Chapter 156

• The ballroom of the Riverside Grand Hotel shimmered like a jewel box under a constellation of crystal chandeliers, their prisms fracturing light into rainbows across white-damask tablecloths and polished silverware. Round tables dotted the vast space, each crowned with centerpieces of white orchids and flickering votives, while a raised stage at the far end gleamed with velvet curtains and a podium flanked by dramatic spotlights.
• Karla's face transformed the moment Anastasia glided into view, her scowl melting into a rare, genuine beam of triumph. She rose from her seat at a prime center table, her navy gown rustling as she extended both arms like a queen welcoming her favorite courtier. "Anastasia, darling!" Karla exclaimed. "You look divine—emerald suits you, like a serpent in paradise. " Come, sit with us."
• Eliot, seated to Karla's right with his scotch in hand, said, "Anastasia. Good of you to join. The more Carters, the better for optics." He gestured to the empty chair beside Karla.