Chapter 5 - The Gala Prep
By Thursday evening, the Grand Ballroom at the St. Regis Hotel was decorated in gold silk and white orchids for the annual Sterling Global Charity Gala.
Over five hundred high-society guests, city politicians, and international investors filled the room, sipping vintage champagne beneath massive crystal chandeliers.
Victoria stood near the ice sculpture display, wearing a dark red velvet gown that covered the bruises on her wrist from where security had escorted her out days prior.
Beside her stood Eleanor, holding a glass of wine, her face smug as she surveyed the crowd.
"You see, Victoria?" Eleanor whispered, adjusting her diamond necklace. "Julian is a businessman above all else. He didn't issue a press release about the divorce. He knows if he crosses us, his empire falls apart by midnight."
Victoria sneered, looking around the room. "I want that nanny arrested the moment this gala ends, Aunt Eleanor. She embarrassed me in front of the domestic staff."
"Patience, child," Eleanor instructed quietly. "Once the board re-confirms your position on the foundation committee tonight, we will have the girl quietly dismissed for gross negligence. Nobody will take her word over ours."
Suddenly, the brass doors at the main entrance of the ballroom swung open.
The chatter in the room instantly died down.
Julian Sterling walked into the hall, dressed in an immaculate black tuxedo. But he wasn't alone.
Walking beside him, her arm resting gracefully on his sleeve, was Clara.
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She wore a simple, breathtaking navy blue silk gown that draped perfectly over her frame. Her dark hair was styled in an elegant updo, and her left hand—still wearing a small, subtle flesh-colored bandage—was held proudly at Julian’s side.
Victoria’s glass slipped from her fingers, shattering against the marble floor.
