He felt invincible.
That much, I later learned, was obvious to everyone.
The ballroom of the Luxmore Hotel had been dressed in gold and white for the charity auction. Crystal branches rose from every table. Champagne moved in silver trays through the crowd. A string quartet played beneath an enormous banner reading:
BUILDING FUTURES TOGETHER.
Julian loved that kind of language.
Future. Innovation. Partnership. Legacy.
Words clean enough to hide rot.
Chloe, for her part, was radiant. She laughed at every joke, touched Julian’s sleeve whenever another woman came too close, and lifted her chin as though the necklace around her throat had crowned her queen.
She had no idea it was borrowed.
Not from a jeweler.
From Julian’s corporate account.
At 9:43 p.m., Senator Miles raised a glass and introduced Julian to a circle of donors.
“CrossTech is the kind of company this region needs,” the senator declared. “Bold leadership. Strong family values. A commitment to community.”
