Chapter 38 - The Crimson Distraction
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I watched from the shadows near the ice sculpture as Irene flawlessly executed her approach. She moved with the grace of a predator, her crimson dress turning heads across the ballroom.
She purposefully 'tripped' over the edge of the plush carpet right in front of Victor Vance, spilling a splash of champagne onto his expensive suit lapel.
"Oh, my God, I am so incredibly sorry," Irene gasped, her voice dripping with calculated distress. She immediately stepped into his personal space, using a silk napkin to dab at his jacket.
Victor stood up, initially furious, but his anger evaporated the second he looked into Irene's eyes. "It's quite alright, beautiful. An easy mistake to make," he purred, puffing his chest out.
As Irene smiled and kept his attention locked on her face, her left hand dropped swiftly below his line of sight. With practiced precision, she unclipped the biometric keycard from his belt, letting it slide seamlessly into the palm of her hand.
She gave him a lingering look. "Can I buy you a drink to make up for it?"
"I think I’d like that," Victor grinned.
As they walked toward the bar, Irene casually brushed her hand against a decorative potted palm near my hiding spot. She dropped the keycard into the dirt.
I waited three seconds, scooped up the card, and melted into the crowd heading toward the restricted corridor.
"I have the keycard, Julian," I whispered into my comms.
May you like
"The penthouse elevator is down the west hall. You have a two-minute window before Victor realizes his card is gone," Julian replied.
I moved quickly, swiping the red card against the scanner of the private elevator. The doors hissed open. I stepped inside and hit the button for the 80th floor. As the elevator rocketed upward, my stomach dropped. This was the belly of the beast. Elias Thorne was waiting above, and there was no turning back now.
