Chapter 1 - The Shaking Chest Beneath the Tree
The heavy antique wooden chest beside the towering twelve-foot Christmas tree suddenly shuddered with violent, frantic force.
A dull, hollow thud echoed beneath the festive melodies floating through the Chicago mansion's grand ballroom.
Gold ribbons and crimson velvet trimmings tied around the dark timber quivered as the heavy lid rattled against its brass latch.
Maria, the twenty-eight-year-old housemaid, froze in her tracks, her dark eyes widening with immediate alarm.
She dropped her silver serving tray onto a side stand and rushed directly toward the base of the illuminated fir tree.
Desperate knuckles hammered against the inside of the thick wooden planks, sending muffled gasps into the cold ballroom air.
Maria knelt upon the polished white marble floor, her fingers instantly locking onto the heavy brass fastening.
Before she could flip the release mechanism, a manic blur of crimson silk tore through the warm golden lighting.
Victoria Sterling, her platinum-blonde Hollywood waves bouncing furiously, lunged forward with bared teeth.
Her manicured hand violently grabbed a fistful of Maria’s dark hair, yanking the maid backward with sickening force.
Maria cried out in shock as Victoria wrenched her neck and shoved her violently away from the locked chest.
The young maid lost her footing entirely and crashed headlong into the neighboring luxury banquet table.
Tiers of delicate crystal champagne flutes wobbled, tipped, and shattered violently across the linen tablecloth.
Gilded plates slid over the edge, raining porcelain shards, spiced hors d’oeuvres, and silver cutlery onto the marble floor.
Red wine and vintage champagne pooled like fresh blood around Maria's practical black shoes as she lay dazed against the table leg.
Victoria stepped directly in front of the vibrating chest, her icy blue eyes wide with pure, frantic hostility.
She smoothed the waist of her fitted crimson evening gown with trembling hands while glaring at the shaken housemaid.
The chest behind her gave another desperate lurch, its brass latch screeching against the strain of someone trapped inside.
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Victoria clenched her diamond-adorned fists and hissed through bared red lips, screaming so fiercely that nearby guests froze in terror.
"Stay the hell away from that chest!" she screamed, her shrill voice slicing through the festive ballroom atmosphere.
