Chapter 5 - THE SECOND CAKE
The first real breakthrough came from the kitchen.
Chef Antonio had worked for the Moretti family for nineteen years.
He was a proud man who treated his kitchen like a kingdom.
When Dominic questioned him about the cake, Antonio became furious.
“I inspected every ingredient myself.”
Dominic remained calm.
“Then someone tampered with it afterward.”
Antonio shook his head.
“Impossible.”
“Lily saw it.”
Antonio looked toward me.
Then sighed.
“I know.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“The cake was stored in the cold room for forty minutes before the party.”
“Who had access?”
“Kitchen staff. Catering staff. Security.”
Vincent handed him a list.
Antonio studied it.
Then stopped.
“Wait.”
Dominic leaned forward.
“What?”
Antonio pointed to a name.
“Peter Lawson.”
Vincent frowned.
“Who is he?”
“Temporary pastry assistant.”
“Who hired him?”
Antonio looked confused.
“I thought you did.”
Dominic went still.
“I did not.”
Antonio stared.
“Then someone forged the authorization.”
Peter Lawson's personnel file contained a photograph.
Lily looked at it.
She shook her head.
“Not him.”
Vincent frowned.
“Are you sure?”
Lily nodded.
“Bad man had a beard.”
The photograph showed a clean-shaven young man.
Dominic looked toward Marco, his second security officer.
“Find the real Peter Lawson.”
They located him in Queens.
He had never worked at the Moretti estate.
He had applied for a catering job months earlier but never received a response.
Someone had used his identity.
The forged employment documents included a signature from the estate's event coordinator.
Victoria Bellamy's personal assistant.
A woman named Celeste Grant.
Celeste had worked for Victoria for five years.
She was efficient, quiet, and fiercely loyal.
When questioned, she insisted the paperwork was legitimate.
“I was told Mr. Moretti approved the hire.”
“By whom?” Vincent asked.
“Miss Bellamy.”
Dominic stared.
Celeste looked suddenly frightened.
“I assumed she had spoken to you.”
Dominic said nothing.
Then asked, “Where is Victoria?”
Vincent checked his phone.
“She left the estate an hour ago.”
“Where did she go?”
“Her family's townhouse.”
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Get the car.”
That evening, Victoria called me.
I nearly dropped the phone when I saw her name.
“Hello?”
Her voice was smooth.
“Grace.”
I swallowed.
“Miss Bellamy.”
“I understand you've been spending a great deal of time with Dominic.”
My stomach tightened.
“I'm helping with Ethan.”
“Of course.”
A pause.
Then she said, “You should remember your position.”
I said nothing.
Victoria continued.
“You're a housekeeper. You have a child to support. It would be unfortunate if you lost your job over a misunderstanding.”
My hands began shaking.
“Is that a threat?”
She laughed softly.
“Don't be dramatic.”
Then she ended the call.
I stared at the screen.
For six years, I had kept my head down.
Worked hard.
Avoided conflict.
May you like
But now someone was threatening my daughter.
And I was finished being quiet.
