Chapter 4

Elena’s face drained of all color.

"Chloe! Are you insane?!"

"This is a high-security commercial door! Breaking it requires regional approval! You don't have the authority to do this!"

I ignored her, dialed the mall's security dispatch, and put it on speaker.

"Hi, this is the Tiffany's boutique on the first floor of Zone C. Our vault lock is damaged, and we have over $400,000 worth of inventory locked inside. It's a major security hazard. Please bring breaching tools and come over immediately."

The dispatcher asked a couple of quick questions and promised to send someone right away.

I hung up and looked at Elena. "As the assistant manager, if the store manager is incapacitated or suspected of a policy violation, I have the authority to take emergency measures."

Elena lunged at me to grab my phone.

"You're out of your mind, Chloe! You're disrupting mall operations! The company will fire you tomorrow!"

I sidestepped her easily.

Lara lost her temper, pointing a finger at my face. "Chloe, do you have a mental illness or something? Calling security to smash a door in the middle of the night?"

"When the regional manager asks about this tomorrow and finds out nothing is wrong inside, who is going to take the blame? You?"

Vicky kicked a nearby stool in frustration.

"If you want to be a psycho, do it on your own time. We are leaving. Goodnight!"

They turned to walk out.

"If anyone steps out of this store before that door is open," I said coldly, "I will report you to the police as an accomplice to a $400,000 grand theft."

Both of them froze instantly.

Lara whipped her head around, her eyes wide. "What the hell are you talking about? Theft?"

I pointed at the locked vault door.

"Elena swore the inventory was safe, yet she chose to break the key rather than let me look inside."

"If security breaks that door open and the vault is empty..."

"Every single person in this room tonight will be a prime suspect in a police investigation."

Hearing this, Vicky immediately grabbed Elena’s arm. "Elena, she's lying, right? She's just making things up..."

"The inventory is fine, right?"

Beads of cold sweat rolled down Elena’s forehead. She bit her lip so hard it turned white. Suddenly, she collapsed to the floor, clutching her arm.

"Ah! It hurts so much!"

"Lara, quick! I can't take the pain anymore!"

"Call 911! I need an ambulance!"

Lara panicked and hurriedly pulled out her phone to dial.

Elena leaned against Lara, looking at me weakly as tears streamed down her face.

"Chloe, what did I ever do to you? Why are you trying to ruin my life?"

"I'm in agonizing pain, and all you care about is some stupid inventory? Do you even have a heart?"

I remained unmoved. "If you're sick, go to the hospital. I won't stop you."

"Get in the ambulance. But I am checking the inventory tonight."

"If you run away now and the vault is empty, you'll be the first person the police hunt down."