Eleanor reaches into her silk purse, pulling out a heavy, dark blue envelope stamped with a gold wax seal bearing the official crest of the Manhattan High-Society Council.

Clara looked down at the dark blue envelope resting in her mother's soft hands. The thick paper felt heavy and expensive, marked with the ancient gold crest of the Manhattan High Society Council. It was an invitation that every single billionaire family in New York fought tooth and nail to receive, yet most were ignored for decades.

"What is this, Mom?" Clara asked softly, her dark eyes blinking in mild surprise as she traced the golden seal with her finger.

Eleanor smiled...