Chapter 4

Back in the ballroom, the mood shifted. Wesley was suddenly loud, frantic.

"My watch! My watch is missing!" he announced, his voice carrying across the room. He made a show of patting his pockets, his face a mask of distress. It was the custom-made watch Nicole had given him.

He looked around, his eyes landing directly on me. "It's a very expensive, one-of-a-kind piece."

Nicole rushed to his side, all concern. "Wesley, what happened?"

"I don't know," he said, his gaze fixed on me. "But he was the last person I was near." He pointed a finger at me. "I think we should search him."

"That's ridiculous," I said, my voice low. "I didn't take your watch."

"Then let us search you!" Wesley pressed, stepping closer. "What do you have to hide?"

"I'm not letting you search me," I said firmly.

The argument drew a crowd. Donors were watching, whispering. Wesley "accidentally" bumped into me, hard. My bag, which was slung over my shoulder, fell to the floor.

The custom-made watch clattered out, spinning on the polished marble.

The room went silent.

Nicole's face went from shock to pure fury. She stared at me, her eyes filled with disgust and accusation. She didn't ask for an explanation. She didn't even hesitate.

"You're a thief," she hissed, her voice shaking with rage. She said it loud enough for everyone to hear.

Mr. Harrington, the key donor, shook his head and walked away, pulling his support and his money with him. I could see her campaign crumbling in her eyes.

She turned that fury on me.

Her hand flew across my face. The slap echoed in the silent room.

"You're a disgrace," she spat.

I looked into her eyes and saw a complete stranger. There was no trust, no history, not even a flicker of doubt in my favor. She had already convicted me.

"Fine," I said, my cheek stinging. "Call the police."

She froze. The one thing she couldn't afford was a police report tying her to a petty thief, especially one who was secretly her husband.

She refused. Instead, she turned her back on me and wrapped her arms around the "victimized" Wesley, comforting him in front of everyone.