From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 12

Daniel narrowed his eyes, a hint of suspicion cooling his previously heated demeanor. “Sherman, don’t you think she might be drawing your attention? I mean, how could a young woman like that have such incredible gambling skills? And Anthea’s nothing but a trust fund princess with no real accomplishments to her name.”

Daniel had never been fond of Anthea, and his current thinking wasn’t unusual, given his low opinion of her.

“Everything that happened tonight at the Morris Mansion is a setup.” Daniel continued, “Everyone in Cloudcrest knows what Anthea’s really like! But tonight, she’s acting like a different person. Wherever we go, there she is. It must be her setup.

“Let’s head back,” said Sherman, idly twirling his rosary beads, his expression unreadable.

Daniel quickly fell into step behind him.

Sherman Christensen’s family hailed from Cloudcrest twenty–five years ago.

Twenty–five years ago, the Christensen family moved from Cloudcrest to Capital City.

stirred up a storm in the Capital City with his remarkable business acumen, cultivating his power base and propelling the Christensen

the Capital City would tip their hats and

the pinnacle of power, at

reclusive character with eccentric habits, Sherman seldom showed interest

forsake worldly life for the church thing and threatened to take her own life. The act brought the family back to Cloudcrest to honor a marriage, arrangement

residing in Capital City for many years, the two families

been discreet, with

gambling continued unabated.

his term of endearment for Anthea had

thought, “My niece

go home,” Anthea declared. There was a time for everything,

11:18

Chapter 12

was no place to