Chapter 21 - The Throne of Glass and Steel
The morning after Richard Sterling was permanently buried in the federal penitentiary, the sun rose brilliantly over the Chicago skyline.
Evangeline Waverly Crawford stood in the center of the massive, glass-walled executive boardroom at Crawford Global Enterprises. She wore a tailored, midnight-blue suit that radiated absolute authority.
She looked down at the sprawling city below, feeling the heavy, tarnished silver bracelet resting comfortably against her wrist.
The door to the boardroom clicked open smoothly.
"The board is waiting for your opening statement, Madam Chairwoman,"
David, her heavily armed and fiercely loyal chief of security, announced respectfully.
"Let them wait two more minutes, David,"
Evangeline replied calmly, not turning away from the window.
Eleanor walked into the room, holding little Leo in her arms. The toddler was cooing happily, completely oblivious to the empire of billions that he would one day inherit.
"You did it, Evie,"
Eleanor whispered, her eyes shining with profound, unshakeable pride.
"We did it, Mom,"
May you like
Evangeline corrected her gently, turning around to kiss her son’s forehead.
She took a deep, centering breath, letting the ghost of the weak, terrified woman named Claire fade completely into the ether. She turned on her heel and walked through the heavy double doors into the boardroom, stepping fully into her absolute power.
