Chapter 74
Chapter 74:
Sterling walked through the room, a rictus grin plastered on his face. He clinked a silver spoon against his glass.
“To love!” Sterling announced, his voice too loud. “To loyalty p>
He raised his glass. A few people murmured a polite “hear, hear,” but most eyes drifted back to their phones.
Sterling saw a group of young investors near the bar. They were laughing. One of them held up his phone to show the others. Sterling stepped closer, feigning casual interest.
“Good news on the market?” Sterling asked.
The investors jumped. One of them, a man named Brad, quickly locked his screen.
“Uh, yes. Just… tech stocks,” Brad stammered.
Sterling snatched the phone from Brad’s hand.
“Hey!” Brad protested.
Sterling unlocked it. Twitter was open. The number one trending hashtag in New York was #AuroraVanceStuns. Below it was a video. The video of his outstretched hand. The caption read: “The moment the King of Wall Street realized he was just a jester p>
Sterling’s hand shook. He threw the phone back at Brad. It bounced off Brad’s chest and hit the floor.
“Fake news,” Sterling hissed. “It’s all bots. She paid for bots p>
He spun around and marched toward the bar. He needed a drink. A strong one.
Isabella was there, watching him. She saw the vein throbbing in his temple. She knew that look. It was the look of a man who needed a scapegoat.
“Sterling, honey,” Isabella cooed, placing a hand on his back. “Ignore them. She is just a social climber. Everyone knows she slept her way into the Yates circle p>
Sterling froze. He looked at Isabella. The lie was like oxygen to a drowning man.
Step into fiction with g Ɐ ln σ ν𝒆 ℓs․com
“Yes,” Sterling breathed. “That’s it. She seduced old man Yates. That’s the only explanation p>
He grabbed a bottle of scotch from the bartender and poured a glass, drinking it neat. The burn felt good. It felt like anger. He turned to a passing waiter.
“Tell the band to play louder! Drown out that noise next door p>
Meanwhile, on the other side of the wall, the Yates ball was a different world. It was elegant, warm, and genuine.
Aurora sat on the balcony, holding a glass of mineral water. Mr. William Yates was beside her.
“Your algorithm suggestions for our shipping logistics were brilliant, Aurora,” William said. “We saved three million last quarter p>
“I’m glad I could help, William,” Aurora replied.
She felt a sudden sneeze coming on. She rubbed her nose delicately.
“Someone is talking about you,” William chuckled. “Probably the neighbors p>
Aurora glanced at the partition that separated the two balconies. Through the sheer curtains of the Thorne venue, she could see a figure gesturing wildly. She saw Sterling smash a glass against the wall.
She didn’t feel triumph. She didn’t feel pity. She felt the indifference of a scientist observing a lab rat that had failed the maze.
She turned her back on him and walked back into the light.