Page 114 of Check the Halls
I freeze. “What do you mean?”
“All the mix-ups—the tables, the chairs, the food. That was me. I gave the vendors the wrong information.”
“Keely…why would you do that?”
Tears spill down her cheeks as her voice wobbles. “I didn’t want to. Alyssa told me to. She said if I didn’t…she’d report me to HR for lying about a sick day.”
I crouch beside her, voice low and calm. “Okay. Slowdown. Just tell me what happened. Start from the beginning.”
“Last summer I asked for vacation to spend the day with my boyfriend, but too many people were out, so my request was denied. I called in sick instead.” Her voice cracks. “I know it was wrong, but I didn’t think anyone would find out. Except Alyssa saw us at a restaurant. She took pictures. When I came back, she showed them to me. I expected her to report me, but she promised not to. She said someday she’d ask me for a favour.”
I nod, staying quiet so she can keep going.
“She called me into her office a few months ago and told me to shut the door. Then she asked me to make a phone call—just a simple vendor update about the flowers. I didn’t think much of it until I heard about the mix-up later. When I asked her why she gave the wrong info, she told me not to worry about it. Since then, she’s made me sabotage all sorts of things.”
“Why would she do that?”
“She wants your job.” The words come out like venom. “She applied for it and wasn’t happy when you were hired.”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because she’s planning to sabotage the Gala. When you told everyone that all changes need your sign-off, she started to panic. Today she told me tostealAV cords so the mics and screens wouldn’t work. That’s when I decided I couldn’t do it. I won’t ruin the biggest fundraiser of the year. I like working for you. Even if it costs me my job.”
“No one’s getting fired,” I say gently. “At least not atthis table.” I narrow my eyes slightly. “Did you take the cords?”
She shakes her head, fast and adamant. “No. I couldn’t.”
“Good.” I grab my phone and shoot a quick text to Ivan:
Maddy: Urgent: Final check on all AV. Possible tampering. Let me know immediately.
“What are you going to do about Alyssa?” Keely asks, voice shaky.
I blow out a breath, my mind still reeling from this new information. “I’m going to talk to Chanda. Without proof, I don’t know what I can do yet.”
Keely swallows, then says, “I think I can help with that.”
Alyssa stompsinto the backstage dressing room like her broom stick is stuck up her ass.
“Thank you for coming, Alyssa.”
“Could this not have waited? Some of us have work to do.” Just then, she spots Chanda sitting in the corner with a cup of chai. “Chaaaannnda. You look ethereal. I apologize if I came in a little hot there. I’ve just been so busy with last-minute arrangements.”
“Like blackmailing your coworkers to sabotage equipment?” Chanda responds cooly.
The colour drains from Alyssa’s face like it’s beenchased away. “What? I have no idea what Madelyn’s told you, but I assure you?—”
“I will cause a distraction that will draw everyone backstage.”Alyssa’s own voice coming from my phone cuts her off.“That’s when you pull the cords from the mics and projectors.”
“Alyssa, I’m not going to do that.”
“You’re going to do it or I’m going to have you fired. Not just for faking sick, but for all the other shit you’ve pulled the last few months.”
“You made me do those things.”
“And who’s going to believe you? Huh?”
I stop the recording. We’ve heard everything we need to hear.
