gracefully around her frozen figure.
I quickly slipped away from the party and navigated toward the dimly lit basement corridors.
May you like
I swiped a stolen keycard, opened the heavy steel door to the archives, and stepped inside the silent vault.
But standing in the center of the room, holding the ancient leather ledger in his hands, was Marcus Vance.
