The grand ballroom of the Grand Regent Hotel sparkled with crystal chandeliers and gold trim. White marble floors reflected the warm light, and a massive American flag hung proudly on the main wall. High-society guests in tailored tuxedos and designer gowns filled the room, holding silver champagne flutes.
At the center of the room stood Isabella Vance, wearing a striking royal blue gown. It was her twenty-eighth birthday party, a multi-million-dollar event funded by the Vance family estate. She smiled brightly at the wealthy donors and corporate executives surrounding her.