Chapter 2: The Gold Mark
Nobody spoke.
Vanessa kept one heel behind the other, as if hiding the tiny gold emblem could somehow erase what Diane had seen.
Marcus noticed.
“So,” he said quietly, “why are you hiding your shoe?””
“I’m not.””
“You just did.””
Vanessa looked around.
The guests who had been laughing with her twenty minutes earlier suddenly seemed very far away.
She crossed her arms.
“This is ridiculous.””
Diane watched her carefully.
“No,” Diane said.
“It isn’t.””
Vanessa’s eyes snapped toward her.
“You embarrassed me in front of everyone.””
Diane almost smiled.
“You embarrassed yourself.””
A few guests exchanged glances.
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
Marcus stepped between them.
“Mom, what is that logo?””
Diane didn’t answer immediately.
She walked toward the outdoor bar and placed both hands against its marble edge.
Her fingers trembled.
Marcus followed.
“Mom?””
Diane looked at him.
“Years ago, I designed a private collection.””
Marcus frowned.
“You never told me about that.””
“I never wanted to.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“Because it was some little boutique?””
Diane turned toward her.
“No.””
One word.
Quiet.
Sharp.
Diane continued.
“It was a luxury footwear collection made for a private client list. Only thirty-six pairs were produced.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“So?””
“So none were ever released to the public.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa’s feet.
“How much were they?””
Diane shook her head.
“That’s not the point.””
“What is the point?””
Diane’s eyes fixed on the gold mark.
“Every pair had a unique internal stamp.””
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Diane took one step closer.
“Not the logo on the outside. The one underneath.””
Marcus looked confused.
“Underneath the heel?””
“Yes.””
Diane nodded.
“And that stamp was never photographed. Never advertised. Only three people knew it existed.””
Marcus’s voice dropped.
“Who?””
Diane hesitated.
“Myself.””
She looked at Marcus.
“The manufacturer.””
Then at Vanessa.
“And the person who stole the shoes.””
The patio erupted in whispers.
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
“You’re accusing me of stealing?””
“I haven’t accused you of anything.””
“You just did.””
“No,” Diane said.
“I told you what the mark means.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“You’re jealous.””
Diane’s face remained still.
“Of your shoes?””
“You hate that Marcus chose me.””
Marcus shook his head.
“Vanessa, stop.””
She turned on him.
“No. She’s been doing this all night.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Doing what?””
“Looking down on me.””
“You called her a server.””
“Because she was carrying drinks!””
“She was helping host the party.””
Vanessa’s eyes flashed.
“I didn’t know she owned the house!””
Marcus took a breath.
“That doesn’t make what you did okay.””
Vanessa looked toward the guests.
“They all thought she was staff.””
Diane’s voice came softly from behind him.
“That was intentional.””
Marcus turned.
“What?””
Diane looked at the crowd.
“I wanted to see who treated me differently when they thought I had no power.””
Nobody moved.
The implication spread through the patio like cold water.
Diane had invited these people.
She had watched them.
And Vanessa had just revealed herself.
Marcus walked back toward his mother.
“Mom, why didn’t you tell me?””
Diane gave him a tired smile.
“Because I wanted tonight to be about you.””
“It stopped being about me the second she insulted you.””
Vanessa suddenly bent down.
She grabbed the stained heel.
“I’m leaving.””
Diane’s eyes narrowed.
“Take the shoe off.””
Vanessa froze.
“What?””
“Take it off.””
“I’m not taking my shoe off in front of everyone.””
Diane pointed toward the gold emblem.
“You don’t have to.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“But if you’re innocent, why are you afraid of it?””
Vanessa stared at him.
Her breathing became faster.
Then her phone buzzed.
Once.
Twice.
She looked at the screen.
Whatever she saw made her expression collapse.
Marcus noticed.
“Who’s texting you?””
“No one.””
He reached for her phone.
Vanessa jerked it away.
“Don’t touch me!””
The screen flashed briefly before she covered it with her hand.
But Marcus had already seen the name.
His face changed.
“Why is my father texting you?””
Diane went completely still.
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
May you like
And whispered,
“Because there’s something you don’t know about your family.””
