Chapter 11 - THE DINNER PARTY INVITATION
A month after my encounter with Daniel at the grocery store, Natalie burst into my apartment waving a heavy card stock envelope like a winning lottery ticket. "Rach, you are not going to believe this," she announced, kicking off her designer heels by the entryway. "Arthur Sterling just invited both of us to his annual charity gala at the Fairmont Copley Plaza." I looked up from my laptop, raising an eyebrow. Arthur Sterling was one of the most prominent venture capitalists in New England, and securing a corporate branding contract with his tech incubator was the golden goose for Vanguard Creative. "Arthur Sterling?" I repeated. "How did he even know about my agency?"
"Word travels fast when you single-handedly redesign the digital identity for three major sustainable startups in downtown Boston," Natalie grinned, tossing the invitation onto the marble kitchen island. "Sterling’s daughter is heading their new philanthropic branch, and she specifically asked if the creative director behind the Vanguard rebrand could attend as an honored guest." I picked up the heavy cream-colored card, tracing the embossed gold lettering with my thumb. This wasn't just a social event; this was my official debut into Boston's elite independent business circle—without a cheating husband attached to my arm as an anchor. "Well," I smiled, looking up at Natalie. "I suppose we better go shopping. I refuse to let Daniel’s ghost dictate what kind of dress I wear to my own success."
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