THE HEIRESS VOW - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: The Public Figure’s Dilemma
The grand hall of the historic mansion buzzed with the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the room, illuminating the elegantly dressed guests. Ava scanned the crowd, her eyes sharp and alert, while her earpiece crackled with updates from her team.

“Ava, we have eyes on the perimeter. No suspicious activity yet,” came the voice of her second-in-command, Jackson.

“Roger that,” Ava replied, her gaze shifting to the politician at the center of the room. Senator Harris, a tall man with graying hair and a commanding presence, was engaged in a heated discussion with his advisor, an enigmatic figure known only as Marcus.

“We need to ensure Senator Harris stays close,” Ava murmured to herself, weaving through the guests to reach him. As she approached, she caught snippets of their conversation.

“This is not up for debate, Marcus. We must proceed with caution,” Harris insisted, his voice tight with frustration.

Marcus, a man of few words and even fewer expressions, merely nodded. His cold, calculating eyes met Ava’s, and a flicker of recognition passed between them. There was something about him that set her on edge.

“Senator Harris,” Ava greeted, interrupting their exchange. “May I have a word?”

Harris sighed, giving Marcus a dismissive wave. “Yes, of course. What is it, Ava?”

She led him to a quieter corner, away from prying eyes and ears. “We’ve received a direct threat from the Phantom,” she began, her voice low but urgent. “We need your full cooperation to ensure your safety and the safety of everyone here.”

Harris’s expression hardened. “I’m aware of the threat. But canceling this event is not an option.”

“I’m not suggesting we cancel, but we need to be prepared. Please, stay close to my team. And trust me when I say, your advisor is not to be trusted,” Ava urged, glancing over her shoulder at Marcus, who was now conversing with another guest.

Harris’s eyes narrowed. “Marcus has been with me for years. Why should I doubt him now?”

Ava hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Because I’ve seen his type before. He’s hiding something, and in situations like this, trust is paramount.”

Before Harris could respond, the mansion’s grand entrance doors swung open, and a hush fell over the room. A group of figures, dressed in sleek black suits, entered, their presence commanding immediate attention.

Jackson’s voice crackled in her earpiece. “Ava, we’ve got unidentified operatives entering the gala. Possible threat.”

“Understood,” Ava replied, her hand subtly moving to the small firearm concealed at her waist. “Stay on high alert.”

As the guests resumed their conversations, oblivious to the potential danger, Ava made her way to the newcomers. “Can I help you?” she asked, her tone polite but firm.

The leader of the group, a tall man with a stern face, flashed a badge. “Secret Service. We’re here to ensure Senator Harris’s safety.”

Ava frowned. “We weren’t informed of additional security. I’ll need to verify this with my team.”

“Of course,” the man replied smoothly, his expression unreadable.

As Ava turned away, her earpiece buzzed again. “Ava, we’ve got a situation,” Jackson said, urgency in his voice. “We found a device. It looks like a bomb.”

Ava’s heart raced. “Where is it?”

“West wing, near the catering area. We’re working on disarming it, but we need more time,” Jackson informed her.

Ava took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Understood. Keep me posted.”

She quickly made her way back to Harris, who was now surrounded by a small group of guests. “Senator, we need to evacuate the building,” she whispered urgently.

Harris’s eyes widened in alarm. “What’s happened?”

“A bomb. We’re working on disarming it, but we can’t risk the lives of everyone here,” Ava explained, her voice steady despite the chaos brewing inside her.

Harris nodded, his face pale. “Very well. I’ll address the guests.”

As Harris moved to the center of the room, Ava caught sight of Marcus slipping away toward the west wing. Suspicion flared in her chest. She motioned to one of her team members, a young woman named Claire. “Follow him. Do not let him out of your sight.”

Claire nodded, disappearing into the crowd. Harris clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? Due to unforeseen circumstances, we must evacuate the building immediately. Please remain calm and follow the instructions of the security personnel.”

A murmur of concern rippled through the guests, but they began to move toward the exits in an orderly fashion. Ava’s team worked efficiently, guiding people out while keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

Ava’s earpiece buzzed again. “Ava, it’s Jackson. We’ve got the bomb defused, but there’s more. We found evidence of another device, and it’s not in the west wing.”

“Where?” Ava asked, her voice tight with tension.

“South corridor, near the main ballroom. We’re on our way there now,” Jackson replied.

Ava’s mind raced. “I’ll meet you there. Be careful.”

As she moved toward the south corridor, her path was blocked by Marcus. “Going somewhere, Ava?” he asked, a sly smile playing on his lips.

“I don’t have time for this, Marcus,” she snapped, trying to push past him.

He grabbed her arm, his grip like iron. “I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.”

Ava glared at him. “This better be good.”

Marcus leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. “I know who the Phantom is.”

Ava’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”

He released her arm, stepping back. “Let’s just say, the Phantom and I have a history. And I have information that could bring them down.”

Ava’s eyes narrowed. “Why should I believe you?”

“Because we both want the same thing,” Marcus said, his expression serious. “To stop the Phantom before more lives are lost.”

Before Ava could respond, her earpiece crackled with Jackson’s voice. “Ava, we’ve got a visual on the second device. It’s more sophisticated than the first. We need more time.”

Ava’s mind raced. She couldn’t trust Marcus, but she couldn’t ignore his potential value either. “Fine. But you’re coming with me. And if you try anything, I won’t hesitate to take you down.”

Marcus nodded, a hint of a smile on his lips. “Lead the way.”

Together, they hurried toward the south corridor, where Jackson and his team were already working to disarm the second bomb. The tension was palpable, the air thick with the anticipation of imminent danger.

Jackson looked up as they approached. “Ava, this one’s a lot more complex. We’re going to need all hands on deck.”

Ava nodded, turning to Marcus. “You said you have information. Now’s the time to share it.”

Marcus knelt beside the device, his fingers deftly examining the wires. “The Phantom’s operatives are highly trained, but they have a pattern. They always leave a fail-safe.”

Jackson frowned. “A fail-safe?”

Marcus nodded. “If we can find it, we can disarm the bomb without triggering it.”

Ava watched as Marcus worked, her mind racing with the implications of his revelation. Could she really trust him? Did he truly want to stop the Phantom, or was this another layer of deception?

As the minutes ticked by, the tension in the room grew. The guests had been evacuated, but the threat remained. Ava’s thoughts drifted to the politician, her unresolved past with him weighing heavily on her mind. She couldn’t afford to let personal feelings cloud her judgment, not now.

“Got it,” Marcus said suddenly, snapping Ava out of her reverie. “I found the fail-safe.”

Jackson and his team moved quickly, following Marcus’s instructions to disarm the bomb. The seconds felt like hours, but finally, Jackson gave a nod. “We’re clear. The device is disarmed.”

A collective sigh of relief washed over the team, but Ava knew their work wasn’t done. “We need to find the Phantom’s operatives and ensure there are no more surprises.”

As they moved through the mansion, the tension between Ava and Marcus simmered beneath the surface. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something, but she needed his help to protect the politician and stop the Phantom.

They reached the main ballroom, where the final confrontation awaited. The Phantom’s operatives had infiltrated the gala, and a bomb threat loomed over them. The stakes were higher than ever, and Ava’s leadership would be tested to its limits.

“Stay sharp,” Ava whispered to her team, her eyes scanning the room. “We need to neutralize the threat without causing panic.”

As they moved into position, Ava’s mind raced with the possibilities. Could they trust Marcus? What was his true agenda? And most importantly, would they be able to stop the Phantom before it was too late?

The answers would come soon enough, but for now, Ava focused on the task at hand. The fate of the gala, the politician, and everyone in the mansion rested on her shoulders. It was a weight she had carried before, but this time, the stakes felt higher than ever.