They were still laughing when the ballroom doors opened.

Not the main entrance.

The side entrance.

The one marked *Private — Management Only.*

Three men in dark suits walked in without knocking.

Behind them came a woman in a sharp grey blazer, carrying a tablet and a leather folder.

She walked straight toward the head of security near the far wall and said something quietly.

The security manager's face changed immediately.

Chloe noticed.

"Who are those people?"

Nobody answered her.

Eleanor stepped forward.

"I said someone call the police.

This woman needs to be—"

"Ma'am."

The woman in the grey blazer turned calmly.

"This venue is privately owned.

The police have already been contacted.

But not about her."

Eleanor blinked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"The security footage from the last forty minutes has been pulled." She glanced briefly at Amanda.

"All of it."

The room went very still.

Amanda's grip on her silver purse tightened until her knuckles went white.

Chloe looked at her cousin.

Then back at the woman.

"What does that mean?"

No one answered.

Then my phone buzzed once.

A message from my father.

Four words.

*Look at the door.*

I looked up.

And for the first time all evening, Dominic went completely pale.