litan Museum of Art cast a brilliant,

t of expensive champagne and th

hur's mother, stood nea

arm linked tigh

whispering something into Serena's ear to proj

socialites huddled together, their e

ut the financial scandal that had

oticed t

r breath hitch in a perfectly pr

mured to a passing senator's wife, her fing

g to drain the famil

l, away from the cameras, the at

riarch of the family, sat in a pr

mask of dark, f

e glowing scree

bleeding in after-hours trading

est tightene

allow, a wheezing sou

wooden cane down on

Now," Richard wheez

ater, the hea

into the room,

grabbed a crystal wine glass from

ently against the wall,

al rained down

up!" Richard roared, his face tu

support line tomorrow, I will

instinctively going to his

!" Arthur pleaded,

ing four percent of the origin

ard

instantly swallowed by a

per

dden value of those share

door was pus

oom, ignoring the assista

furious patriarch wit

ice ringing clear over the sound of Richard's heavy breathing, "t

narrowed

ne, assessing the ambitious

did not

ve diamond engagement ring Arthur had given her, an

demands immediately," Serena threaten

ut a sound o

ard and grabbe

have proof she is involved in financial f

d at the ring

would save his fail

in his chair, his b

sped, his voice dr

ivorce. I will meet

rned to hi

d buyout agreement. We will use the trust loophole.

ce lit up w

dfather's presence would c

smiled

ring up off the table, and s

e party?" Serena asked

m, pasting their fake smil

sistant, a woman who had been quietly buying put options against the Vanderbilt stock for months. She waited until the door clicked shut and the heavy footsteps faded down the hall