The invitation arrived at 7:12 a.m. Elena noticed it because it had bypassed three layers of executive screening and that never happened. She stood near the windows of her office, Beijing market reports open on her tablet, when her assistant entered carrying a cream-colored envelope.
"This was delivered directly to your desk this morning."
Elena looked up. “By whom?"
Her assistant hesitated. “No one seems to know."
That alone was enough to command Elena's full attention. She accepted the envelope. Heavy cardstock. Embossed seal. Elegant handwriting. Her expression remained neutral as she broke the wax seal. Then she read.
**The Carter Legacy Gala**
**Celebrating the Future While Honoring the Past**
**Hosted by Carter Holdings**
Elena's eyes narrowed. No such gala existed. She would
