Chapter 8 - The Hidden Game
Beneath Clara’s placid exterior, her mind was moving at a blistering pace. She hadn't stolen the bracelet—she had no use for baubles when she was hunting for something far more valuable buried within the Sterling archives. But Eleanor’s frantic pivot to accusation was telling. It wasn't just a desperate lie; it was a preemptive strike. Eleanor had something hidden in her own quarters, or perhaps she was terrified of what Clara might find if she ever looked too closely at the household ledgers.
Richard took a step closer, lowering his voice so the guards could not catch every syllable. "If I have security tear your room apart and find nothing, you're still fired for gross insubordination and striking a guest. If they do find it..." He let the threat linger, heavy and absolute.
Clara’s eyes flashed with a dark, knowing brilliance. "Go ahead, Mr. Sterling," she whispered back, her tone carrying an eerie, unsettling serenity. "Have them search every square inch of my quarters. But while they're up there, perhaps you should ask yourself what else your security cameras are recording in this house."
