Chapter 5 - The Gala of Traitors
Friday evening.
The Grand Ballroom of the Boston Harbor Hotel was packed with three hundred of the city's most powerful political figures, judges, shipping magnates, and socialites.
It was the Annual Ashford Heritage Gala—a charity event organized by Margaret Ashford to raise funds for historic preservation.
In reality, it was designed to be my public execution.
According to Preston’s plan, during the keynote address, Margaret would announce my sudden "health retreat," while Preston read a pre-drafted statement from my board announcing that full administrative control of Moretti Enterprises was being transferred to the Ashford-Moretti Family Trust.
Sloan wore an breathtaking white silk gown, her pregnant belly proudly on display, as she moved through the crowd receiving condolences and praise for her "courageous devotion" to her struggling fiancé.
I stood near the balcony, wearing a tailored black tuxedo, sipping sparkling water, watching them perform.
Preston walked up to me, a glass of champagne in his hand, looking smug.
"You look remarkably calm tonight, Vincent," Preston whispered, standing beside me at the railing. "Most men losing an empire look a little more agitated."
I turned my head slowly, looking at him.
"Empire?" I asked softly. "A company is just bricks and paper, Preston. Family is what matters."
Preston gave a short, condescending laugh. "Still a romantic at heart. That was always your flaw, Vincent. You thought loyalty was real. In our world, power isn't given to the good guy. It's taken by the smartest guy in the room."
"Is that what you think you are, Preston?" I asked quietly. "The smartest guy in the room?"
"I know I am," Preston whispered, leaning closer. "Look around you. Every judge in this room owes Margaret a favor. Every board member has already been promised a twenty percent dividend bonus under my management. By midnight, you won't even have access to your own bank accounts."
I checked my watch.
May you like
8:45 p.m.
"You're right, Preston," I said, a soft, chilling smile appearing on my face. "It really is all about timing."
