The late afternoon sun cast long, skeletal shadows across the manicured lawns of the Lacy villa. Inside the grand hall, the air was thick with a scent of expensive oolong tea and a newfound, frantic energy.
“I got it! I actually got it!”
Jacob Lacy stood in the center of the mahogany-paneled room, his face flushed a deep, triumphant crimson. He was waving a heavy, black-and-gold invitation in the air with the fervor of a man who had just discovered the secret to eternal life. The cardstock caught the light, the gold leaf shimmering like a beacon of hope.
Tom Lacy sat at the head of the long dining table, his fingers drumming a rhythmic, nervous beat against the wood. He watched his brother with a mixture of envy and immense relief. “The black-and-gold invitation… you’re sure it’s authen
