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.

the family patriarch, Latham Christensen, died unexpectedly, eighteen–year–old Sherman took up the mantle. He had stirred up a storm in the Capital City with his remarkable business acumen, cultivating his power base and propelling the Christensen family to become the premier dynasty in

tip their hats and respectfully

of power,

reclusive character with eccentric habits, Sherman seldom showed interest in women and

own life. The act brought the family back to Cloudcrest to honor a marriage, arrangement

childhood, but with the Christensen family residing in Capital City for many years, the two families

discreet, with

the gambling continued

we bet on next?” Nanson asked, and his term

thought, “My niece

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

11:18

Chapter 12

a gambling house was no place to push one’s luck too far.