Chapter Sixty-Nine: TheSelf-Made Man
The heavy applause from the terrace had finally died down as the guests moved toward the formal gardens for the evening reception. The celebratory noise of New York’s elite faded into a soft hum as Alexander and I stepped away from the crowd, seeking the quiet sanctuary of his private office on the second floor.
The room was cool, filled with the rich scent of old leather, polished mahogany, and the faint, sweet trace of the summer air coming through the cracked window. Alexander took off his heavy tuxedo jacket, tossing it onto the leather sofa, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his white shirt. He looked less like the corporate god who had just named his heir and more like the man I loved—tired, human, and deeply content.
I walked over to the m
