The chandelier crashes before Amelia Parker even sees it falling.
Glass explodes across the ballroom floor like fireworks. Guests scream. Music
stops. Someone trips over a chair. Champagne spills everywhere.
Amelia's heart slams hard against her ribs.
"No… no… no…
" she whispers under her breath.
This cannot be happening tonight.
Tonight is the biggest event she has ever handled. The charity gala is filled with
New York's richest donors, famous business leaders, and media cameras waiting to
capture every perfect moment.
And now everything is falling apart.
"Everybody move back" Amelia shouts, running toward the stage. Her heels nearly
slip on spilled wine, but she keeps moving. Someone turn the backup lights on!
Call maintenance now! She shouted
The floral arch behind the stage begins leaning dangerously. One wrong move and
it will crash directly into the VIP section.
Without thinking, Amelia climbs on the stage and grabs the unstable frame with
her bare hands. Her palms burn from the metal, but she tightens her grip and pulls
it upright while shouting instructions into her headset.
Her chest is tight. Her hands are shaking. But she refuses to let anyone see fear.
This event was her last chance, and if she fails tonight, her business might not
survive.
After several intense minutes, the lights return. The decorations are secured. The
orchestra slowly starts playing again. Guests settle down like nothing happened.
Amelia steps off the stage, breathing heavily, sweat sliding down her back. Relief
mixes with exhaustion.That was… impressive!
The deep voice behind her makes her turn.
Standing there is Ethan Blackwood.
Everyone knows his name. A billionaire tech owner, ruthless businessman, private,
powerful, and almost impossible to read.
Amelia blinks once, trying to calm her racing heart.
"You're welcome,
" she says, folding her arms.
His eyebrow lifts slightly. For what?
For saving your event! She said
He studies her quietly.
"I own the company sponsoring this gala.
"
Amelia pauses… then shrugs.
"Then you're welcome.
"
For the first time in years, someone talks to Ethan Blackwood without fear or
admiration.
And he can't stop watching her.
While they stood side by side observing people and activities, Amelia was unaware
of the danger looming ahead.
Something caught her attention upstairs and she looked up again, this time around
the chandelier had twisted tighter.
Then it began to split into two
"Move away from the center,
" she shouted.
Her voice cut through the music.
Some guests turned towards her with confused looks. Others ignored her
completely.
She didn't hesitate.
"Move,
" she said louder.
"Now.
"
The final link snapped.
The chandelier crashed down.
The sound was violent. Crystal exploded outward like flying ice. Metal slammed
into marble with a force that shook the floor. The orchestra stopped mid-note.
Screams filled the air.
People ran.
A woman slipped near the stage, and a waiter dropped his tray. Someone bumped
into Amelia from behind.She grabbed the woman closest to her and pulled her backward just before a heavy
metal arm smashed into the ground where they had been standing.
Dust filled the air.
For a few seconds, no one understood what had happened.
Then fear spread.
Guests rushed toward the exits, some pushed, others cried, broken crystal crushed
under expensive shoes.
Amelia climbed onto a nearby chair.
"Stop running,
" she called firmly.
"You'll hurt each other. Move to the sides.
Slowly.
"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was steady.
People began slowing down.
Across the wreckage, Ethan Blackwood stood near the stage.
He had not moved.
His expression was hard and sharp, not shocked.
He looked angry.
"Lock the doors,
" he said calmly to his head of security.
The words were not loud.
But they carried on.
Guards immediately moved to seal the exits.
Amelia stared at him.
Lock the doors?
Guests near the back protested.
"You can't trap us in here.
"
Ethan stepped forward. He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
"No one leaves until we know whether this was an accident,
" he said.
"If someone
caused this, they are still inside.
"
The room quieted.
He spoke like someone used to being obeyed.
Like someone who never needed permission.
Amelia jumped down from the chair and walked straight toward him.
Up close, he was taller than she expected. Calm. Controlled. His eyes scanned the
room like he was already solving the problem.
"You need to let people out,
" she said.
"Someone could be injured.
"
His gaze dropped to her slowly, measuring her."My team will handle it.
"
"And if there's another problem?" she pushed.
A small silence formed between them.
No one spoke to Ethan Blackwood that way.
"And you are?" he asked coolly.
"Someone thinking clearly,
" she replied.
Something flickered in his eyes.
Before he could answer, a guard rushed over.
"Sir, the support beam above the chandelier was cut.
"
Cut, not loose, not broken.
Cut.
"You're turning panic into chaos.
"
The word spread quickly through the crowd.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Deliberate?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Clean slice.
"
So this was no accident.
The lights came on and off
Once.
Twice.
Then half the ballroom went dark, there was no ray of light
Gasps rose again.
Emergency lights glowed dim red along the walls, throwing long shadows across
shattered crystal.
"Backup power,
" Ethan ordered.
"We're trying, sir. The system isn't responding.
"
Not responding.
Amelia felt a cold feeling creep into her stomach.
She looked up toward the ceiling beams again.
And she saw it.
A shape moving along the narrow maintenance walkway high above the ballroom.
A person, running.
"There,
" she said sharply, pointing.
Ethan followed her gaze.
For a split second, he saw it too."Roof access,
" he said instantly.
"Seal it.
"
Security rushed toward the side corridors.
A loud metal door slammed somewhere above.
Then silence.
The shadow vanished.
Police sirens began wailing outside the building.
The ballroom felt smaller now, heavy and trapped.
Amelia folded her arms, thinking fast.
"This wasn't random,
" she said quietly.
Ethan looked at her.
"No,
" he agreed.
"It wasn't.
"
There was something else in his tone.
Recognition.
As if this was not the first time someone had tried to reach him like this.
His phone vibrated and he glanced at the screen.
The calm expression slipped, just for a second.
Amelia noticed.
"What is it?" she asked.
He hesitated.
Then turned the phone so she could see.
Unknown number.
You should have stayed buried.
Her throat tightened.
"Do you know who this is?" she asked softly.
He didn't answer.
Another message appeared.
Round one complete.
A cold silence settled between them.
Round one meant there would be more.
The emergency lights came on again.
Then everything went black.
Complete darkness swallowed the ballroom.
Someone knocked over a chair, glass crunched under hurried steps, a woman began
crying somewhere in the dark.
Amelia forced herself to stay still.Panic spreads fast.
Then she heard it.
Not screaming.
Not running.
Footsteps that were slow.
Measured.
Above them.
Walking along the narrow ceiling beams as if the darkness made no difference.
As if the person up there could see perfectly.
The footsteps stopped directly over Ethan.
The room held its breath.
Then, from somewhere in the black space above, a small red dot appeared.
It moved once and settled on Ethan Blackwood's chest.