The penthouse of the Thorne Developments tower was entirely raw. Exposed steel beams stretched across the ceiling, and floor-to-ceiling windows offered a dizzying, panoramic view of the city below. There were no walls yet, just concrete floors and a massive oak table sitting squarely in the center o

The grand ballroom of the Pierre Hotel was a symphony of crystal chandeliers and clinking champagne glasses. The annual Vance Designs Gala was the architectural event of the season, a glittering masquerade of high society where millions of dollars in contracts were negotiated over hors d'oeuvres.

C

The VIP lounge on the mezzanine level overlooked the grand ballroom through a wall of tinted, soundproof glass. Inside, the room was dimly lit, furnished with plush leather sofas and a fully stocked mahogany bar.

Clara stood by the window, looking down at the hundreds of guests mingling below. She