“He gave it to me as a gift.”
“You are an employee.”
Clara remained silent.
Margaret stepped closer.
“Never forget that.”
Clara met her gaze without lowering her eyes.
“I don’t.”
Margaret walked away.
The next morning, the bracelet was still on Clara’s wrist.
The incident that destroyed Clara’s life began with a necklace.
It belonged to the Hamilton family and had been stored for decades in a velvet-lined safe inside Margaret’s private dressing room.
The piece was famous among their social circle: an antique diamond-and-emerald necklace reportedly purchased in Europe by Adam’s great-grandfather. Its monetary value was enormous, but Margaret spoke about it as though it were sacred.
She wore it only on significant occasions.
That year, she intended to wear it to a charity gala.
Clara knew because she had been asked to prepare Margaret’s evening gown.
The afternoon before the gala, Margaret entered her dressing room.
Seconds later, Clara heard a scream.
“Adam!”
Clara froze in the hallway.
Margaret rushed from the room holding an empty velvet jewelry case.
Adam came from his study.
“What happened?”
“The necklace.”
