He Made Her Queen, Then Took Her Crown

Chapter 5: "Remember, Voss!"

 The moment hung in the air, as cold as ice, after Megan’s challenge. Her words, sharp and defiant, echoed through the whispers of the crowd. "I dare you," she had said, looking Rowan up and down like he was just another loser, an insignificant nobody.

 But Rowan didn’t flinch. His eyes, dark and calm, never left hers. His smile was faint, like a shadow of something sinister, something deeper than the facade she so arrogantly assumed she understood.

 But before he could respond, the announcer’s voice sliced through the tension, the loudspeaker crackling with authority. "Ladies and gentlemen, the program is about to begin! Please take your seats."

 The buzz of the crowd shifted, and people began to move toward the ballroom, the grand event unfolding in full swing.

 Rowan stood there for a moment, letting the noise of the crowd wash over him. There was something about this moment that felt... surreal. Like it was only the beginning of something far bigger than anyone realized.

 With a small but knowing nod, he turned to walk toward the gathering. His eyes scanned the room, picking out the high society faces and the sharp suits—wealth, power, and influence—all clustered under one roof. But none of it mattered to him. Not now.

 He was the heir; he was the CEO, the owner, the master of Echelon Eight Group! He had everyone’s puppets in his closet, their ropes ready to be played with.

 What mattered was the woman he had once helped. The woman who had cast him aside.

 As the night wore on, Rowan blended in, just another face in the crowd, still largely unknown to the elite guests. He kept his distance from the spotlight, but those who knew the name “Echelon Eight” couldn’t help but look his way—his influence was starting to ripple through the city's business landscape, even if they didn’t know it was him making the waves.

 Meanwhile, Lena had not yet returned. The time she was taking to show up weighed on him for a split second, but he quickly shoved the thought aside. He wasn’t here for her anymore.

 Not really.

 Instead, he quietly watched the event unfold, listening to snippets of conversations, watching the deals being made in hushed tones. The wealth was staggering. The power? Almost overwhelming. But Rowan wasn’t fazed. He had seen it all before.

 Suddenly, a voice broke through his detached observation.

 "Well, well, look who decided to show up." It was Dominic Voss—Lena’s arrogant colleague. The one who had never had any respect for Rowan.

 "Voss," Rowan greeted, his voice cold but with an edge that only those who truly understood power would catch. "You're looking... smug as usual."

 Dominic’s lip curled into a sneer. "You should know your place, Kane. This isn't the type of event for... people like you."

 Rowan gave him a look, a subtle, calculated glance. He could feel the tension between them, but he didn't bite. He had bigger fish to fry tonight.

 Dominic tried to get a rise out of him, but Rowan simply ignored him, moving toward the bar. He didn’t need to play Dominic's game. Not tonight. Not anymore. Dominic could have his wife for all he cared, he was done!

***********

 As the event continued, the room grew thicker with excitement. A sense of anticipation buzzed in the air. Whispers of a special announcement, a new acquisition, and even more speculation surrounded Rowan's empire.

 And then, it happened.

 Lena walked into the ballroom. The light seemed to shift as she entered. The very air around her changed, as if the room itself recognized the power she now held. She had arrived fashionably late, her presence a spectacle in itself. The designer dress she wore shimmered with elegance, the kind that screamed wealth and success. Yet, the eyes that met hers were calculating, waiting, watching her every move.

 Rowan’s heart skipped for a second. The sight of her—the woman who once looked at him as if he were invisible—was enough to make him pause.

 But it wasn’t love that burned in his chest anymore. It was anger. Frustration. The bitterness of all the things he had done for her, only to be discarded like a forgotten toy.

 Lena didn’t even notice him at first. She was too busy making her rounds, shaking hands, and greeting the higher-ups who had showered her with praise.

 But then, their eyes met.

  Rowan stood in the shadows of the ballroom, a silent observer amid the opulent chaos of the event. The moment Lena walked in, her sharp eyes scanning the room, her presence was undeniable; everything else seemed to blur in comparison. She was just another bright star in the galaxy of the city’s elite, and tonight was her night—yet, it felt like something was different in the air. Something she couldn’t quite place.

 Her eyes caught the glint of diamonds, the flash of gold, and the powerful whispers of businessmen and women whose names she had long admired. But there was something she hadn’t expected to see. And when she did, it shook her to the core.

 Rowan.