đ„ They Arrested the Billionaire in Front of the Entire CityâThen His Dead FiancĂ©e Walked Into the Ballroom Holding Proof His Father Was Still Alive
THE GOLDEN CAGE
At exactly 8:00 p.m., the doors of the Astor Syndicate ballroom swung open.
One by one...
The city's most powerful figures stepped beneath towering crystal chandeliers.
Private equity billionaires.
Federal judges.
State senators.
Tech founders.
Real estate tycoons.
Media executives.
Everyone in that room shared one thing.
Power.
Or at least...
the appearance of it.
The Astor Syndicate's annual gala wasn't just another charity event.
It was where alliances were forged.
Rivals became partners.
Fortunes quietly changed hands.
And careers were made...
or destroyed.
No public press cameras were allowed inside.
Whatever happened behind those marble walls stayed there.
At least...
that's what everyone believed.
Standing near the center of the ballroom was Julian Ashford.
Forty-three years old.
A razor-sharp jaw.
Flawless posture.
A custom midnight-blue tuxedo tailored in Milan.
His polished shoes reflected the marble floor beneath him.
May you like
To the guests surrounding him, Julian was the very definition of success.
President of Ashford Capital.
