Chapter 5
The crystal chandeliers in the main hallway cast a warm, glittering glow over the assembled guests, who chatted idly with champagne flutes in hand, entirely unaware of the storm brewing upstairs. Julian walked with measured strides, his green suit jacket buttoned, his hands steady at his sides. Elena trailed a step behind him, the heavy sequins of her burgundy gown whispering against the carpet. Her initial rage had evaporated, replaced by a tight, rigid panic that made her jaw ache. "Julian," she muttered, catching his sleeve. "We shouldn't make a scene. If Marcus took it, we can handle it privately. Call him into the library." Julian stopped and turned, his dark eyes meeting hers with a chilling level of calm. "He accused an innocent girl of grand larceny in front of our staff, Elena. He let her take the blame while he stood downstairs drinking my scotch. There will be no private chats." Without waiting for her reply, he turned toward the mahogany double doors of the drawing room where Marcus was standing near the fireplace, laughing softly with a local councilman. Marcus looked up as they approached, his smile faltering slightly as he took in the grim expressions on his hosts' faces. The ambient chatter of the party seemed to recede into a dull hum.
