He Chose His Ex, So I Chose My Empire novel · Chapter 19 of 24
Chapter 19: The Introduction
The board chair took the call at eleven that night, from her own kitchen.
She didn't tell me what London said.
She sent me one line at midnight.
"Come to the gala. Sit near the front. Wear something you can stand up in."
...
City Hall's rotunda at night looked like the inside of a wedding cake.
White marble and gold leaf, with a lectern on the landing of the great staircase.
Six hundred people in black tie stood around the floor with champagne.
The press had a roped-off pen by the staircase.
Sabrina had booked them, and they'd come.
I wore dark green.
Jo wore the same borrowed dress from the Fairmont, because she said it had been lucky.
Imogen wore a tuxedo and every ring she owned.
Hugh was at the back by the bronze doors.
He hadn't come with us.
He'd sent one text that afternoon: "I'll be at the back. I'm not on anybody's list."
He stood alone against the marble, with no table and no seat.
When he saw me, he lifted his chin an inch and stayed where he was.
At nine the lights dimmed on the floor and came up on the landing.
The COO introduced the board chair.
The board chair, in grey silk, walked to the lectern and said very little.
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–12 of He Chose His Ex, So I Chose My Empire are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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