Mark laughed, a cruel, braying sound. “No, no. This is Jessica, my… right hand. My wife is around here somewhere.” He scanned the room, his eyes sliding over Elena in the shadows. “Probably near the buffet. She loves free food.”

Jessica giggled, whispering something in Mark’s ear.

Elena watched them. Her heart was a block of ice. But then, she saw it.

Around Jessica’s neck glittered a necklace. It was a blue diamond pendant, set in white gold. The design was unmistakable. It was the Star of the North, a custom piece commissioned by Elena’s grandfather for her grandmother. It had been missing from Elena’s jewelry box for two weeks. Mark had told her he took it to get the clasp repaired.

He hadn’t just cheated on her. He had stolen her legacy to adorn his mistress.

The last shred of pity Elena held for Mark evaporated.

She pulled out her phone. It was 8:00 PM.

She opened an encrypted app and typed a single message to the CEO of the holding company, Arthur Sterling.

Message: Execute Plan Omega. The stage is yours.