Chapter 9: The Gala Was Never About Charity

The following morning, I woke to three missed calls from Caleb.

I didn't return any of them.

Instead, I drove to the hotel where the charity gala would be held.

The ballroom was already being decorated.

White flowers covered the tables. A massive screen had been installed behind the stage. Staff were testing microphones while photographers arranged their equipment.

Everything looked perfect.

That was exactly what my family wanted.

Perfection.

A beautiful room hiding ugly people.

My father was standing near the stage when I walked in.

He smiled as though the mountain incident had never happened.

“There she is.”

He opened his arms.

“Our future bride.”

I didn't hug him.

His smile weakened.

“Still upset?”

“I'm fine.”

“Good. Because tonight is important.”

I looked around the ballroom.

“Important for the charity?”

He laughed.

“For all of us.”

There was something strange in the way he said it.

Before I could question him, Caleb appeared beside him.

“Nora.”

My father walked away.

Caleb lowered his voice.

“Why haven't you answered me?”

“I've been busy.”

“With Paige?”

“Why would I be with Paige?”

He looked uncomfortable.

“She told me you were looking through old family files.”

I smiled.

“Your family shares a lot of information.”

“Nora, listen to me.”

He stepped closer.

“Whatever Paige told you, don't trust it.”

“Why?”

He hesitated.

“Because she has always been unstable.”

I almost laughed.

“Interesting.”

“What?”

“Yesterday, you told me Paige's mountain prank was harmless.”

He looked away.

“I was wrong.”

“And now you're suddenly concerned about what she might tell me.”

He didn't answer.

A staff member approached us.

“Mr. Bennett, the presentation files are ready.”

My father called from across the room.

“Caleb, come here.”

Caleb nodded and followed him.

I waited until they were out of sight.

Then I walked toward the control room.

The gala presentation was already loaded onto the main computer.

I opened the folder.

Paige's prank reel was at the top.

But underneath it was another presentation.

Its title was “Bennett Foundation Expansion Proposal.”

I opened it.

The first slides were about the charity.

The next slides were about funding.

Then I saw something that made me stop.

A proposed acquisition of a private property in Chicago.

The address was familiar.

It was the building where my new apartment was located.

My stomach dropped.

I checked the purchase documents.

The Bennett family had been negotiating to buy the entire building.

My lease had been approved only three days earlier.

I stared at the screen.

They had no idea I had rented there.

Or maybe they did.

I opened the correspondence.

The buyer's representative was Caleb's company.

The acquisition was scheduled to close in six weeks.

My apartment wasn't just my escape.

It was sitting in the middle of one of their business deals.

I copied the documents.

Then I noticed another file.

“Project Lakefront — Confidential.”

I opened it.

Inside were financial projections, private emails, and a list of investors.

One name appeared repeatedly.

Caleb's father.

Another name appeared beside it.

My father.

The two families weren't simply connected through me and Caleb.

They were business partners.

And the charity gala was being used to announce a new joint venture.

My engagement wasn't the reason they wanted our families connected.

It was part of the deal.

I copied everything.

Then I heard the control-room door open.

I closed the laptop.

Paige stood there.

She looked frightened.

“What did you find?”

I looked at her.

“The gala isn't a charity event.”

Her face went pale.

“You found the Lakefront files.”

“You knew?”

She nodded slowly.

“I found them last month.”

“And you said nothing?”

“I was trying to figure out how deep it went.”

I stared at her.

“It's deeper than the accident, isn't it?”

Paige's eyes filled with tears.

“Much deeper.”

Before she could explain, the ballroom speakers crackled.

My father's voice came through the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight.”

The gala had officially begun.

Paige grabbed my wrist.

“Nora, we need to leave.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

I looked toward the ballroom.

“We're staying.”

“Why?”

I smiled.

“Because they prepared a stage for themselves.”

I slipped the memory card deeper into my pocket.

“And tonight, we're going to let them use it.”