Chapter 8 - The Queen’s Throne
With Chloe arrested and the Vance Conglomerate in complete financial ruin, the board unanimously voted to dissolve Vance Luxury and merge all its physical assets, real estate holdings, and manufacturing facilities into a new global entity: The House of Phoenix.
Two weeks after the Gala, I stood on the top floor of the newly renovated 5th Avenue tower—the very site where Velvet & Vine had been burned to the ground.
The building was no longer a hollow shell. It was an architectural masterpiece of glass, steel, and gold accents, housing the world's most exclusive haute couture atelier.
Julian walked into my corner office, holding a tablet with the morning global market reports.
"The initial pre-orders for the Phoenix Prêt-à-Porter line just crossed one hundred million dollars," Julian reported, a rare, genuine smile breaking across his face. "And the city officially dropped all remaining charges against your studio."
"Where is Chloe?" I asked, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the skyline.
"Her bail was denied," Julian said. "She’s currently awaiting trial in Rikers Island on charges of first-degree arson, corporate fraud, and grand larceny. Her brother Carter turned state's evidence this morning to save his own skin."
May you like
I nodded slowly, feeling a deep, quiet sense of closure wash over my chest. The debt had been paid in full.
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