Chapter 27 - THE GALA OF THE DAMNED
The Tri-County Business Gala was the pinnacle of local suburban snobbery. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, expensive champagne flowed freely from crystal flutes, and men in custom-tailored tuxedos mingled with women draped in borrowed diamonds and designer gowns. Vance Miller stood near the front of the grand ballroom, holding a scotch on the rocks, laughing loudly at a joke told by the president of the local bank while basking in the adulation of his sycophantic peers. He looked invincible, his chest puffed out with arrogant pride, entirely convinced that his wealth and social status made him immune to the consequences of his actions. I stood near the back of the hall, dressed in a sharp, dark-charcoal suit that Arthur had insisted on buying me, watching the scene unfold with absolute calm. Arthur remained out of sight in a rented black town car parked three blocks away, monitoring the encrypted data broadcast feeds from his secure tablet. The master of ceremonies tapped his microphone, the feedback screeching slightly through the massive overhead speakers before he cleared his throat. "Ladies and gentlemen," the MC announced, his voice booming across the room. "Please give a warm round of applause to our keynote speaker, the pillar of our business community, the visionary behind Miller Industries—Mr. Vance Miller!" Polite, thunderous applause erupted through the ballroom as Vance smoothed down his silk tie, flashed his signature blinding white-toothed smile, and walked up the three carpeted steps toward the podium, stepping directly into the bright glare of the spotlight. He had no idea that the screens behind him were about to light up with his darkest secrets.
