Chapter 5 - THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND THE ALLY
By 8:45 AM, the sidewalk outside Bellamy & Vale was a chaotic sea of camera crews, booming reporter microphones, and flashing camera strobes. News vans from every major Chicago network—CBS, WGN, NBC—blocked two lanes of traffic on Michigan Avenue.
Word had leaked overnight about the sudden overnight firing of Celeste Draper, the promotion of a floor associate to CEO, and the midnight vandalism incident. Social media was already trending with the hashtag #JusticeForNora and #ChanelRage.
Inside, standing behind a sleek mahogany podium placed right in front of the shattered front window, Nora adjusted her microphone. She wore the sharp navy blazer, her hair pulled back into a sophisticated low ponytail, her expression an embodiment of unshakable poise.
Julian stood just off-stage in the wings, arms crossed, watching her with an expression of absolute adoration.
“Good morning, everyone,” Nora began, her voice echoing clearly over the street-side speakers. “Welcome to Bellamy & Vale. As you can see behind me, our historic front window was targeted last night by an individual who believes that wealth and status excuse abuse, cruelty, and intimidation.”
Microphones surged forward. Shouts erupted from reporters.
“Ms. Quinn! Is it true that Mrs. Alistair was the one who threw the brick?” shouted a reporter from the Chicago Tribune.
Before Nora could answer, the glass doors to the side service entrance swung open, and a hush fell over the entire room.
Arthur Alistair walked in.
He wasn’t wearing his usual slick corporate facade. His tie was loosened, his eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but beside him walked his daughter, Lily, clutching a small stuffed rabbit and wearing a clean, soft cotton sweater. Behind them walked two private family lawyers carrying heavy leather briefcases.
The cameras instantly pivoted, flashes blinding the room as the multi-billionaire real estate tycoon walked straight up to the podium.
Nora looked down, her breath catching in her throat. She stepped aside, offering him space at the microphone.
Arthur nodded to Nora with deep, solemn respect. Then, he turned to face the wall of cameras and the millions of viewers streaming live across the country.
“My name is Arthur Alistair,” the billionaire began, his voice steady and booming. “For years, my wife and I have enjoyed the privileges that come with immense wealth. But wealth is a disease when it blinds us to the humanity of our children—and the dignity of the people who care for them.”
He reached down, gently placing his hand on Lily’s head.
“Last-night, my wife committed an act of cowardice and vandalism against this establishment because she could not accept accountability for her own malice,” Arthur continued, his voice ringing with absolute finality. “Effective immediately, I have filed for divorce from Victoria Alistair. Furthermore, I am transferring one hundred percent of my personal charitable foundation endowments—totaling over fifty million dollars—directly to Bellamy & Vale’s new accessibility and neurodiversity outreach program, under the personal leadership of CEO Nora Quinn.”
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The room erupted into absolute pandemonium. Flashbulbs strobed like lightning in a storm.
Celeste Draper, watching the live broadcast from a cheap diner three blocks away, dropped her coffee cup, shattering it against the greasy floor as she stared at the screen in total, irrecoverable ruin.
