Untamable Matriarch: The Witheridge Witches

Chapter 10

Margareth

While the gala invite being held in York's remembrance had mentioned a required donation for a foundation not yet disclosed in order to attend, it wasn't until I got there that I discovered what it was.

Carlisle York's Endowment for Wildlife and Nature Preservation in Wyoming is what they'd come up with.

Considering the vast majority of those in attendance were werewolves, I highly doubted that that was where the funds donated tonight would actually go. If I had to bet, this was all a grand scheme for money laundering, probably for the werewolf cause of taking over the world. I'd donated a respectable $1,000, so I'd now officially aided and abetted their cause masquerading as an endowment. Antony and Forli sat next to York's parents. Both his ex-wife and widow were notably absent, but that was probably for the best.

There were some staff in attendance, but mainly those in director roles, as opposed to those in clinical positions. That was to be expected. He wasn't well-loved by anyone on staff but Antony. The rest only kissed up to him because his family owned the hospital. When it came time for dinner, Forli, Keller, Nunez, and Woods had all been placed at the same table closest to the table of honor. That table was reserved for his parents and the highest-ranking officials of the hospital.

Circular tables were set all around and the ballroom was filled to the brim with the politicians and socialites of Washington D.C. all that seemed to be treating this as the place to be of the hour like vultures all here for their own individual gain.

I'd dressed the part in a silky light blue, almost grey evening gown. My hair was curled and pulled to one side of my head. I looked to my right at George, who sat between Nunez and Keller. He'd somehow managed to find a decent suit and had his dark brown hair slicked back. He almost looked like he belonged. Maybe he would have if he wasn't sitting next to Antony in his custom-tailored $6,000 suit like everyone else. Tailoring was a thing of the past, with mass consumption of clothing nowadays. A shame, really. One of my covers in the past in one of my postings had been being a seamstress. It led me to garner a further appreciation and understanding of the art form.

The acting CEO of the hospital got up from his place at the table of honor and made his way to the podium in the corner of the ballroom, tapping the microphone attached to it twice before speaking.

"I'd like to thank all in attendance for their generosity tonight. While it saddens us all as to why we're all gathered here tonight, it is the York family's greatest wish that we celebrate his life and give back to what he loved most."

While I wanted to roll my eyes, I kept my face void of emotions as I traced the room for anyone notable with only mild success. The most important people to me were still the ones sitting at this table with me.

The CEO drolled on and on about York's accomplishments as a doctor and outdoorsman, of which I had to admit were many. One of his achievements I was even a part of. But from a man of his stature, I would have expected nothing less. He had won the jackpot when it came to who had given birth to him. Money can get you far in life, but only so far. He could've been so much more. Too bad he chose to be a little shit instead.

My train of thought was interrupted when the CEO began to read fond memories from friends, family, and the larger donors for tonight. The donations were as low as $15,000 to as high as 10 million dollars, most from family friends in the war racketeering business. By my count, they had to have raised a casual 50 million tonight. That was pocket change for these people.

"Now I've saved the best for last - all the way from Italy."

With that one sentence, this man now had my full attention. This was the first donation from overseas now making this global.