The grand ballroom of the old Anderson mansion was alive with the hum of laughter and clinking glasses.
Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the room, their light reflecting off the polished mahogany walls and the gold-framed portraits of the Anderson family lineage.
Associates from the firm mingled with junior lawyers, all dressed in their finest, celebrating the victory of the most difficult case the firm had seen in years. The air was thick with anticipation—everyone was waiting for the man of the hour, Ethan Anderson.
Steph, Ethan's assistant, stood near the entrance, nervously checking his watch. He had suggested the mansion as the venue, thinking its historic grandeur would be the perfect backdrop for such a momentous occasion, and as well to help Ethan deal with Mr. Anderson Sr. But now, with Ethan running late, he could feel the tension building.
