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Chapter 1: The Shadow of the Banquet
The Grand Astoria ballroom was a symphony of opulence. Crystal chandeliers, heavy as a thousand facets, cast a shimmering, refracted light over a sea of tuxedos and silk gowns. The air was heavy with the scent of precious lilies and even more precious perfumes. It was the night of the “Great Merger” gala, a celebration commemorating the rescue of Titan Corp., a family-owned company steeped in history that had teetered on the brink of bankruptcy just months earlier.
Waiters in white gloves moved like silent shadows through the crowd, carrying silver trays full of vintage champagne. In the center of the room stood the Rossi family, bathed in the glow of a flashlight.
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