Julia raised his glass of champagne and turned towards Isabella. “Did you hear that? See the president. That’s it, Bella. After tonight, I’ll not only be rich, but untouchable.” Isabella laughed and traced his lapel with her finger. “You’re king now, darling. Forget that boring wife. This night is our crown.”
Suddenly, the music stopped. The murmur of the crowd died away. The enormous oak doors at the top of the grand staircase, closed all night, began to rumble. The head of security placed a microphone in the center of the room. He seemed servile. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced in a powerful voice, “please clear the central aisle. We have priority of arrival.”
“What could it be?” Isabella whispered. “The president,” Julia scoffed. “The president of Aurora, probably. Look at this: I’m going to be the first to shake their hand.”
Julia took a step forward, dragging Isabella along with him, and stood at the foot of the stairs. He wanted the photo: the CEO of Thor Enterprises greeting the mysterious investor.
The doors opened with a creak. But it wasn’t a Swiss banker in a suit. The figure came into the light and a collective gasp swept through the room with such force that it seemed to steal the oxygen from the air. The woman at the top of the stairs was wearing a midnight blue velvet dress with crushed diamond inlays that reflected the chandelier’s light like a galaxy. Majestic. Impossible to ignore.
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