Chapter 117 #117
Chapter 117
~Shailyn's POV~
I woke up to sunlight streaming through the curtains.
The party.
Tonight was the night.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Hannah.
I grabbed it quickly before Dante could wake up.
"Hey," I whispered, slipping out of bed and into the bathroom.
"Shailyn, I got something from the camera."
My heart jumped. "What?"
"Audio. From Dante's study last night. But it's breaking up. The quality is bad. I need to extract it properly and clean it up."
"How long will that take?"
"Maybe a day. I'll have it by tomorrow."
Tomorrow. After the party.
Damn.
"Okay. Send it as soon as you can."
"I will. Are you still going through with tonight?"
I paused, mind racing.
We needed something for tonight. Something concrete. Something damaging.
And then it hit me.
"Hannah, remember two months ago? The incident with the staff member?"
"Which one?"
"The woman. Marketing department. Dante cornered her in his office."
Silence. Then: "Oh my God. Yes. I remember."
"There was security footage. I was on the team that covered it up."
"You still have access to it?"
"Maybe. The files might still be in the old server backup."
"Shailyn, if we can get that—"
"We show it tonight. During his big moment. During his speech."
"That's brilliant. But can you get the footage?"
"I'll try. Give me a few hours."
"Okay. I'll be at the venue early to set up the cameras and screens. Text me when you have it."
"I will."
I hung up and stared at myself in the mirror.
Tonight.
Everything changes tonight.
\---
Dante was already awake when I came out.
"Morning, beautiful," he said, smiling.
"Morning."
He pulled me onto the bed beside him. "Big day today."
"Yeah."
"You nervous?"
"A little."
"Don't be. You've done an amazing job with this party. Everyone's going to be impressed."
"I hope so."
He kissed my forehead. "I know so. You're incredible, Shailyn. Seriously."
I forced a smile. "Thank you."
"I mean it. I'm so proud of you." He stroked my hair. "I know I don't say it enough. But I see how hard you work. How much you care."
"Dante—"
"Let me finish. I know things have been hard lately. The stress. The pregnancy. Everything. But I want you to know that I appreciate you. I love you. And I'm so grateful you're mine."
Mine.
That word again.
Like I was property. Something owned.
I swallowed the nausea rising in my throat.
"I love you too," I said automatically.
He smiled and kissed me. "Tonight's going to be perfect. I can feel it."
Perfect.
Sure.
\---
The afternoon passed in a blur.
I managed to access the old server files remotely. Found the footage. Downloaded it onto a secure drive.
Dante hovered around me the entire time, talking about the party, about Gramps's speech, about how important tonight was for the company.
I nodded and smiled and played the part.
The good wife. The supportive partner.
All while hiding the flash drive in my clutch.
"You should start getting ready," Dante said around five. "We need to leave by seven."
"I know."
"Need help with anything?"
"No. I'm fine."
He kissed my cheek. "Alright. I'll be in my room getting dressed. Let me know if you need me."
"I will."
The moment he left, I exhaled.
Finally.
I pulled out my phone and texted Hannah: Got it. See you at seven.
Her response was immediate: Perfect. This is going to be amazing.
I hoped she was right.
\---
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the dress.
The pink one.
The one Dwayne bought me.
It fit perfectly. Elegant. Sophisticated. Beautiful without trying too hard.
I looked good.
Really good.
For a moment, I just stood there, imagining his reaction when he saw me.
Would he smile? Would his eyes linger? Would he say something?
God, I hoped so.
"Stop it," I muttered to myself. "Focus."
But I couldn't help it.
The thought of him seeing me in this dress made my heart race.
I finished my makeup, simple, natural, just enough to enhance, and slipped on my heels.
One last look in the mirror.
I barely recognized myself.
Not because I looked different.
But because I felt different.
Stronger. Sharper. Ready.
Tonight, Dante's perfect image was going to crack.
And I was going to be the one holding the hammer.
\---
I stepped out of the bedroom, clutch in hand, heart pounding.
Dante was probably downstairs already.
But as I turned the corner—
Someone was waiting.
Standing in the hallway.
Watching me.
My breath caught.
His eyes locked on mine.
Slowly, they traveled down. Taking in the dress. The heels. Everything.
When his gaze finally came back to my face, something burned there.
Something intense.
Something that made my entire body go warm.
"Wow," he said quietly.
He took a step closer.
"You look..."