Chapter 18 - The Gala
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To celebrate the successful transition of their businesses into legitimate holdings, Wade and Audrey hosted a massive, highly publicized charity gala at the estate.
It was a statement to the city: the Mercer family was no longer hiding in the shadows of the underworld. They were stepping into the light as prominent, untouchable philanthropists.
The grand ballroom of the estate was transformed into a glittering spectacle. Hundreds of wealthy investors, politicians, and socialites filled the room, sipping champagne and bidding on high-end auction items.
Audrey looked breathtaking in a floor-length emerald gown, her dark hair pinned up elegantly, wearing a diamond necklace Wade had gifted her that morning. She navigated the room with effortless grace, charming the city’s elite and securing massive donations for the pediatric hospital.
Wade stood by the bar, watching his wife with absolute adoration. He wore a perfectly tailored tuxedo, projecting an aura of sophisticated, lethal power that kept the politicians respectful and eager to please.
“You’re a lucky man, Mercer,” the Mayor of Chicago chuckled, clinking his glass against Wade’s. “Your wife just talked me into doubling the city’s grant for the new cardiac wing.”
“My wife is a very persuasive woman, Mr. Mayor,” Wade smiled proudly. “She gets whatever she wants.”
As the evening progressed, Wade stepped out onto the quiet, dimly lit terrace to take a brief moment of silence away from the chaotic ballroom. The cool lake breeze washed over him, a stark contrast to the stifling heat of his old life.
He leaned against the stone balustrade, closing his eyes, listening to the faint sound of the jazz band playing inside.
He had done it. He had pulled off the impossible. He had successfully transitioned a violent mafia syndicate into a legitimate corporate empire, all to protect his wife and his son.
The heavy glass doors opened behind him.
Wade smiled, assuming it was Audrey coming to find him.
“You throw a beautiful party, Wade,” a soft, cultured voice murmured from the shadows.
Wade’s eyes snapped open. His smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, hard edge of absolute combat readiness.
It wasn't Audrey.
A tall, impeccably dressed man stepped out of the darkness of the terrace. He had silver hair, piercing blue eyes, and leaned heavily on a silver-handled cane. He looked like an aristocrat, but Wade knew exactly who he was.
May you like
It was Arthur Vance. The undisputed head of the Global Commission—the shadow organization that governed all the major syndicates across the country. A man who rarely showed his face in public, and never without a purpose.
“Arthur,” Wade said quietly, his posture rigid. “I didn't realize you were on the guest list.”
