Chapter 6 - THE UNINVITED GUEST
The Grand Lumière Hotel was a palace of crystal and gold.
Flashes of light erupted every few seconds as celebrities and billionaires arrived.
Ethan Whitmore stood at the top of the marble staircase,
looking like the king of the world in a bespoke tuxedo.
Madison Vale was at his side,
dripping in Vale diamonds,
her smile wide and predatory.
They were receiving the world’s adulation,
the merger of two empires finally within their grasp.
The ballroom was packed with five hundred of the most powerful people in the world.
Champagne flowed like water.
The air was thick with the scent of lilies and ego.
I arrived at the side entrance,
Charles and Grace flanking me.
The Harrington security team cleared the way,
their presence causing a ripple of whispers.
“Is that Charles Harrington?”
“Who is the woman in gold?”
We waited in the shadows near the stage.
Ethan took the microphone,
his voice booming through the speakers.
“Ladies and gentlemen,”
he began,
flashing that charming smile that had fooled me for three years.
“Tonight is not just about a merger.”
“It is about the future of Whitmore Global and the Vale family.”
“It is about a partnership that will reshape the luxury market.”
Madison leaned into him,
her eyes shining.
“And on a personal note,”
Ethan continued,
“I am honored to announce my engagement to Madison.”
The room erupted in applause.
Ethan raised his hand for silence,
preparing to sign the ceremonial merger documents.
“Before we conclude,”
he said,
“I want to thank the investors who made this possible.”
That was my cue.
I stepped out of the shadows.
The gold silk of my dress caught the light of a thousand chandeliers.
The applause died down,
replaced by a stunned,
ringing silence.
Every camera in the room turned toward me.
Ethan’s eyes found mine.
His smile didn't just fade;
it disintegrated.
The color left his face so quickly it was as if he had seen a ghost.
I walked toward the stage,
the click of my heels the only sound in the room.
I didn't stop until I was at the bottom of the stairs,
looking up at the man who had tried to kill me.
“Hello,
Ethan,”
I said,
May you like
my voice amplified by the silence.
“I believe you’re signing a merger that requires my approval.”
