Chapter 9

The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Victor Sterling’s Manhattan penthouse, casting a warm, golden glow over the massive mahogany dining table. Spread across the polished wood were no fewer than six different daily newspapers, and every single one of them featu

Chapter 10

The private test kitchen at the newly constructed Sterling Grand Hotel was a masterpiece of modern culinary engineering.

Clara stood at the center of the expansive marble island, surrounded by gleaming induction ranges, state-of-the-art sous-vide baths, and a wall of imported copper co

Chapter 11

The grand ballroom of the Sterling Grand Hotel was a vision of absolute opulence. Crystal chandeliers cast a brilliant, diamond-like glow over the hundreds of elite guests moving across the floor. Champagne flowed from cascading towers, and a string quartet played softly in the corner.