---- Chapter 3 Isiah did not return to the penthouse for two weeks. When he finally resurfaced, it was on the cover of every magazine and tabloid in the city. He and Kiley were photographed everywhere: front row at fashion week, vacationing on a yacht in St. Barts, kissing under the Eiffel Tower. They were New York' s new golden couple. In interviews, Isiah spoke glowingly of Kiley. He called her his savior, the woman who had pulled him out of a dark and toxic spiral. He never mentioned Gloria by name, but the implication was clear. Gloria watched it all from her penthouse, a silent observer in her sky-high fortress. "He' s getting arrogant," Marcus noted, placing a tablet with the latest headlines on her desk. "He thinks you' re beaten." Gloria said nothing. To the outside world, she maintained her powerful, unflappable facade. She attended board meetings, closed billion-dollar deals, and hosted political fundraisers. ---- No one knew she and Isiah were married. It was a secret they had kept for eight years. She remembered the night he came to her, his hedge fund on the verge of collapse after a disastrous bet on a biotech firm. He was ruined. He had knelt before her, just as he had done in the alley all those years ago. "Help me, Gloria," he had begged. "I' Il do anything." She had looked down at the man she had created, the man she loved, and saw her chance to bind him to her forever. "Marry me," she said. It wasn' t a request. It was a term of the deal. She would bail him out, make him more powerful than ever, and in return, he would be hers. Completely. He had hesitated for only a moment. "On one condition," he said, his pride still intact even in his desperation. "We keep it a secret. My career... my reputation ... | can' t be seen as Mr. Franco." She had known then what he was. He wanted her power, but not her name. He wanted the benefits of her empire without the perceived shame of being her consort. She had agreed. It was a small price to pay for ownership. ---- They had built an empire together, a silent partnership that dominated the financial world. He was the charismatic face; she was the ruthless mind. Now, that partnership was a war. The charity auction was held at the Met, a glittering affair for the city' s elite. Gloria sat at her table, bored by the parade of overpriced art and jewelry. Then, the final item was brought to the stage. It was a necklace. A delicate, vintage Cartier piece with a massive Colombian emerald. It had belonged to her mother. It was the last piece of her family' s legacy, lost after her father' s business went bankrupt decades ago. She had been searching for it for years. Gloria raised her paddle without hesitation. "Five million dollars," the auctioneer announced. "Six million," a voice called out from across the room. It was Kiley. She sat beside Isiah, waving her paddle with a triumphant grin. Isiah caught Gloria' s eye and gave her a small, condescending smile. He whispered something in Kiley' s ear, and she giggled. ---- Gloria signaled to Marcus. He raised the paddle again. "Ten million." "Fifteen," Kiley shot back immediately. The bidding war escalated quickly. The crowd watched in stunned silence as the numbers climbed to an absurd height. "Thirty million," Marcus bid, on Gloria' s instruction. Isiah stood up. "Fifty million," he announced, his voice booming through the silent hall. "And we' Il pay in cash." A gasp went through the room. Marcus leaned toward Gloria. "He doesn' t have that kind of liquid capital," he whispered. "Not clean capital, anyway." Gloria smiled faintly. "Oh, | know," she said, her voice a soft murmur. "It' s from the Villalobos cartel. He' s been laundering their money through his fund for the past year." She had known about it for months. She had even facilitated the initial connection, a hidden time bomb she had planted in the heart of his operations. She stood up, her movements graceful and unhurried. ---- She smoothed down her gown and walked out of the auction house without a backward glance. Marcus followed her out to the waiting car. "The necklace, Ms. Franco?" he asked as he held the door for her. "Objects are just objects, Marcus," she said, settling into the plush leather seat. "They can be bought, sold, or lost. Their only true value is what someone is willing to pay for them." She looked out the window as the car pulled away from the curb. "And tonight," she added, a cold smile touching her lips, "Isiah just paid far more than he could ever imagine." In "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" by CrushReel, the storyline unfolds as renowned photographer Jane finds herself drawn to the charismatic rookie model, Hector. Little does she know that Hector harbors a secret—he is actually the heir to a powerful business empire. As their romance blossoms, Hector grapples with concealing his true identity to capture Jane's heart. However, their love story takes a tumultuous turn when jealousy rears its ugly head, threatening to unravel the delicate balance they've built. This modern romance novel delves into themes of hidden identities, unexpected love, and the complexities of maintaining a relationship shrouded in secrecy. With its blend of sweet romance and suspenseful twists, "A Relationship Kept in The Dark" stands out for its exploration of hidden feelings and the consequences of revealing long-held secrets. For readers seeking a captivating tale that combines elements of romance, intrigue, and emotional depth, this ongoing story is available to read at CrushReel. Immerse yourself in the world of Jane and Hector as their journey unfolds against the backdrop of hidden truths and heartfelt revelations.