Neither man answered.
Elena closed the folder.
“There is another issue.”
Marlene’s face changed.
It was slight, but I saw it.
“What issue?” I asked.
Elena looked at Daniel.
“Yesterday, someone using your credentials downloaded a confidential summary of Olivia’s company holdings from the planning portal.”
“I didn’t download anything.”
“The access came from your laptop.”
“Then she used it.”
“I was at the rehearsal dinner,” I said.
“So was I.”
Marlene interrupted too quickly.
“His laptop was in our suite.”
Every head near the front row turned toward her.
Daniel stared at his mother.
Elena’s voice remained level.
“I did not say where the laptop was.”
Marlene went still.
For the first time, Daniel looked at her not as an ally but as a danger.
“What did you do?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
“What did you download?”
“I said nothing.”
Elena removed a final page from the folder.
“The hotel’s network log shows the file was transmitted to an email account registered to Marlene Carter.”
Marlene’s composure cracked.
“That proves nothing.
Daniel asked me to review it.”
Daniel stepped away from her.
“No, I didn’t.”
“You told me to help.”
“I told you to leave it alone until after the wedding.”
The confession escaped before he could stop it.
A wave of voices swept through the ballroom.
Daniel covered his mouth.
Marlene closed her eyes.
Elena did not smile.
“Thank you.
The venue’s recording has captured that statement as well.”
Daniel looked toward the bouquet and finally understood that the microphone was still live.
He reached for it.
Security caught his arm before his hand touched the flowers.
“Do not touch her,” one guard said.
Daniel pulled away.
“Get off me.”
The second guard moved beside him.
The venue manager approached me.
“Ms.
Bennett, would you like these individuals removed from the property?”
Marlene looked around as though someone else might overrule me.
This had been her son’s wedding.
She had selected the seating chart, approved the menu, criticized the flowers, and spoken to the staff as if she owned the hotel.
But the contract was in my name.
“Yes,” I said.
