Noah
The gala invitation sat unopened on my desk for two full days before I finally forced myself to deal with it, the heavy cardstock feeling like a countdown timer I couldn't stop no matter how badly I wanted to.
Victoria called before I even had the chance to RSVP properly, her voice carrying the same polished, calculated warmth it always did, though something sharper lurked underneath it this time.
"Nathaniel," she said when I picked up. "I wanted to touch base before the gala. Make sure we're aligned on how we're presenting things."
"Presenting things," I repeated flatly.
"The merger announcement, obviously. But also us. Your father's expecting a united front, and frankly, so are several members of the press who'll be covering the event." Her tone remained light, casual, though t
