Victoria’s desperation
Victoria grabbed Vincent’s arm, her face a mask of confusion and rising panic. “Suspended? What does he mean suspended?”
Brennan pulled out his phone and held it up for the crowd to see. “As of 6:47 PM this evening, the regulatory commission received credible evidence of financial irregularities in the approval process for Cole Industries‘ IPO. The listing has been suspended pending a full investigation”
Victoria’s voice came out as a strangled whisper. “That’s impossible. Vincent, tell them…”
The words sent shockwaves through the hall. Guests whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between Sophia and Victoria.
Victoria’s face had gone from pale to red to ashen. “There must be some mistake,” she said, her voice rising with panic. “That’s not what yesterday’s press conference said! haven’t received any notice about my company’s listing being terminated!”
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
She looked down at the screen, and whatever color remained in her face drained completely. Her fingers trembled as she read the message once, twice, then three times.
Her company’s IPO had been suspended due to suspected regulatory violations. She was ordered to submit relevant evidence within three days or face a formal investigation.
“No,” she whispered. “No, no, no…”
She grabbed Vincent’s arm desperately. “Fix this! You promised everything was handled! You said the approval was ironclad! Fix this right now!”
Vincent’s face was pale, his eyes darting around the room like a trapped animal. “I… I don’t understand. Everything was in order. The officials assured me…”
“Then call them!” Victoria shrieked. “Call them now!”
Even Sophia was stunned by the revelation. She turned to Adrian, her voice barely above a whisper. “What’s going on?”
Adrian’s expression remained calm. He touched her arm gently and shook his head, signaling her not to worry.
At that moment, a middle–aged man in an expensive suit hurried toward them, nearly jogging across the marble floor. His face was flushed, and he was slightly out of breath.
He stopped in front of Sophia and bowed deeply. “Ms. Laurent, I cannot apologize enough.”
Sophia blinked in confusion. “I’m sorry, who…”
“David Chen, director of the exchange regulatory commission.” He straightened, his expression genuinely remorseful. “The disaster your company suffered was entirely our fault. A clerical error on our part wrongly affected your listing application. The mistake has now been uncovered and corrected. All your frozen assets have been returned to your name, and your IPO approval has been reinstated.”
Sophia’s mouth fell open. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t breathe.
Director Chen gestured, and an assistant stepped forward carrying a velvet cushion. Resting on it was a pure gold ceremonial mallet, gleaming under the chandelier lights.
“Ms. Laurent,” Director Chen said with a warm smile, “it would be our honor if you would ring tonight’s opening bell for Stellar Dynamics.”
1/3
Victory desperomiary
+25 Bonus
Sophia’s hands flew to her mouth. Tears streamed down her face. “I… I can’t… this isn’t…”
Behind her, Victoria’s voice rose to a shriek. “This is insane You can’t just…”
She lunged forward, reaching for the mallet, her face twisted with desperation and fury.
Two bodyguards stepped between her and Sophia immediately, their expressions professionally blank but their stance unmistakably threatening.
“This is a setup!” she shrieked, the sound raw and ugly in the elegant hall. She jabbed a trembling finger at Sophia, then Adrian. “They planned this! She did this! She’s a scheming, bankrupt whore who seduced him to get to me!”
The crowd gasped, a collective, horrified intake of breath. Sophia’s face was drained of color at the accusation.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“She’s nothing but a gold–digger!” Victoria shrieked, her voice cracking with hysteria as she pointed a shaking finger at Sophia. “She slept her way to him because she lost everything! And him? He’s just a snake using her to screw me over! They’re both disgusting!”
Director Chen’s face hardened. “Security. Remove her from the premises. Now.”
Four guards moved in immediately, grabbing Victoria’s arms. She fought against them, still screaming as they dragged her toward the exit.
Near the podium, Vincent’s mind raced. This is a disaster. Victoria’s completely unhinged. If I stay, I’ll be dragged down with her. All that work will be for nothing.
His eyes darted from the furious Director Chen to the stoic Adrian, then to the side door, half–hidden behind a potted plant. It was his only way out. The crowd was fixated on the spectacle of Victoria’s removal; no one would notice him. He melted back into the crowd and slipped through the side door, vanishing into the shadows of the hallway beyond.
Director Chen turned back to Sophia, his expression apologetic. “I’m deeply sorry you had to witness that. Please, Ms. Laurent. The ceremony is ready whenever you are.”
Sophia stood frozen, the weight of everything crashing over her at once. Her company. Her dream. Everything she’d lost…returned to her in a single moment.
Adrian leaned close, his voice quiet and steady. “Go ring the bell, Sophia. Before the moment passes.‘
She looked up at him, her eyes swimming with tears. “How did you…”
“Later,” he said gently. “Right now, this is your moment. Take it.”
Director Chen offered his arm. “Shall we?”
Sophia nodded shakily and accepted the mallet from the cushion. It was heavier than she expected, solid and real in her hands.
The crowd parted as Director Chen escorted her toward the stage. Cameras flashed. Whispers followed her, but it was no longer cruel, but curious, respectful, and impressed
Adrian watched her go, standing alone near the entrance.
Marcus approached quietly, bowing slightly. “Sir, I apologize for making the ‘honorary guest‘ arrangement without your approval. I thought it would provide appropriate cover.”
“You handled it well,” Adrian said, his eyes still on Sophias she climbed the steps to the bell platform.
2/3
Victorart desperation
+25 Bonus
“Sir, there’s also the matter of SunCore Publishing.” Marcus pulled out a tablet, showing financial documents. ” You had originally planned to transfer it to Mrs. Cole, but given recent developments… I thought perhaps we could offer it as a cooperative opportunity to Ms. Laurent instead. To help compensate for the losses her company suffered.”
Adrian considered this for a moment. “Make it a legitimate business opportunity. Using standard bidding procedures. I don’t want it to look like charity.”
“Understood, sir.”
“I’ll find an appropriate moment to mention it to her myself,” Adrian added. “Make sure the terms are fair but competitive. She needs to win this on her own merit, not because I’m handing it to her.”
Marcus nodded, a slight smile touching his lips. “Of course, sir.”
On the stage, Sophia raised the golden mallet. The crowd fell silent, watching.
She looked out over the sea of faces…some she recognized, many she didn’t…and then her eyes found Adrian’s.
He nodded once.
Sophia smiled through her tears, turned to the ceremonial bell, and struck it with everything she had.
The sound rang out clear and bright, echoing through the hall and out into the night.
A new beginning.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
