Chapter 2 - The Tea
The paramedic cut the sleeve of the blood-pressure cuff tighter around my arm.
“Any dizziness?”
“Yes.”
“Nausea?”
“Yes.”
“Cramping?”
I looked at Adrian.
He looked worse than I felt.
“Yes.”
The medical team had taken me into a private conference room because Victor refused to let anyone move me through the public lobby until he knew I was stable.
Cassandra was still outside with security.
I could hear her heels striking the marble as she paced.
Adrian crouched in front of me.
“Why didn’t you tell me she said something to you?”
“Because every time I mention Cassandra, you tell me she’s just your business partner.”
His jaw tightened.
“That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t believe you.”
I stared at him.
“Doesn’t it?”
The question landed harder than I expected.
For three months, Cassandra had been everywhere.
At dinners.
At strategy meetings.
On late-night calls.
She knew Adrian’s schedule better than I did.
She had once walked into our penthouse without knocking because she still had an executive access key from before we married.
Adrian had called it an oversight.
I had called the building manager myself.
The paramedic glanced at the monitor.
“Heart rate is elevated, but the baby’s heartbeat is steady.”
I let out a breath I had been holding for ten minutes.
Adrian touched my knee.
“Emily, I swear to you—”
The conference room door opened.
Victor entered.
He dismissed everyone except the lead paramedic with one look.
Then he placed the evidence bag on the table.
“We had the vial tested by the building’s emergency lab.”
Adrian stood.
“And?”
Victor looked at me.
“It contained a concentrated sedative.”
My skin went cold.
“Which one?”
“That dosage could cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.”
Victor grabbed his arm.
“No.”
“Let go of me.”
“No.”
“You touch her,” he said, “and she becomes the victim. You want the truth? Stay in this room.”
“There’s something else.”
Cassandra was standing beside my cup.
My tea had been delivered at 1:16.
Victor looked at him.
“Trying?”
Adrian frowned.
The room went silent.
It showed Cassandra inside a records room after midnight.
Adrian’s face lost color.
Victor said, “She wasn’t looking for company files.”
“What was she looking for?”
May you like
Victor’s eyes moved to my stomach.
“Your baby.”
