Chapter 19 - The Ultimate Choice
Panic surged through Darra’s veins like liquid fire. She threw open the dressing room door and sprinted down the backstage corridor toward the main auditorium.
Ring. Ring.
Her cell phone buzzed violently in her pocket. She pulled it out; the restricted number was calling again. She swiped and held it to her ear.
"I got your message," Darra panted into the phone as she ran. "What do you want?!"
"Smart girl," the distorted voice laughed coldly. "If you want the little deaf girl to see her father again, you’re going to walk out onto that stage right now, interrupt Aiden’s speech, and read a pre-written statement admitting that Ashworth Industries’ entire safety reform is a fraudulent stunt, and that Aiden orchestrated the Grand Horizon fire himself."
Darra stopped dead in her tracks in the middle of the hallway. "You're insane! I'll never do that!"
"Then consider this your final warning," the voice snapped. A sharp, clear audio clip played over the phone speaker—Chloe’s terrified voice crying out: "Daddy! Help me!"
"No! Stop! Don't touch her!" Darra screamed, tears blinding her eyes. "I'll do it. Just don't hurt her!"
"You have two minutes, Darra," the phone clicked dead.
Darra stood trembling in the wings of the stage. Through the heavy velvet curtains, she could see Aiden standing at the podium, speaking passionately to the packed auditorium. On the giant projection screen behind him, the company logo glowed brightly.
May you like
She had two choices: walk out there, destroy the man she loved and everything he had built to save Chloe, or refuse and risk losing the little girl who had stolen her heart in a burning hotel room.
She wiped the tears from her face, took a deep, shuddering breath, and stepped through the velvet curtains into the blinding glare of the stage lights.
