Chapter 9 - The Poisoned Cup Returns: Leah Uncovers the Traitor Whispering in the Shadows
The ballroom was a sea of false smiles, clinking crystal, and whispered conspiracies. Julian moved through the crowd like an apex predator, greeting associates whose loyalties were now severely tested by his sudden resurrection.
Leah stayed near him, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Growing up working banquets, she knew the invisible rhythm of waitstaff, bodyguards, and service flow better than anyone.
While Julian was engaged in conversation with an Italian ambassador, Leah noticed a server carrying a silver tray with two glasses of rare vintage wine. The server did not come from the hotel’s standard kitchen corridor—he had slipped out of the private VIP security office, where Sable had spent the last hour.
Leah watched the server’s right hand. It stayed rigidly over the rim of the left glass until he reached Julian.
"A toast from Mr. Sterling to your triumphant return, Mr. Vance," the server announced politely, extending the tray.
Julian reached for the glass.
"Stop!" Leah’s voice cut through the murmuring crowd like a blade.
She stepped between Julian and the server, her eyes locked on the crystal glass. "Don't drink that."
The room went dead silent. High-society elites turned to stare at the commotion.
"Leah?" Julian’s voice was calm, but his eyes turned razor-sharp.
"The server isn't on the hotel's master roster," Leah said, pointing directly at the man’s lapel. "The Grand Aurelia uses embroidered gold thread for banquet staff badges. His is printed plastic. And he walked out of the west wing corridor where the security cameras were manually disabled twenty minutes ago."
The fake server panicked. He dropped the tray, reached inside his jacket for a weapon, but before his hand could clear his lapel, Marcus fired a silenced round beneath his coat. The assassin dropped instantly, dragged into the service curtains by Vance guards before the guests even realized what had happened.
Marcus picked up the fallen wine glass from the carpet, dabbing a test strip into the crimson liquid. The paper immediately turned pitch black.
"Aconite," Marcus whispered grimly to Julian. "Lethal in under sixty seconds."
The guests gasped in horror, backing away.
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Julian looked at Leah. The admiration and fierce protectiveness in his eyes burned so hot it stole her breath away. She hadn't just saved his life once in a dark basement; she had stood between him and death in a room full of enemies.
"Find Sable," Julian commanded his men, his voice vibrating with absolute fury. "Lock down every exit. No one leaves this building."
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