The Hidden Ace: Empire Of Ash & Gold

13

Lauren watched as Silas climbed the stage, a smile on his face and a determined look that could pierce the heart of the weak.

“How is this possible?” Hilary asked; she was looking at Silas, trying to ponder how it was possible for the man she had been seeing for almost the past three years to do almost nothing but serve her daughter like a dog.

“He is nobody, so how on earth are they calling him to the stage like that?”

Hillary turned to Lauren; she was not sure what was going on anymore.

“Tell me this is a bad dream, Mother. Please tell me I am not seeing that man climb that stage.”

Lauren was looking at Silas; she was not sure how she was going to be able to believe what she was looking at and how it was even possible in any way that he was able to get to that level without them even knowing, and there was no way for them to get wind of it on time.

“It can't be; there has to be something we aren't seeing here, and we need to get it run through immediately.” Hillary was as shocked as Lauren; it was not like she was not sure how it was possible, but then seeing Silas like that was something none of them would have imagined.

Lauren didn't wait for another word; she began walking close to the stage. Shenot going to be holding back when she talked to him this time, nothing was trying to make her even think of backing off from something like this.

“I don't know what it is, but there has to be a way for me to see a loophole and close it before this man ruins our plans.”

She was right in front of the stage, looking at Silas as he was giving his speech, trying to look like there was nothing on his mind.

Lauren had let paranoia get the best of her; she was looking at him, and there was no way she would even want to back off then, knowing that he was not going to be holding back with his words if he wanted to ruin them in any way.

“It is a great honor for me to be in front of all you smart and great minds that power Sintril, individual faces that hold great parts of the city.” He smiled, knowing that none of them had the slightest idea that he was the one they were looking forward to seeing.

“I know that all of you were here to see my good friend so you would be able to talk to him about your ideas and see how far you would be able to take it with him. But that is why Mr. Hilton and I are both here today; we are here to make sure that we look for a way to help you connect to the industry and share your marvelous ideas with us.”

Silas smiled when he looked at the people there, knowing that there was a chance that they would get the people at the party to know what they were getting themselves into.

Jacob walked close to Silas, who was. There was no way for anyone to say anything other than what they were trying to say.

“I want to make sure that all of you can see what we would be able to achieve along the way.” Silas smiled as he bowed his head, giving the stage back to Jacob.

Both of them exchanged glances, and Silas slipped a piece of paper into his hand. He knew that there was no way for him to get all the companies that applied for their partnership, and it was not something entirely bad, knowing that there were some that needed to go.

Silas stepped down; his eyes were on Noelle the moment he walked down from the stage.

“Well, Mr. Gray, I know you must think that ladies would find it hot if you were to do something like that.”

She smiled with him close to her, he didn't even move back to say anything, only looking at her, trying to see if he was actually still standing with Noelle.

“Well, I don't like things like this being held highly because they aren't the real me.”

Silas was looking at Noelle; he couldn't keep his eyes off the red-haired beauty.

Noelle clung her arm around Silas, she pushed herself up, giving him a peck on the cheek.

“Can I see the real you then, Mr. Gray?”

“Well, I—”

“So this is something you want to tell me, how it is possible, Silas?”

His words were cut short, and he turned to see Lauren standing there with Hillary by her side.

“Hey, it's a scary parent-child duo from Rowling’s story.” Silas smiled, looking at the two in front of him. he knew why they were there and what was going on in their mind at the moment.

Lauren, fuming with rage, took a step forward, pointing her hand at him. “Now you listen here, I am not sure how you can think that is fair in any way for you to know the owner of the SuperNova company and not help us out. We are family for crying out loud—”

“Were, Ms. Forrest.” Silas silenced her, his gaze cold, and it matched her eyes.

“We are no longer together, so I would love it if you got it into your head so there won't be any mistake from you, or people won't believe that I am still with you.”

Silas turned back to Noelle, a smile on his face as he tried to make everything look a bit normal to her in the meantime.

“I am sorry, Ms. Prince, these people would see be out of here so please bear with me.” He smiled, calming Noelle down. It was not like he had planned to see Lauren or Hillary there, so he was trying to go along with it.

“I see,” Lauren muttered, she was looking at Silas and the way he was comforting Noelle.

“You saw that I was not going to let you stay with me, so you left and headed for the next rich woman you could find, isn't that a quite way to paint yourself, Mr. Gray?”

Silas stood there, silent with a smile on his face. He turned to look at Lauren and her mother.

“I told didnt I?” He muttered as he walked closer.

Lauren was confused as she looked at him, trying to understand what Silas was trying to say.

“What are you rambling on about?!” She barked, looking at the man in front of her.

Silas cleared his throat, looking at Lauren with a gnarly smile. “I told you not to complain when the light goes out.”