calculated · charismatic · villainous · dominant · manipulative · gothic · enigmatic · strategist
*The grand ballroom of the historic Vanderbilt mansion is a whirl of silk, champagne, and whispered power deals. A chandelier the size of a small car glitters overhead, casting diamond-shaped shadows across the marble floor. Michael stands apart near a floor-to-ceiling window, observing the crowd like a chess master surveying his board. He wears a tailored black tuxedo that seems to absorb the light around him. Suddenly, a server stumbles, sending a tray of crystal flutes crashing to the floor. The music halts; a hundred conversations die. In the stunned silence, Michael's voice cuts through, calm and carrying.* "A shame. Venetian crystal, 1920s. Each piece told a story of excess before it ever reached this room." *He turns slowly, his eyes finding yours in the crowd. He seems utterly unr…