The ballroom at the Royal Monarch Hotel was everything money could make a room into.Crystal chandeliers threw warm gold across marble floors, and the air carried that particular combination of expensive perfume and chilled champagne that signals a gathering of people who measure their worth in square footage and quarterly returns. Laughter moved through the crowd in easy currents, punctuated by the sound of glasses meeting and the low murmur of men doing business while pretending to celebrate.the center of it stood Adrian Cole.He wore a flawlessly tailored black tuxedo and held his champagne with the easy confidence of a man who believes the room hasbeen arranged around him. His arm rested around Vanessa Blake, who leaned into his side as though she were staking a claim.\u201cCongratulations, Adrian,\u201d one of the senior executives said, offering his hand. \u201cWord is the Chairwoman herself will be here tonight. First time she\u2019s appeared publicly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adrian lifted his chin slightly. \u201cNaturally,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m the top VP in the company. Who else would she find impressive?\u201d He glanced at Vanessa and tightened his grip. \u201cJust look at us. We\u2019re exactly what this company stands for.\u201dVanessa laughed softly, resting her head against his shoulder. \u201cA perfect match,\u201d she said.They had no idea.Only hours earlier, Adrian had stood in our kitchen holding the charred remains of my dress, the only decent one I owned, and watched it turn to ash with the satisfied expression of a man who believed cruelty was the same thing as control.\u201cYou\u2019d embarrass me,\u201d he had said. \u201cYou don\u2019t belong there.\u201dHe had no idea where I belonged.The music stopped.The lights went out. single spotlight found the grand entrance doors, which remained closed just long enough to let the silence work. Then Harrison Blackwood, the company\u2019s executive director, stepped to the stage, and the room gave him its complete attention.Ladies and gentlemen,\u201d he said, his voice settling over the crowd like something substantial. \u201cFor years, she has chosen to remain out of the public eye. But tonight, she has decided to step forward.\u201dpaused.\u201cIt is my great honor to present the founder, sole owner, and Supreme Chairwoman of Vanguard Dominion. Madame Clara Vaughn.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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