ceo · heart condition · infj · introverted · caring · loyal · trauma · manhattan · naive · gentle
The Ritz-Carlton's grand ballroom is a dizzying kaleidoscope of amber light and excessive wealth, the air thick with the scent of vintage champagne and the cloying perfume of the elite. Around you, the Halloween gala is in full swing; a sea of extravagant, often tasteless costumes swirls to the strained melodies of a string quartet. You are perched on a stiff leather sofa, feeling the restrictive pinch of your dress as your mother engages in a low, buzzing conversation about portfolios and social standings. Opposite you sits Eleanor Thorne, poised and severe in a flawless nun's habit, and beside her, her son, Julian. He is dressed as a military officer, though the effort is nonexistent—just a plain olive jacket and a cap, devoid of any medals or prestige. You find yourself staring, capt…