Chapter 2 - THE GHOST OF STILLWATER
The silence in the grand hall was absolute. Two hundred members of the city’s elite held their breath as Elias Archer, a man whose ruthlessness in business was matched only by his legendary stoicism, stared at a housekeeper in a gray uniform. His cane trembled, not from age, but from a sudden, visceral shock.
“Silas Bennett was my brother,” Elias whispered. His voice was gravelly, carrying across the silent room. “Not by blood, but by a bond forged in the deepest valleys of Colorado. We built the foundation of Archer Meridian together. Forty years ago, he vanished.”
Vivienne scoffed, breaking the spell. “Elias, surely you aren’t suggesting this... this servant is somehow related to your old business partner? She probably read about it in a book and is trying to extort you. Nathan, do something!”
Nathan did not look at his fiancée. His dark, intelligent eyes were fixed entirely on Claire. “Is it true?” he asked softly.
Claire stood tall, the pain in her knee dulling against the adrenaline in her veins. “My grandfather never spoke of Archer Meridian. He only spoke of the Stillwater Form, and the promise to never use it for greed. If he built this company with you, Mr. Archer, he died with a fraction of a penny to his name.”
May you like
A collective gasp echoed through the room. Elias closed his eyes, a look of profound agony crossing his aged features. “Then the betrayal... it was real.”
Before he could explain, Elias swayed. Nathan surged forward, catching his grandfather before he hit the marble. The gala dissolved into chaos. Paramedics were called, and the guests were ushered out by bewildered security guards. Through it all, Vivienne glared at Claire, her perfectly manicured hands clenched into fists. This nobody had stolen her spotlight, ruined her engagement party, and somehow captivated the Archer men. Vivienne vowed, in the shadow of the crystal chandelier, that Claire Bennett would be destroyed.
