Chapter 15 - The New Reign
The sun dipped below the horizon of Lake Geneva, casting a breathtaking golden and violet glow across the water.
I stood on the stone balcony of the historic Hôtel de Ville, the cool evening breeze catching the hem of my silk gown. The emerald pendant rested against my chest, catching the fading light.
Footsteps echoed softly behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"You're late, Mr. Vance," I said, a playful smile on my lips.
"Traffic over the Alps was a bit congested," Alexander’s smooth voice replied.
He stepped out onto the balcony, holding two crystal flutes of champagne. He handed one to me, his fingers brushing mine with an electric warmth. He leaned against the stone railing beside me, looking out over the glittering city lights.
"How does it feel?" Alexander asked softly.
"To own an empire?" I took a sip of the crisp champagne, letting the bubbles dance on my tongue. "It feels light. Like a massive weight has finally been lifted."
Alexander turned his head, his dark gray eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made the surrounding city fade into the background. "Good. Because the empire is just the beginning, Elena."
I smiled, raising my glass to meet his. The past was buried beneath trusts, shell companies, and concrete cells. My future was entirely my own.
May you like
"To new beginnings," I toasted.
"To absolute sovereignty," Alexander replied, clinking his glass against mine.
