Chapter 8
The question hung in the air, heavy and poisonous. Thomas frowned, adjusting his suit jacket. "That is a terrifying point, Alex. If Richard Vance was supposed to be hiding her at an upstate facility, she shouldn't have been within a hundred miles of this charity gala."
Alexander began pacing the length of the penthouse living room. "Victoria was shocked when I walked into the ballroom with Sophia. She genuinely didn't know the child was here. That means Richard brought her here. But why?"
"To extort more money?" Thomas suggested. "Maybe he was planning to crash the gala and threaten Victoria with the child?"
"No," Alexander shook his head, his sharp mind analyzing the tactical layout of the evening. "Richard is too smart for a public scene. If he wanted to threaten Victoria, he would have done it privately. Sophia said she was told to stay away from the 'bright lights.' Someone brought her to the hotel and let her loose in the service corridors."
A soft click from the bedroom interrupted them. Sophia peaked her head out, the oversized white robe dragging on the floor.
"Daddy?" she called out softly.
Alexander stopped pacing immediately, his face softening as he walked over to her. "I'm right here, sweetie. Is Dr. Aris finished?"
"He gave me some medicine that made me sleepy," Sophia said, rubbing her eyes. She walked out into the living room and grabbed Alexander's hand. "But I had a bad dream when I closed my eyes."
"I know, baby. The bad dreams will go away soon, I promise," Alexander said, scooping her up into his arms.
"No, Daddy," Sophia said, her expression incredibly serious for a six-year-old. "It wasn't a dream about the dark room. It was a dream about the car ride today."
Alexander and Thomas exchanged a sharp look.
"Can you tell me about the car ride, Sophia?" Alexander asked gently, sitting down on the sofa with her in his lap.
"The bad man put me in the back of a big black car," Sophia explained, tracing a pattern on the lapel of Alexander's suit. "He was driving. But he wasn't alone. There was another man in the front seat. They were talking about you, Daddy."
"What were they saying?" Thomas asked, stepping closer.
Sophia looked at the lawyer, her rosy cheeks pale with the memory. "The other man said, 'Alexander lands at the airport at six. He will be at the gala by eight. Make sure the package is in the alley by seven-thirty.'"
Alexander’s blood ran cold. The package. They meant Sophia.
"Did you see the other man's face, Sophia?" Alexander asked, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"No, he wore a hat," Sophia shook her head. "But when he gave the bad man a thick envelope of money, I saw his hand. He had a big gold ring with a red stone on his thumb."
Alexander felt the air completely leave his lungs. He stared at his daughter in absolute horror. He knew that ring. He had seen it every day for the last two years at his overseas offices.
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"Alex," Thomas said cautiously. "Who wears a ring with a red stone?"
"My Vice President of Operations," Alexander whispered, the sheer magnitude of the conspiracy crushing down on him. "Marcus. He's the one who booked my flight home."
