Chapter 9 - The Gala AmbushThe ballroom at the St. Regis was a masterpiece of opulence. Crystal chandeliers cast a dazzling light over hundreds of tech billionaires, socialites, and politicians. I stood near the champagne fountain wearing a stunning, backless emerald gown that commanded the attention of every person in the room. I projected an aura of absolute, untouchable power, even though my heart was hammering against my ribs.
Julian looked devastatingly handsome in a classic black tuxedo, standing by my side like an unbreakable shield.
"Target acquired," Julian whispered, gently touching the small of my back.
I turned. Walking down the grand staircase was Marcus, looking obnoxiously smug in a velvet dinner jacket. On his arm was Victoria Kensington, a woman dripping in diamonds and inherited arrogance. And walking two steps behind them was Arthur Kensington himself, an imposing, terrifying man with cold, calculating eyes.
Marcus spotted me instantly. The predatory smirk on his face widened, and he whispered something into Victoria’s ear before leading his new wife and father-in-law directly toward us.
"Sandra," Marcus drawled, stopping a few feet away, swirling his champagne glass. "I’m surprised you showed up tonight. I heard Vanguard is launching a massive federal investigation into some missing funds. Must be terribly stressful for you."
"I thrive under stress, Marcus. You should know that better than anyone," I smiled sweetly, holding his gaze without a flinch.
Arthur Kensington stepped forward, his heavy brow furrowed. "Marcus, is this the woman you told me about? The unstable event planner?"
"Yes, Arthur," Victoria chimed in, looking at me like I was a stain on the carpet. "She’s completely obsessed with my husband. It’s pathetic, really."
"Actually, Mr. Kensington," I said, turning my attention entirely to the billionaire. "I’m not obsessed with your husband. But I am fascinated by his accounting skills."
Marcus’s smirk vanished.
"Julian, if you would," I said calmly.
Julian reached into his tuxedo jacket and pulled out a sleek, black tablet. He tapped the screen and handed it directly to Arthur Kensington.
"What is this?" Arthur demanded, his voice like gravel.
"Fifteen minutes ago, my cyber-security team managed to ping the IP address of Marcus's personal encrypted phone while he connected to the hotel's secure Wi-Fi," Julian explained smoothly. "We bypassed his firewall and mirrored his local storage. You are looking at the internal ledgers of the subsidiary company that recently purchased the land next to my winery."
Arthur adjusted his reading glasses and stared at the screen. The color slowly drained from his face, replaced by a terrifying, purple shade of pure rage.
"Marcus," Arthur’s voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "Why are there authorization signatures for three million dollars in untraceable offshore wire transfers sent to a dark-web server farm?"
Marcus started to panic, physically taking a step backward. "Arthur, I can explain! It’s an investment! It’s a tech startup!"
"Don't lie to him, Marcus," I interrupted, my voice ringing clearly over the ambient noise of the ballroom. "He used your money to hire hackers to frame me for embezzlement at Vanguard. And he used your money to buy the land next to Julian’s winery, wasting millions on commercial drilling rigs just to spite an ex-fiancé."
Victoria gasped, turning to her husband in horror. "Marcus? You spent my father's money on her?"
"You parasitic, pathetic little fraud," Arthur snarled, stepping into Marcus’s space, looking like he was about to physically strangle him in the middle of the gala. "You stole from me. You used my resources to wage a pathetic vendetta against a wedding planner?"
"Arthur, please!" Marcus begged, the exact same pathetic, groveling tone he had used in the stairwell two years ago. "She ruined my life!"
"And now, I am going to end it," Arthur stated with absolute, terrifying finality. The billionaire pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. "Get my legal team on the line. I want Marcus's assets entirely frozen. I want the marriage annulled immediately. And call the FBI director. I am formally reporting a multi-million-dollar wire fraud."
Arthur looked at Julian and me, nodding once in grim respect before storming out of the ballroom, Victoria trailing behind him, sobbing hysterically.
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Marcus was left standing completely alone in the center of the crowd, his face ashen, his entire life shattered into a million pieces for the second time.
I walked right up to him, leaning in close so only he could hear me. "I told you, Marcus. I don't just walk away. Enjoy prison."
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