flash

The reply from Jonathan Vance, the senior partner at Vance & Sterling, hit my inbox before the IV drip in my arm could finish. / Chapter 19 / 20

Chapter 19 - The New Empire

The annual Chicago Business Gala was the most exclusive event of the year, drawing mayors, senators, international industrialists, and corporate titans from across the nation to the grand ballroom of the Palmer House.

When the double doors opened and my name was announced, the entire room fell into a sudden, respectful hush.

I stepped into the light wearing a backless crimson silk gown, diamond earrings catching the chandelier's brilliance, my head held high with the unshakeable poise of a woman who owned half the commercial infrastructure in the Midwest.

Men and women who once whispered behind my back as the quiet, neglected wife of a mob boss now rushed forward to catch my eye, offering deferential nods and eager smiles.

I walked to the center of the grand ballroom, raising a glass of champagne in a silent toast to the city that had tried to bury me.

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