Chapter 1 - The Descent into the BallroomThe cold rain lashed against the glass facade of the Grand Horizon Hotel like a barrage of warning shots, mirroring the tempest raging behind Viv’s eyes. Victor’s voice on the private line was quiet, but it carried the devastating weight of an apex predator waking from a slumber.
"Dominic," Viv replied, her voice dangerously calm as she looked straight into Chloe’s smug, unblinking eyes. "And his company. Tear it all down, Victor. Every contract, every investor, every single brick we laid for him. Leave him with nothing."
"Consider it done," Victor said. "Where are you?"
"In the lobby. But we're going upstairs. I want a front-row seat to see how high he thinks he can fly without his wings."
Viv hung up, slipped the phone back into her coat pocket, and looked down at Sophia. The little girl was still clutching her handmade paper necklace, her big eyes swimming with unfallen tears. Viv’s heart clenched, the maternal instinct overriding the cold fury coursing through her veins. She knelt down, adjusted Sophia’s pink collar, and offered a fierce, reassuring smile.
"Come on, sweetie," Viv said, her voice steady. "Let's go say hello to Daddy."
Chloe scoffed, stepping directly into their path with a hand planted firmly on her hip. "Are you deaf, or just delusional? I told you, security is about to—"
Before Chloe could finish her sentence, two towering security guards in crisp black suits briskly crossed the marble floor. Chloe’s face lit up with vindication. She pointed a manicured finger at Viv.
"Get them out of here," Chloe ordered the guards, treating herself like the owner of the hotel. "They’re harassing the guests and causing a scene."
The guards stopped dead in their tracks. But instead of grabbing Viv, they looked at her face—and then down at Sophia. One of them, a veteran head of security named Marcus who had served the hotel for a decade, turned pale. He recognized the bone structure, the piercing gaze, the unmistakable aura of a Sterling.
Marcus bypassed Chloe entirely, stepping up to Viv and bowing his head slightly. "Lady Sterling. We had no idea you were arriving tonight. The penthouse elevator has been cleared for you."
Chloe’s triumphant smirk froze on her face. Her mouth dropped open. "Lady... what? Are you insane? She’s a nobody! Throw her out!"
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Marcus turned slowly, his eyes cold as ice. "Shut your mouth, Chloe. You are speaking to the primary shareholder’s sister."
Viv didn't spare Chloe another glance. She took Sophia’s small hand in hers, lifted her chin, and walked past the paralyzed secretary toward the private elevator. The heavy brass doors slid open smoothly, swallowing them up as the ascent to the top floor began.
