Chapter 20 - The Gala Invitation
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The launch of the Vanguard Initiative caught the immediate attention of the national press and major philanthropic organizations. A few weeks later, a thick, heavy envelope embossed with stunning gold foil arrived at my office. It was an official invitation to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Annual Gala, held at a luxury hotel in downtown Chicago.
I stared at the invitation on my desk, my heart fluttering with a complex mixture of excitement and a lingering shadow of old anxiety. The invitation wasn't just asking me to attend; they were explicitly asking me to deliver the keynote address.
Eleanor walked in and read the invitation over my shoulder, a proud smile spreading across her face.
"You are absolutely accepting this," Eleanor declared, tapping the heavy cardstock.
"It is a massive stage, Eleanor," I pointed out quietly, my finger tracing the gold lettering. "There will be hundreds of politicians, wealthy developers, and high-society figures in that room. The exact same people who used to attend Diane Bennett’s horrible dinner parties and look right through me."
Eleanor walked around my desk and grabbed both of my shoulders, forcing me to look directly into her fierce, unyielding eyes.
"Emily Hayes," Eleanor said, her voice ringing with absolute, undeniable authority. "You did not build a million-dollar advocacy firm from absolute scratch just to hide in the shadows because a few pathetic socialites might be in the same room. You are going to that gala. You are going to wear the most breathtaking dress in the city, and you are going to show the entire industry exactly who you are."
I looked at the invitation again, the brief moment of fear slowly evaporating, replaced quickly by a cold, brilliant fire. Eleanor was entirely right. Hiding was what victims did. I was a victor.
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"I need to write a speech," I said, a slow, confident smile touching my lips.
"You already know exactly what to say," Eleanor replied, releasing my shoulders. "You have been writing this speech every single day since you walked out of that condo."
