Chapter 11: The Gala Blueprint
The Grand Monarch Hall gleamed under a crisp Chicago night sky. Limousines idled, disgorging guests draped in furs and sequins. The Chicago Architectural Society Gala [more…]
Series: When my ex-husband and former architectural partner locked me out of our firm's flagship site in minus-three-degree Chicago weather to celebrate his illegal $14.5 million buyout with his young asso...
Chapter 12: Table Number Four
The Grand Monarch Hall filled with the murmur of a hundred conversations, the clinking of silverware, and the soft strains of a jazz trio. Julian [more…]
Chapter 13: The Unwritten Verdict
The banquet hall lights dimmed, a spotlight casting a brilliant circle on the stage. The Master of Ceremonies, his voice booming with forced enthusiasm, introduced [more…]
Chapter 14: Taken in the Dark
The moment Julian attempted to stammer a denial into the microphone, the stage lights flickered, then plunged into darkness. A collective gasp rose from the [more…]
Chapter 15: The Clean Slate
The next morning, the silence in the Higgins & Karr executive boardroom was deafening. The oak table, usually a battlefield of egos, felt strangely tranquil. [more…]
Chapter 16: Cold Echoes
The following Sunday. My corner office at Higgins & Karr was quiet, bathed in the soft, grey light of a Chicago winter afternoon. Snow fell [more…]