Chapter 2

Clara had been waiting for exactly this moment for fourteen days.

She walked through the ballroom doors with the measured stride of a woman who knew how to hold a room's attention, though she did nothing to court it. Her tailored black suit was business-appropriate, her bob a sharp, precise line, her silver watch catching the light as she carried the leather folder against her chest like a shield. Thirty seconds ago, she'd watched the scene unfold through the crack in the double doors. She'd seen Chloe swing, Eleanor catch, Julian threaten. She'd heard every word of the divorce announcement that had stopped time in this room.

Now, as every guest turned their head from Eleanor to Clara, she slowed her pace, letting the weight of her approach build. The guests parted before her without conscious thought, the same way crowds parted for doctors and undertakers.

"Ma'am," Clara said, and her voice carried with the practiced clarity of a woman who had given deposition testimony before federal courts. "I need a decision."

Eleanor had stopped at the head of the room, her back to the crowd, her chin lifted toward the far doors. She did not turn around. But something in the stillness of her shoulders told Clara she had her full attention.

"I have the documentation," Clara continued, raising the folder slightly so its black cover caught the light. "The investment you authorized in March. Full disbursement was scheduled for Thursday. But I need to know—"

She paused for exactly two seconds. The room's silence was so complete, she could hear the faint hum of the HVAC system and the distant clatter of dishes from the kitchen.