Obsidian Heir

CHAPTER 10: CHAIRMAN

Bennett Sterling frowned at Zachary's amused face, stepping closer before speaking, “You really are something maggot.” he sneered, glaring daggers at the other male.

Elise also walked closer and tilted her head in agreement, letting the chandelier light catch her earrings as she sized up Zachary. “You really think you belong here because you flashed some mysterious card?” Her tone dripped with contempt. “Newsflash, Zachary: smuggling yourself into a Prism Dragon Group gala doesn’t make you Bennett’s equal. You’re still trash playing dress-up.”

Bennett chuckled. “Once I get the chairman’s signature, the Inkspire acquisition is sealed. I’ll toast the deal, and you can toast your own delusions—outside, where you belong.”

Zachary’s voice stayed even. “The chairman won’t sign it.”

“Cute,” Bennett snorted. “Did your tarot cards tell you that?”

Guests nearby snickered.

“He must think he is the chairman,” one man scoffed.

“Maybe he forged the invitation like he forged his ego,” a woman added.

Zachary simply folded his arms behind his back, adopting a bored posture. “Believe whatever helps you sleep.”

Before Bennett could reply, a sharp crackle from the sound system cut through the jeers. “Ladies and gentlemen, please rise to welcome the chairman of the Prism Dragon Group, soon to enter alongside CEO Seraphina Knowles.”

Conversation died instantly. The crowd pivoted toward the grand doors, breaths held. Even Bennett straightened his jacket.

Elise whispered, “Huh?”

Before the doors opened, another entrance swung wide. 

Mr. Henderson strode in, his expression carved from ice. 

He’d been the executive who smoothed Bennett and Elise’s reentry earlier, and now he carried the authority of the chairman’s office.

A junior manager hurried to him. “Director Henderson, the chairman is minutes away. Shall I—”

“I’ll make the announcement myself,” He said. 

He stepped onto the low stage and addressed the hall. “The chairman’s motorcade has arrived. He will join us shortly. Please maintain order.”

Bennett seized the moment. “Director !” He practically sprinted to the stage. “We have a serious issue.”

Mr Henderson barely glanced at him. “Make it concise.”

“That man,” Bennett jabbed a finger toward Zachary, “is impersonating the new chairman. He’s been throwing his weight around, spreading lies, trying to sabotage tonight’s signing. He needs to be removed before he embarrasses the group further.”

Elise hurried over, voice sharp. “He’s attacked our character, Director Henderson. He claims you’d reject Bennett’s agreement, as if he knows Prism Dragon’s decisions. It’s blatant disrespect.”

Murmurs swelled.

“Throw him out!”

“Security, do your job!”

Mr. Henderson ’s gaze settled on Zachary. “State your name.”

“Zachary Paravous .”

“Interesting choice of alias,” Bennett jeered. “Next you’ll claim to be royalty.”

Mr. Henderson motioned to the guards. “Escort him out. He’s not on the registry.”

The nearest guard, a broad-shouldered veteran, marched forward. “You heard the director. Move.”

Zachary didn’t budge. “I’ll leave when the chairman asks me to.”

Elise snarled. “Still pretending? Pathetic.”

Bennett leaned toward the director. “Director, he won’t comply. Disorder like this can’t be tolerated.”

Mr. Henderson's jaw tightened. “Break his leg if he resists. We can’t have imposters disrupting the chairman’s arrival.”

Gasps rippled through the hall. Bennett’s eyes gleamed. “You heard the man,” he taunted. “On your knees, Zachary.”

The lead guard drew his pistol.

 The metallic snap of the safety echoed like a gavel. He leveled the barrel at Zachary’s sternum. “Down. Right now.”

Zachary’s lips curled into a faint sneer. “You really want to pull that trigger?”

“Don’t test me,” the guard growled. “Kneel or I put you down.”

Another guard grabbed Zachary’s shoulder. “Do it before this gets ugly.”

Zachary shrugged him off. “You’re already ugly.”

The crowd roared with nervous laughter, quickly stifled when Mr. Hendery raised his hand. “Last warning,” he said coldly. “Force him down.”

Two guards lunged. Zachary pivoted, letting them crash into each other. The pistol’s muzzle pressed harder into his chest.

Elise clapped mockingly. “Still think the chairman won’t sign, Zachary? Maybe he’ll autograph your discharge papers.”

Bennett leaned close enough for Zachary to feel his breath. “When you’re crawling on the floor, remember this moment. Remember who did it.”

Zachary met his eyes. “I will. Very clearly.”

The guard cocked the pistol. “On the ground!”

Before Zachary could answer, the main doors exploded inward with a thunderous kick. 

The entire hall spun toward the sound. Splinters rained across the marble.

Laser dots—half a dozen—sprang to life on the gunman’s forehead and chest. The guards froze.

A phalanx of bodyguards poured in, black suits, tactical earpieces, boots pounding in perfect rhythm. Each moved with lethal confidence, hands near their holsters but not trembling. 

The lead guard barked, “Weapons down!”

Mr. Henderson stiffened. “Identify yourselves!” he yelled but no one answered. The formation split, creating a corridor. Through it walked Seraphina Knowles.

She didn’t rush.

 She glided, every step deliberate. 

Her white suit contrasted sharply with the obsidian-clad escorts. 

The room’s temperature seemed to drop ten degrees in her wake.

Whispers erupted.

“Madam Knowles!”

“She’s here herself?”

“Why the bodyguards?”

Zachary’s heart thudded once, hard. 

He couldn't help but think looked prettiest like this—face like frosted steel, expression unreadable even as her eyes blazed with the fire of a thousand sword glares.

Bennett’s bravado cracked. “Why is she armed like that?”

Elise clutched his arm. “Did she hear us? Bennett, say something!”

Mr. Henderson hurried forward, swallowing. “CEO Knowles! We were just handling a security issue.”

She didn’t respond. 

Her gaze swept the guards pinning Zachary, the trembling pistol still pointed at his chest, the lasers painting targets across the shooter’s skull. 

The bodyguards tightened the circle, isolating Zachary and his would-be attackers.

“Director Henderson,” one of the event coordinators whispered, “she wasn’t supposed to arrive yet.”

“She moves on her own timetable,” he hissed back. Louder, he called, “Our apologies, CEO Knowles. The chairman is on his way, and we were removing a disruptive guest.”

Seraphina stopped within arm’s reach of Zachary. The guard’s hands shook. 

Sweat rolled down his temple. Bennett took a cautious step backward. Elise tried to look invisible.

The bodyguards raised their weapons in unison, sights never straying from the man threatening Zachary. Red dots converged right between his eyes.

Mr. Henderson cleared his throat. “CEO Knowles, this individual impersonated the chairman. I ordered his removal before the real chairman arrived.”

Seraphina remained silent.

“He resisted arrest,” Bennett added quickly. “I merely reported his lies. The director acted for the group’s dignity.”

Elise nodded vigorously. “We were protecting the Prism Dragon Group from a rat!”

The assembled guests murmured, some emboldened now that the CEO was present.

“Make him apologize, Ms. Knowles.”

“He insulted the chairman!”

“Arrogant nobody!”

Zachary kept his eyes on Seraphina. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.

Mr. Henderson tried again. “CEO Knowles, permission to finish the expulsion?”

Her bodyguards shifted subtly, tightening the vise. One spoke into his mic, voice low. “Targets locked. Awaiting command.”

Seraphina lifted her chin, finally acknowledging Mr. Henderson with a cool glance. 

He stepped back instinctively.

She still said nothing.

Zachary let the silence stretch. 

The guard’s finger trembled on the trigger.

Then Seraphina moved. Not a grand gesture—just a single step closer, close enough that the guard could see his own reflection in her eyes. She didn’t need to raise her voice. She simply let the weight of her authority fill the void.

The entire hall leaned in, desperate to catch her first words.

They came like a blade of ice.

"How dare you point a gun at the Young Lord?”