The Porsche, the Necklace, and the Name She Feared

CHAPTER 1 - THE DARE

"This Porsche is mine. You could deliver packages forever and still never afford the keys."

The words cut across the warm evening air of the business plaza parking lot.

A few people slowed near the metal safety posts and low green planters, sensing trouble. The black Porsche gleamed under the sunset, polished so brightly it reflected the glass building behind it and the woman standing before it like she owned the entire city.

Maybe she thought she did.

She was young, beautiful, and dressed for attention. Black-and-white designer dress. Gold hoop earrings. Sunglasses pushed onto caramel-brown hair streaked with honey blonde. Around her throat hung a vintage gold necklace that caught the sun each time she moved.

Across from her stood the man she had chosen to humiliate.

His delivery van was parked two rows over.

She folded her arms and leaned in. "If this Porsche is really yours, I'll get on my knees right here."

A nervous laugh moved through the crowd.

The young man finally lifted his eyes to hers. His amber-brown gaze was steady, almost amused. Then he smiled.

Not big. Not flashy.

Just certain.

"Then you'd better get ready."

He held out his hand, not to her, but toward the valet station by the building entrance. An older attendant in a navy jacket looked up, froze, and hurried over with a face gone pale.

"Mr. Vale," the attendant said, almost breathless. "I'm so sorry. We didn't know your car had already been brought around."

The woman's smirk vanished.

Her eyes jumped from the attendant to the man. "Mr. Vale?"

Before he could answer, a silver-haired woman stepped out of the building, staring at the gold necklace around the young woman's throat.

And when she spoke, her voice shook.

"Where did you get your grandmother's necklace?"