Chapter 3 - The Gala of Traitors
The Bellevue Hotel ballroom was a sea of crystal chandeliers, flowing champagne, and the suffocating perfume of the East Coast elite. Sterling stood near the center stage, champagne flute in hand, flanked by Victoria. He had spent the last two hours bragging to investors about his upcoming partnership with Vance Enterprises, completely unaware that his life was about to collapse.
"Are you sure she won't show up and ruin this?" Victoria whispered, leaning into Sterling's ear. "She looked angry when she left."
Sterling laughed dismissively, taking a sip of his drink. "Genevieve has nowhere to go. Her family is dead, she doesn't have a dime to her name, and her pride will bring her crawling back before the rent is due. She's weak."
"She's pathetic," Victoria agreed, smirking. "Once your deal with Vance goes through tonight, you can finally file for full custody of Hazel. I won't have that brat dragging down our social standing, but we can send her to a boarding school in Switzerland."
"Already arranged," Sterling lied smooth as silk, adjusting his bowtie. "Tonight, we secure the Vance fortune. Tomorrow, Genevieve loses everything."
Suddenly, the heavy mahogany doors at the main entrance opened.
The low hum of conversation didn't just quiet down—it stopped entirely. Security guards in dark suits formed a double line, bowing their heads as an elderly man with silver hair and an aura of absolute authority stepped into the ballroom.
May you like
Arthur Vance had arrived.
Sterling’s eyes lit up with predatory greed. "This is it," he muttered to Victoria, smoothing his jacket. "Our ticket to the top."
