“He removed his wife from the guest list for being ‘too simple’… He had no idea she was the secret owner of his empire.”

“Sir?” Marcus asked, confused.

“Elara,” Julian said coldly. “She isn’t ready for these people, Marcus. You know how she gets. She stands in a corner holding a glass of water. She doesn’t know how to network. She wears dresses that look like they came off a department-store rack. Tonight is about power. It’s about image.”

Julian thought of the woman waiting for him in the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton right now: Isabella Ricci. Isabella was a model turned brand ambassador. She was smart, ambitious, and so stunning she drew attention like gravity. She knew how to laugh at bad jokes, whisper into investors’ ears, and look flawless at his side in front of the paparazzi.

“Remove her,” Julian said.

Marcus blinked, stunned.