A GOLDEN EMPIRE

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

SATURDAY ROLLS AROUND QUICKLY and Mario cannot wait to make Cristal look like an absolute fool. He texted the Empire group chat to make sure everyone is ready. According to Aurora, everyone is in for a treat tonight. He bought a new suit just for this occasion.

CRISTAL CALLAHAN... you're going down you bitch.

See, Cristal is the daughter of KEVIN CALLAHAN, US District Attorney currently in the running for senator. Aurora, with her intuition and a huge penchant for causing chaos, sent the group chat a video clip of Kevin meeting up with CATALINA RIVERA, his mistress. The clip featured a hotel room. The bed was in clear view. They could see a tanned dark haired woman lying on it, scantily clad. Kevin opened the door and pocketed his hotel card. Mario watched as he took in the woman with a slow smile.

He started to unbutton his jacket, but Mario clicked PAUSED. He didn't need to see it all, he understood the picture.

There's one person out of the loop though. That would be his wife NINA. Poor woman. Innocent bystander to her cheating ass husband. She would find out tonight how 'loving' he is.

Mario smirks to himself and goes to get ready. He walks into the closet to retrieve his suit and accessories. About an hour later, on his person is a black $4,990 single breasted wool TOM FORD suit, a $43,950 Royal Oak Chronograph 38mm AUDEMARS PIGUET watch, some CARTIER glasses and VALENTINO wallet. On his feet are a pair of introwoven leather LOUBOUTIN loafers. What a great way to start off the afternoon.

He sprays on some YSL cologne and looks at his reflection in the mirror. Goddamn he looks good.

He leaves his room and walks downstairs to the living room. His parents are softly talking as Natalia fixes the elder Mario's tie on his TOM FORD tuxedo. "Afternoon parents."

"Hello son. Looking quite dapper."

"Thanks dad. You and mom look good too."

Natalia smiles at him with thanks and suggests that they get going. "Mario, be on your best behavior tonight. We don't need any scandals ruining us."

"Understood, mom. Don't you worry about a thing."

She mutters to her husband about how this is the chance to show up, show out and show off. More specifically her new strapless lilac purple ruched ANA RADU gown.

They get in the back of the grey Rolls Royce and get driven to the museum. During the drive Mario Jr fumbles with his phone, giddy. He can't let his parents know that a scandal is about to go down. When they get there, there's a lot is paparazzi. Mario Senior and Natalia pose for photos. So does the younger Mario. He's eager to get to his friends.

Inside, Aurora, clad in a lavender and purple ombré peony sequined OSCAR DE LA RENTA gown, is standing with Juliette, Charles, Justin, Fallon, and Jesse. They're talking about future wedding plans for the youngest couple. All Aurora can do is grin at her boyfriend. She's most definitely marrying him.

Adrianna and her parents walk in. The girl, clad in a dark green MARCHESA evening gown, catches Aurora's eye and makes her way over.

Justin turns away from the parents and turns his attention to his friends. "Are we ready to go?" He asks over the sounds of paparazzi and cameras flashing and the mummer and bustle of the crowd milling outside. His girlfriend nods. "Aurora, you look beautiful."

Aurora fought down a blush and took him in. He looked dashing in his TOM FORD tuxedo. She reached into her clutch and pulled out a lavender handkerchief that matched the metallic designs on her embroidered gown.

Avalon and Kingsley were chatting up the Mayor of Los Angeles. Aurora blinked at Avalon's dress. She was dressed in an almost-see-through ELIE SAAB gown. It was a light lavender blue and embedded with Elie Saab's signature floral tulle. It made it look almost bridal and as such, balanced the look. Kingsley, of course, was in an ARMANI tux.

"Mario's here. He looks ready for revenge."

Autumn, donning a light pink satin- finish sleeveless ATU BODY COUTURE gown, smiles at her boyfriend as he makes his way over. "You look so fucking good, babe!"

"Thank you, baby girl! Has she come in yet? I'm ready to get this over with."

"No not yet. My source says she'll be here in 15 minutes." Aurora's source is ERICA CALLAHAN, Cristal's sister. She hates Cristal. Mainly because she does everything she can to get their family to pay attention to her and Cristal comes in just to ruin it.

"Who is this source? Do they know Cristal personally or something?"

"My source is her sister Erica. We met at one of mom's photo shoots. She can't stand Cristal. When I told her what we were planning, she couldn't wait to hop on board." Aurora says, grabbing a glass of champagne from a waiter passing by.

Justin hugs her from behind, whispering something in her ear. She giggles and nods.

Cristal finally arrives with her parents. This plan shall go off with a hitch. Once settled, she sets her sights on Mario, who's cuddled up with Autumn. She doesn't like this. At all. She walks over to the Empire and pulls him aside.

Mario pulls away from her. "May I help you, Cristal? I was in the middle of a very riveting conversation with my friends and my girlfriend."

"But I'm your girlfriend. Have been for three years."

"Nope I'm not falling for the gaslighting. You're a cheater, Cristal. I caught you in bed with your dad's security guard."

"That's embarrassing. He's making her look like a fool."

Natalia and the elder Mario look on in embarrassment.
They told him to behave. This is turning into a big spectacle. Good! This may be even better than Aurora thought.

"Come meet my parents. I wanna show off."

Before he can say a word, she drags him over to her father.

"Mr. District Attorney over here was just telling me about his plan and campaign as US Senator," the mayor shared as he clapped a hand over Mr. Callahan's shoulder. "This man has been non-stop, from federal prosecutor to district attorney and now future senator in only a few short years."

"You'd surely have my vote. I'm Mario Wellington Jr. It's nice to meet you sir."

They shake hands. He pulls Kevin away from the group.

"It's nice to meet you as well, Mario. How do you know my daughter? You'd be a perfect fit for her."

"Sorry. That's a path I don't want to go down again."

"I'm not following. What do you mean?"

Mario wants to roll his eyes so bad. "What I'm saying is that Cristal and I used to date for two years until she cheated on me."

Kevin's eyes widen. Don't know why though. You know a thing or two about cheating, don't you? "Well then, I never knew that."

Mario actually rolls his eyes this time and walks back over to the Empire. "The seed has been planted."