Public Debut

chapter 4:

The handle turned under Jennifer’s fingers.

It shouldn’t have. David had locked that door twice. But now it gave way with a soft click, and the smell of old paper and cold metal hit her first.

The east wing room was smaller than she expected. No windows. One wall lined with filing cabinets. Another with a wall safe, door ajar. And on the desk in the center—her parents’ names.

Not just in a file. On a contract.

*Benz-Loriss Joint Venture Agreement*

*Dated: 14 months before accident*

Jennifer’s hands shook as she reached for it.

The first page was standard legal boilerplate. The second was not.

_Clause 9: In the event of breach by either party, all assets revert to the non-breaching party, effective immediately._

Her father’s signature was at the bottom. So was Robert Loriss’s. David’s father.

Someone knocked on the door.

Jennifer froze.

“Jennifer?” David’s voice was low, urgent. “Get out of there. Now.”

She didn’t move.

The door opened. David stood in the frame, face tight with anger and something else. Fear.

“What did you see?” he asked.

“This,” she said, holding up the contract. “My parents didn’t sell the company. They made a partnership with your dad. So why did Ravenna end up with everything?”

David stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

“Because someone forged a breach,” he said quietly. “Clause 9 was triggered two weeks before the accident. On paper, your parents defaulted. The company reverted to Loriss Corp.”

Jennifer’s breath caught. “That’s impossible. My dad would never—”

“I know,” David said. “That’s why I’ve been looking.”

He walked to the safe and pulled out a folder. Inside were bank records, emails, timestamped logs.

“These were sent to me anonymously a week after you signed the contract,” he said. “Someone wanted me to see them. Someone wanted you to find this room.”

Jennifer looked at the dates. Two weeks before the crash.

“Who?” she whispered.

David’s jaw tightened. “I don’t know. But whoever it is, they’re still watching.”

The intercom buzzed. Elise’s voice came through, strained.

“David, Harry Argent is in the lobby. He says if you don’t let him up, he’s calling the press.”

David cursed. “Stay here. Lock the door after me.”

He was gone before Jennifer could answer.

She didn’t lock the door. She couldn’t. Not with the contract still in her hands and her heart pounding like it wanted out.

---

The gala was in two hours, and Jennifer had no choice but to go.

David’s team dressed her in a deep emerald gown that made her skin look too pale and her eyes too bright. Elise pinned her hair up, leaving a few strands loose to frame her face.

“You look dangerous,” Elise said, studying her in the mirror. “Good. You’ll need it.”

Jennifer barely heard her. She kept replaying David’s words. _Someone wanted you to find this room._

Why?

The car ride to the venue was silent. David sat beside her, tie loosened, phone in hand. He hadn’t spoken since the east wing.

When they arrived, the red carpet was a wall of noise. Cameras. Shouts. Flashbulbs.

“Mr. Loriss! Ms. Benz! Over here!”

“Any comment on the Argent merger?”

“Is it true you blackmailed him into this engagement?”

Jennifer kept her chin up and her hand on David’s arm. He guided her through it like he’d done this a hundred times. Because he had.

Inside, the ballroom was worse.

Carmilla was there, in a silver dress that cost more than Jennifer’s car. She smiled when she saw them, and it wasn’t kind.

“Well,” Carmilla said, gliding over with a glass of champagne. “If it isn’t Cinderella.”

David stepped slightly in front of Jennifer. “Carmilla.”

Carmilla’s eyes flicked to Jennifer’s dress, her hair, the way David’s hand rested at her lower back.

“You clean up well,” she said to Jennifer. “For a maid.”

The words landed like a slap.

A few guests nearby paused, listening.

Jennifer felt her face heat. Four years ago, that would’ve broken her. Tonight, it just made her angry.

“Actually,” she said, voice steady, “I haven’t worked for your mother in three years. But I’m glad she’s still talking about me. It’s nice to be memorable.”

Carmilla’s smile slipped.

David’s hand tightened slightly on Jennifer’s back. Approval.

Before Carmilla could reply, the lights dimmed. The host took the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. David Loriss and Ms. Jennifer Benz!”

Applause. David led Jennifer to the center of the floor for the opening dance.

The orchestra started. Slow. Formal.

David pulled her close, one hand at her waist, the other holding hers.

“Don’t look at Carmilla,” he murmured. “Look at me.”

Jennifer looked up. His eyes were dark, focused.

“You’re angry,” he said.

“You would be too,” she replied.

“I am,” he said. “But not at you.”

The dance floor was crowded, but it felt like they were alone.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the partnership?” Jennifer asked quietly.

“Because I didn’t know if you’d believe me,” David said. “And because if you believe me, you’re in danger.”

“So I’m supposed to pretend nothing happened?”

“No,” David said. “You’re supposed to stay alive long enough to prove it.”

The music swelled. Someone near the edge of the floor dropped a glass. It shattered.

Everyone turned.

Harry Argent stood at the entrance, suit jacket off, tie loose, eyes locked on Jennifer.

David’s grip on her waist tightened.

“Stay behind me,” he said.

Harry walked through the crowd like it parted for him. He stopped ten feet away.

“Jennifer,” he said. His voice was low, familiar. “We need to talk.”

Jennifer’s chest tightened. Harry had been her brother’s best friend. He’d been at her parents’ funeral.

“Not here,” she said.

“Then come outside,” Harry said. “Unless you’re too scared.”

David stepped forward. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

Harry’s gaze shifted to David, cold and calculating.

“You don’t know what you’re holding, David,” Harry said. “She’s a liability. Just like her father.”

Jennifer’s blood ran cold.

“What did you just say?” she asked.

Harry smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“I said, your father made a deal with the wrong people,” Harry said. “And now they’re coming for you.”

The room went silent.

Carmilla took a step forward, phone already out.

Jennifer felt David tense beside her.

“Security,” David said quietly. “Now.”

But before security could move, the ballroom doors burst open.

Two men in black suits strode in, badges flashing.

“Jennifer Benz?” one of them said. “You’re under arrest for industrial espionage.”

Jennifer’s knees nearly gave out.

David stepped in front of her instantly.

“You have no warrant,” he said.

“We do,” the officer said, holding up a paper. “Signed by a judge. Two hours ago.”

Jennifer looked at David. His face was unreadable.

“Don’t say anything,” he told her. “Not one word.”

Harry watched from the sidelines, expression satisfied.

Jennifer’s last thought before the officers took her arm was of the contract in the east wing.

Someone wanted her in that room.

And now they wanted her in jail.