Chapter 14 - THE DINNER THAT BECAME A TRAP
Sebastian wanted the dinner canceled.
The police said no.
If Martin believed nobody knew, he might appear.
So the gala continued.
I hated every second of it.
I wore a borrowed black dress.
Lily stayed with Mrs. Ortiz under police protection.
Leaving her felt physically wrong.
But I needed to be there.
Not because Sebastian asked.
Because Martin’s plan had used my life as paperwork.
I wanted to see the man who thought mothers were weaknesses in a legal strategy.
The ballroom glittered.
Nobody knew.
Martin arrived at 7:18.
Silver hair.
Perfect tuxedo.
Warm smile.
He hugged Sebastian.
I watched Sebastian allow it.
That took more control than any boardroom victory.
“Long day?” Martin asked.
“You could say that.”
Martin saw me.
His eyes paused.
Only a fraction.
Then he smiled.
“You must be Maya.”
I felt cold.
“We’ve never met.”
“No.”
He lifted a champagne glass.
“But I’ve heard so much.”
Sebastian’s jaw tightened.
Martin walked away.
At 7:45, the keynote began.
Martin spoke about family.
Legacy.
Protecting children.
I nearly laughed.
Then a waiter passed me.
Not one of ours.
He whispered, “Bathroom hallway. Now.”
I did not move.
Sebastian saw my face.
“What?”
I told him.
Security followed at a distance.
In the hallway, a girl stood beside a woman in a gray suit.
Sofia.
I knew immediately.
She looked like the photograph.
Older.
Terrified.
The woman beside her held her wrist too tightly.
Sofia looked at me.
“Are you Maya?”
My heart stopped.
“Yes.”
She pulled free.
“My dad said you have a baby.”
Daniel.
“Where is he?”
The woman grabbed her again.
Security moved.
She released Sofia.
Then ran.
She made it six steps.
Officers took her down near the elevators.
Sofia stood frozen.
I crouched several feet away.
I did not touch her.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Where’s Daniel?”
“I don’t know.”
Her eyes filled.
“He came to my house last night.”
“What happened?”
“He told Natalie to take me somewhere safe.”
“Did she?”
Sofia shook her head.
“Uncle Martin came.”
My stomach turned.
“What did he say?”
“He said my mother was dangerous.”
Elena was waiting in another room with a child advocate.
We would not force that reunion.
Not here.
Not like this.
Then Sofia reached into her coat.
She handed me a small recorder.
“My dad gave me this.”
Sebastian approached.
“What is it?”
Sofia looked toward the ballroom where Martin was still speaking.
“He said if anything happened to him, give it to the man whose sister tried to save me.”
Sebastian’s face changed.
The recorder contained one file.
Recorded the night before.
Daniel’s voice.
And Martin’s.
Martin said:
“Once Lily is in your custody, Sofia becomes unnecessary.”
Daniel asked:
“What does unnecessary mean?”
Martin answered:
May you like
“The same thing it meant for Caroline.”
