Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT THE BALLROOM WENT DARK
The second Harborlight event took place six weeks later.
Claire had been hired to coordinate it.
The foundation wanted to reassure donors while the missing-shipment investigation continued.
Vincent attended as a major sponsor.
Ethan was no longer involved with the foundation.
But he appeared at the hotel anyway.
Claire saw him near the service corridor.
Her stomach tightened.
He smiled.
“Claire.”
She stopped.
“Ethan.”
He stepped closer.
“You've been busy.”
She folded her arms.
“So have you.”
His smile disappeared.
“You think you're clever?”
Claire looked toward the security desk.
“I think this conversation is over.”
She turned.
Then the lights went out.
The ballroom plunged into darkness.
Guests screamed.
Emergency lighting activated.
Security personnel began guiding people toward the exits.
Claire moved immediately.
She knew the evacuation plan.
She directed staff toward the emergency doors.
Helped an elderly guest reach the stairwell.
And coordinated with hotel security.
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When the lights returned, Ethan was gone.
So was a folder containing several key documents from the foundation's investigation.
