Chapter 1 - THE WINE UNDER THE CHANDELIERS
At Chicago’s Bellweather Grand charity gala, thirty-year-old Madeline Carter arrived dressed simply in a clearance-sale blouse, scratched shoes, and no visible jewelry. Because she looked nothing like the wealthy guests surrounding her, arrogant hotel heir Preston Hale decided she did not belong.
With his friends Chase Whitaker and Owen Mercer watching, Preston deliberately poured an entire glass of red wine over Madeline’s head, mocked her clothes, suggested she had sneaked into the $5,000-a-ticket event, and told her she should leave before security removed her.
Dozens of wealthy guests watched.
Some laughed.
Nobody defended her.
Nobody except a stranger.
A tall man in a navy suit stepped through the crowd, placed his jacket around Madeline’s wine-soaked shoulders, and quietly asked the one question nobody else had bothered to ask.
“You okay?”
And before Madeline could answer, the ballroom doors opened.
The man everyone in Chicago’s financial world had been waiting for finally arrived.
May you like
Madeline’s father.
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