As soon as I untied the ribbon, a foul metallic scent hit me. Inside was a pair of black leather shoes, stained with something ominous, with strands of hair tangled around the heel.
My phone vibrated, Jovan’s name flashed on the screen.
“Louis, I thought it over and realized I shouldn’t keep what’s yours. Sending your shoes back. I wore them while dancing with Eliana last night, but… I may have gotten them dirty.”
Swallowing back my revulsion, I hurled the shoes into the trash without a second glance.
Then another message arrived, this time from my mother. [Louis, the Ramsey family’s dowry list is unbelievable!]
I opened it and was stunned; the marital endowments alone could purchase three Briones Corporations.
The Ramsey family had always been cloaked in mystery and known for their restraint, yet for me, they had cast aside that reserve, displaying a sincerity that could not be mistaken. Even the rare treasures they offered were enough to leave anyone speechless.
At the annual Sierra Vista business banquet, I was enjoying light conversation with a few friends when the doors to the hall slammed open.