Chapter 2: The Mask Slips
The woman on the floor, who had been trembling violently seconds ago, suddenly stilled. Her breathing leveled out. She wiped a smudge of artificial dirt from her cheek, revealing skin that was unblemished and eyes that were suddenly, terrifyingly sharp.
She rose to her feet in one fluid, athletic motion. She didn't look defeated; she looked like a predator that had finally been released from a crate.
Evelyn blinked, her smile faltering. "I told you to get down."
The woman ignored her. She walked to the center of the foyer, her boots clicking against the marble with military precision. She adjusted her collar and looked directly at the crowd of elites. The room went dead silent. The nervous laughter that had filled the air seconds ago evaporated.
"I didn't come here to steal anything, Evelyn," the woman said, her voice projecting to the rafters. "I needed you to lock every exit yourself."
"You’re insane," Evelyn stammered, stepping back. "Security! Remove her!"
But the security team didn't move. They were staring at their tablets, their faces pale. The woman smiled, a slow, chilling curve of her lips. She looked at Evelyn, then at the senator standing in the front row, then at the billionaire hedge fund manager clutching his drink.
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"You think this house is your fortress," she said, her voice calm and amused. "But you just turned it into a witness box."
She paused, making sure everyone was listening. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper that carried across the hushed hall: "The feed is already live."
