Chapter 1 - The Blank Place Card
The upscale formal dining hall was a masterpiece of high-society elegance and corporate wealth. Massive floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the glittering city skyline, while crystal chandeliers illuminated the crisp white tables, heavy gold chairs, and towering white floral centerpieces. The room hummed with the quiet, expensive chatter of the city’s elite political donors and defense contractors.
Standing aggressively near the head VIP table was Brooke. The attractive woman in her late thirties wore a sleek beige sleeveless dress, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders as she clutched a small, sparkly designer purse. Her face was twisted into a mask of polite but toxic condescension.
Seated quietly at the table was a strikingly elegant woman. She had dark hair swept into a sophisticated low updo and wore a beautiful one-shoulder emerald green evening gown. She sat peacefully, sipping her water, completely unbothered by the chaotic networking happening around her.
Brooke didn't like her. She didn't know her name, and she certainly didn't think the quiet woman deserved a seat at the most exclusive table in the room.
Brooke leaned forward, slapping a small, blank white place card directly onto the table right in front of the woman in green.
"I couldn't find your name on the VIP registry," Brooke said, her voice dripping with arrogant, mocking venom. "But I suppose you should be used to not having a title by now. Try not to speak unless spoken to."
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Sitting next to the woman in green was an older woman in a sparkly silver jacket, who gasped quietly at the sheer disrespect. Sitting across from them was Brooke’s husband, Julian, a handsome man in a dark blue suit and a teal tie. Julian offered his wife a smug, approving smirk.
👉 Brooke thought she had just successfully established her dominance, but the heavy wooden doors at the back of the hall were about to swing open and destroy her reality.
