Chapter 5 - The Red Carpet at the Plaza
The Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was a glittering spectacle of New York’s top one percent.
Paparazzi flashbulbs lit up the red carpet outside on Central Park South as limousines and sports cars deposited billionaires, politicians, and socialites into the gilded entrance.
Liam Callaway stepped out of a black Mercedes Maybach wearing a Tom Ford tuxedo that cost twelve thousand dollars.
Clinging possessively to his arm was Victoria Sterling, dripping in emeralds and wearing a backless gold silk gown. She beamed at the flashing cameras, posing with the effortless arrogance of someone born with an eight-figure trust fund.
"Look at them, Liam," Victoria purred, kissing his cheek for the photographers. "Tomorrow morning, the Financial Times will have our faces on the front page. The power couple of Wall Street."
Liam grinned, puffing out his chest with supreme confidence. "This is just the baseline, baby. By next year, we’ll be hosting our own summit in Davos. I told you I was destined for greatness."
"Did you take care of the little mouse from Queens?" Victoria asked, sneering slightly as they stepped through the brass revolving doors into the foyer.
"Signed, sealed, and delivered," Liam chuckled dismissively. "Gave her fifty grand to keep her mouth shut. She took it like a dog taking a bone. She’s probably sitting in some diner eating cheap pancakes right now, wondering where her life went wrong."
They laughed together, stepping into the ballroom where three hundred of Manhattan’s elite were sipping Dom Pérignon among towering floral arrangements of white orchids.
Every major hedge fund titan and investment banker greeted Liam with enthusiastic handshakes, eager to ride the coattails of his impending Sterling Capital partnership.
At 9:45 PM, a sudden hush fell over the entrance of the ballroom.
The background chatter died down as heads began turning toward the double arched doorway.
A collective gasp swept through the room as private security officers in formal tuxedos cleared a wide path down the center aisle.
Walking through the entrance was a woman whose presence commanded the entire room in an instant.
Julianne wore a breathtaking off-the-shoulder gown of midnight-black French silk, tailored with scandalous perfection. Around her throat rested the legendary Vance Imperial Choker—a cascade of flawless sixty-carat blue diamonds that had not been seen in public for nearly forty years.
Walking half a step behind her with supreme deference was Arthur Pendelton, flanked by four armed personal security escorts.
Liam turned his head, his glass of champagne frozen halfway to his mouth.
He stared at the woman walking toward the VIP section, his eyes narrowing in furious disbelief.
"Julianne?" Liam muttered aloud, his voice cracking with shock. "What the hell is she doing here? Who let that nobody inside?"
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Victoria frowned, squinting across the room. "That’s your ex-wife? Where did she rent those fake jewels? Security needs to throw that trespasser out immediately!"
Liam set his glass down on a passing waiter’s tray, his face darkening with rage. "Excuse me, Victoria. I’m going to handle this trash personally before she embarrasses me in front of the board."
