Chapter 5 - THE GALA OF GHOSTS
The charity gala was the event of the season.
Everyone who was anyone in New York was there.
Julian stood in the corner,
avoiding the press.
He looked disheveled,
his tie loose,
his eyes bloodshot.
He hadn't slept in three days.
The news was getting worse.
More leaks.
More accusations.
The SEC had frozen all his accounts.
He was being evicted from the penthouse.
He was a pariah.
Suddenly,
the room went silent.
The double doors opened.
Evelyn walked in.
She was wearing a stunning,
midnight-blue gown,
the color of a storm.
She looked radiant,
composed,
powerful.
She walked with the grace of a queen returning to her throne.
Julian’s jaw dropped.
He pushed through the crowd,
cornering her near the champagne fountain.
"You,"
he hissed,
grabbing her arm.
"You bitch."
Evelyn didn't flinch.
She looked at his hand on her arm,
then up at his face with pity.
"Don't touch me,
Julian,"
she said,
her voice calm and steady.
"The cameras are everywhere.
Do you really want to make a scene?"
"You ruined me!"
he whispered,
his voice cracking.
"You stole my life!"
"I took back what you tried to steal from me,"
she corrected.
"You thought you could discard me like trash.
You didn't realize that trash is dangerous when it’s recycled."
"I’ll have you killed,"
he threatened.
Evelyn laughed,
a soft,
musical sound that made people turn and look.
"You can't even pay your legal bills,
Julian.
Who are you going to hire?
The neighborhood cat?"
She took a sip of her champagne.
"The DOJ has the evidence,
Julian.
They’re coming for you.
Not for me."
"I’ll plead insanity,"
he stammered.
"I’ll frame you."
"With what evidence?"
Evelyn asked,
stepping closer.
"The drive is gone.
The accounts are closed.
You have nothing.
You are a ghost,
Julian.
And ghosts don't belong in polite society."
She turned away,
leaving him standing alone in the center of the ballroom.
The elite of New York watched him,
their expressions shifting from curiosity to disgust.
He tried to follow her,
but a security guard blocked his path.
"Mr. Vance,"
the guard said,
his voice firm.
"You’ve been asked to leave."
"By who?"
Julian demanded.
"By the host,"
the guard said,
nodding toward the stage.
Evelyn stood there,
holding a microphone.
She looked out at the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen,"
she said,
her voice ringing clear.
"Tonight,
we celebrate honesty.
And we expose the lies that have poisoned our industry."
She looked directly at Julian.
"Mr. Vance has a very special announcement regarding his retirement."
Julian stumbled back,
his face pale.
The room erupted in whispers.
May you like
He ran for the exit,
the sounds of their laughter following him out into the night.
