Chapter 15 - The Gala Trap
Sterling Kensington arrived in Chicago forty-eight hours later.
He did not hide.
He landed at Midway in his private jet.
He spoke to reporters.
He attended a foundation luncheon.
He even announced that his daughter had been “victimized by employees of an unstable business associate.”
Leo said nothing publicly.
Instead, he announced the Rossi Children’s Foundation gala would proceed as scheduled.
Eight hundred guests were invited.
Politicians.
Investors.
Judges.
Media executives.
People who had spent years pretending they did not understand where Leo Rossi’s power came from.
Sterling accepted his invitation.
Victoria believed that meant her father was coming to rescue her reputation.
It did not.
The ballroom glittered beneath thousands of crystal lights.
Beatrice stood upstairs with Lily.
She wore no uniform.
Leo had arranged a dark blue dress.
Beatrice had almost refused it.
Then Lily said, “You look like the night sky.”
So Beatrice wore it.
“You don’t have to go downstairs,” Leo told her.
They stood outside Lily’s room.
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because Victoria spent months reminding me where she thought I belonged.”
Leo waited.
“I want her to see me standing where she said I never could.”
Something like pride crossed his face.
“You don’t need my permission.”
“I know.”
That answer made him smile.
Downstairs, Sterling entered with six attorneys and the confidence of a man who had purchased his way out of consequences for decades.
Victoria crossed the ballroom toward him.
“Father.”
He barely hugged her.
“Where is the ledger?”
Her face tightened.
“I told you.”
“You failed.”
“Leo is setting a trap.”
Sterling smiled.
“Leo Rossi is emotional.”
Across the ballroom, Leo appeared at the top of the staircase.
Beatrice walked beside him.
Sterling stopped smiling.
Victoria looked as though she had been slapped.
Leo did not touch Beatrice.
He did not need to.
The message was already clear.
She was not hidden.
She was not dismissed.
She was not staff being ordered through a side hallway.
She was standing beside him.
Sterling approached.
“Leo.”
“Sterling.”
“I assume tonight means we are behaving like civilized men.”
Leo almost smiled.
“You and I have different definitions.”
Sterling glanced at Beatrice.
“The maid.”
Beatrice met his gaze.
“The cleaner’s daughter.”
For the first time, Sterling lost control of his expression.
Only slightly.
But Beatrice saw it.
“You remember my mother.”
Sterling looked toward Leo.
“You’ve been filling her head with stories?”
Beatrice stepped closer.
“No.”
She touched the bird necklace.
“My mother left me your voice.”
Sterling’s face drained.
May you like
Across the room, Mateo gave Naomi Carter the signal.
Every exit quietly closed.
