“Eleanor? Are you out of your mind?” he growled through clenched teeth.

“I told Clara to keep you away from my business! We’re expecting the Chairwoman of Holloway Global any second! If you ruin this for me, I’ll make sure you lose that pathetic little shack of yours by Friday!”

Right on cue, the ballroom’s main microphone whined with feedback.

Julian had walked up to the grand stage. He tapped the mic, commanding the attention of the four hundred wealthy guests. The string quartet stopped playing.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Julian’s voice echoed off the marble walls. “On behalf of Vance Manufacturing, we’d like to welcome our most esteemed guest tonight.”

Liam’s eyes lit up. He turned his back on me, straightening his tie, whispering to Beatrice, “She’s here. The Chairwoman is here.”