Every eye was turned toward Julian and me.

Julian took a deep breath and stepped onto the bottom landing of the staircase.

“Thank you all for coming tonight,” he said, his voice loud and clear.

“But the evening is over.”

He looked at the security staff.

“Please assist our guests to their cars.”

No one moved at first.

Then, slowly, the guests began to murmur and drift toward the coat check.

They moved quickly, eager to leave before the police blocked the driveway completely.

Julian turned to me.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I am fine,” I said. “Just tired.”

“We need to go back upstairs,” he said. “We need to look at the papers.”

“The papers are safe with me,” Nathaniel said, tapping his folder.

“But there is one more thing we must address.”

My grandfather stepped down the last step, leaning heavily on his cane.

“The media will not wait for the morning,” Elias said.

“The morning papers are being printed now.”

“I know,” Julian said.

“I will call a press conference for midnight.”

He looked at me, his eyes dark with determination.