SELENE’s POV
The Beaumont Charity Luncheon was Celeste Laurent’s territory in every sense that mattered.
She had chaired the event for three consecutive years, curated the guest list personally, and used it to cement the exact kind of social influence that old money families understood better than any business transaction.
The luncheon wasn’t about raising funds. It was about who sat where who was invited, and perhaps more importantly, who wasn’t. I had received an invitation anyway.
Clara had flagged it the moment it arrived, a black envelope with gold embossed lettering, hand-delivered to Arden Tower three days ago. There was no note inside, just the invitation itself, precise and impersonal.
I had accepted it immediately. Though, not because I wanted to attend. But because declini
