THE THRESHOLD OF POWERThe night air had grown biting, a sharp wind whipping through the concrete canyons of Manhattan, but the Smith family refused to move. They stood huddled on the public sidewalk, just inches from their car, their eyes fixed on the entrance, waiting for the new heir to walk in any moment from nowThey were a pathetic sight. Linda’s hair, usually a stiff helmet of perfection, was beginning to fray. Robert was frantically scrubbing at the oil stain on his sleeve with a cocktail napkin, and Leslie stood shivering. Her eyes were fixed on the revolving glass doors of the Rothwell Plaza like a gambler waiting for a final spin of the wheel.“He has to come through here,” Robert muttered, his teeth chattering. “The Master of Ceremonies said the Heir was on his way. There is only one VIP entrance. We wait, we intercept him, and we tell him that his inner circle… Harnes and that bastard Jack… are conspiring to ruin his reputation.” He said“He will listen,” Linda insist

THE REAL CHAIRMAN The drive back to the Jaguar Estate was a suffocating experience. The interior of the Mercedes, once a symbol of their ascent into the upper class, now felt like a cramped cage. Robert gripped the steering wheel so hard the leather groaned, while Linda stared blankly out the window at the passing city lights."He never came," Bernard muttered from the backseat, breaking the heavy silence. "The Heir. He stood us up. He probably stayed in his penthouse and watched the whole thing on a security feed like a goddamn movie. He has made a fool of us.""No," Robert countered, his voice tight. "He was there. The Master of Ceremonies would not have announced the