Chapter 6 - The High Society Gala and the Queen’s Diamond
Two weeks later, the annual Chicago Philanthropic Gala was held at the Drake Hotel downtown—a glittering gathering of politicians, corporate magnates, and underworld bosses wearing expensive disguises.
As the head of the Romano syndicate, my presence was mandatory. But this year, I broke protocol.
I brought Elena and Lily.
When the mahogany doors of the grand ballroom swung open, all conversation died. Hundreds of high-society elites stared in stunned silence as Adrian Romano—a man who hadn't escorted a date to a public event in ten years—walked in with a quiet, elegant housekeeper in a simple navy dress, holding the hand of a four-year-old girl in a pink velvet coat.
Olivia Vance, wife of a corrupt city councilman who secretly washed money for Salvatore, sneered loudly as we passed her table.
"Good heavens," Olivia muttered loud enough for the entire room to hear. "I suppose the Romano syndicate has fallen so low they recruit their dates from the domestic staff now."
The surrounding tables held their breath, waiting for me to explode.
I stopped walking. I turned my head slowly, locking my dark, lethal gaze onto Olivia. The councilman beside her instantly turned the color of chalk, kicking her ankle under the table to shut her up.
"Mrs. Vance," I said, my voice carrying effortlessly across the silent ballroom. "In my house, we value hard work, honesty, and dignity. Three qualities I notice are conspicuously missing from your husband’s campaign financing reports. Shall we discuss them publicly, or would you prefer to finish your champagne in silence?"
Olivia’s face drained of all color. She dropped her gaze to her plate, utterly humiliated.
I turned back to Elena, whose hand was trembling slightly inside the crook of my arm.
"Don't let them intimidate you," I whispered softly, leaning down just enough for her to hear. "You belong here as much as anyone in this room."
Elena looked up at me, her brown eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thank you, Adrian."
It was the first time she had ever used my first name.
As we walked toward our private table, Lily looked up, pointing at the massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
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"Look, Mister Big House! It's raining diamonds!"
A soft chuckle escaped my lips, and for the first time all evening, the glittering monsters of high society faded into the background.
