Quiet Reign
The private rooftop lounge of The Velvet Horizon was closed to the public, reserved entirely for a party of five.
With the glittering Cleveland skyline stretching out beneath them and a crisp autumn breeze rustling the glass windscreens, the atmosphere was electric with victory. The heavy, gold-rimmed crystal glasses clinked together in a sharp, satisfying ring.
"To the undisputed rulers of the Midwest," Isaiah Cole rumbled, his deep laugh echoing over the soft jazz playing in the background. "I’ve seen some hostile takeovers in my day, but watching Julian Sterling’s face drain of color in the middle of a charity gala? That was art."