Chapter 8 - THE GALA
Two weeks later.
The crystal chandeliers of the Grand Chicago Ballroom cast a golden, shimmering light over the hundreds of elite guests. Champagne glasses clinked, classical music floated through the air, and the city’s wealthiest power brokers mingled in their bespoke tuxedos and designer gowns.
It was the annual Sterling Corporation Charity Gala.
Two weeks ago, I would have been entering this room through the service elevator, wearing cheap black slacks, carrying a tray of appetizers, and praying my feet wouldn't blister before midnight.
Tonight, I entered through the massive mahogany double doors.
I wore a floor-length emerald green silk gown that draped perfectly over my frame. Around my neck hung the silver locket my father had left for me. The flashbulbs of the press pit exploded like lightning as I stepped onto the red carpet.
But I didn’t walk alone.
Julian’s hand rested firmly on the small of my back, guiding me through the sea of reporters. He looked devastatingly handsome in a classic black tuxedo, his jawline sharp, his blue eyes scanning the crowd with an alpha’s protective vigilance.
“Nervous?” he murmured, leaning down so his breath tickled my ear.
“Terrified,” I admitted, forcing a smile for the cameras. “What if they realize I don’t know which fork to use for the salad?”
Julian chuckled, a warm, rich sound that made my heart do a traitorous flutter. “You own half the building, Mia. You can eat the salad with your hands if you want to. They’ll just call it a new trend.”
I laughed, the tension easing from my shoulders.
The last two weeks had been a whirlwind. Victoria was sitting in a federal holding cell, denied bail, facing dozens of charges for kidnapping, extortion, and attempted murder. The board of directors at Sterling Corp had been completely purged of her loyalists.
And Helen...
Helen had survived the gunshot. Julian had moved her to a private, secure hospital wing. I had visited her three days ago. It had been a heartbreaking, complicated conversation. She admitted she took the money to hide me, but swore that over the years, she had truly grown to love me as a daughter. I didn't know if I could ever fully forgive her, but I made sure Julian paid her medical bills. She had, after all, kept me alive.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” a voice boomed over the microphone on the grand stage.
The crowd fell silent, turning toward the podium. Klaus Richter stood there, looking completely in his element. He had surprisingly become a staunch ally to Julian and me over the last two weeks, helping navigate the legal nightmare of restoring my identity.
“Tonight is a special night,” Klaus announced to the room. “For over a decade, Sterling Corporation has been missing half of its heart. We believed that Marcus Vance, the brilliant mind who built this empire, took his legacy to the grave. But tonight, we are honored to announce that his legacy survived.”
Klaus gestured toward the back of the room. “Please welcome the new Co-Chairwoman of Sterling Corporation, Ms. Mia Vance.”
The applause was deafening. It washed over me like a tidal wave.
Julian took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine, and walked me down the center aisle. I held my head high. I wasn't hiding anymore. I wasn't Anna the waitress. I was Mia Vance.
As we reached the front of the room, a small figure in a sparkly silver dress came running out from behind the curtain.
“Mommy!”
Lily crashed into my legs, giggling. I scooped her up in my arms, kissing her cheek. The crowd let out a collective, charmed “aww.”
Julian smiled, reaching out to tuck a stray curl behind Lily’s ear. “Having fun backstage, kiddo?”
“Uncle Klaus gave me chocolate!” Lily announced proudly.
I shot Klaus a mock-stern glare, and the intimidating German billionaire actually blushed, clearing his throat awkwardly.
After the speeches, the music swelled, and the dance floor opened. I stood near the edge, watching Lily twirl around with Julian’s fiercely loyal security chief, who looked terrified of stepping on her tiny toes.
“She looks happy,” Julian said, appearing beside me with two glasses of sparkling cider.
“She is,” I smiled softly. “She loves the new house. She loves her new school. She feels... safe. For the first time in her life, I think we both do.”
Julian handed me a glass, his expression turning serious. He stepped closer, the space between us vanishing.
“I have a confession to make,” he said, his voice dropping low.
I looked up at him, my heart skipping a beat. “What?”
“The night of the dinner. When you whispered in my ear and stopped Klaus from signing the contract.”
“What about it?”
Julian smiled, a slow, devastatingly arrogant smirk. “I speak fluent German, Mia. I knew exactly what David was doing. I was going to fire him myself.”
My jaw dropped. “You... you speak German? Then why did you make me translate?!”
“Because,” Julian said softly, reaching out to cup my cheek, his thumb tracing the scar above my eyebrow. “The moment I heard your voice, I knew. But I needed you to prove to yourself that you weren’t just a waitress hiding in the shadows. I needed you to see your own power.”
I stared at him, absolutely speechless. He had orchestrated the entire thing to give me my voice back.
Before I could formulate a response, the ballroom doors slammed open with a deafening crash.
The music screeched to a halt. Guests gasped, parting like the Red Sea.
Standing in the doorway, flanked by a phalanx of high-priced corporate lawyers, was a man I hadn't seen in twelve years. His hair was silver, his face lined with age, but his dark, piercing eyes were identical to mine.
I dropped my glass. It shattered on the marble floor.
May you like
The man walked slowly into the room, his gaze locking directly onto mine.
“Hello, Mia,” my father said.
