The Overnight Billionaire's Revenge

Chapter 9: The Grand Gala

The Grand Auditorium of the International Trade Center was the epicenter of power, money, and influence. Outside the soaring glass entrance, red carpets spanned the length of the marble plaza, flanked by dozens of flashing press cameras, security barriers, and crowds of eager spectators. High-end luxury sedans, sports cars, and heavy-duty limousines pulled up in an endless procession, dropping off the city’s most powerful corporate leaders, venture capitalists, and political figures.

Inside the main hall, crystal chandeliers cast a dazzling, golden light across thousands of square feet of polished marble. Waiters in formal attire moved effortlessly through the crowd, offering crystal flutes of vintage champagne, while a full live orchestra played softly in the background.

Stepping off the red carpet and onto the main auditorium floor, Chloe Vance adjusted the train of her floor-length midnight-blue gown. She looked radiant, her blonde hair swept up in a flawless, intricate style, her diamond necklace sparkling under the venue lights. Standing beside her, wearing an Italian tuxedo with a silk bowtie, Julian Vance held his head high, flashing a confident, million-dollar smile for every passing camera.

"Look at this room, Chloe," Julian murmured smoothly, leaning down slightly to speak near her ear. "The entire elite establishment of the region is here. Tonight, when Zenith Apex announces our twenty-million-dollar funding contract on that main stage, Vance Tech will officially join the top tier of high society."

Chloe took a deep breath, clutching her beaded clutch bag tight against her waist. The anxiety that had plagued her all afternoon had finally begun to fade, replaced by a surging rush of ambition.

"I still can't believe Miller was replaced so suddenly," Chloe admitted, her voice low as she scanned the crowded hall. "Have you seen anyone who knows what the new Chairman of Zenith Apex looks like?"

Julian gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "It doesn't matter what he looks like, or who he is. Recluses like that only care about return on investment. Once our presentation deck goes up on that giant LED screen, he will see that our software platform is the most profitable asset in this room. We're practically giving him a guaranteed money-maker."

Before Chloe could reply, a loud, obnoxious laugh rang out from behind them.

"Hey! Sis! Julian!"

Chloe turned to see her younger brother, Ethan, hurrying toward them across the marble floor. Ethan was dressed in a suit, but his posture was erratic, his face pale, and his hands visibly shaking as he clutched a glass of straight bourbon. Ever since the incident in the parking garage earlier that afternoon, Ethan had been on edge, jumping at every sudden sound.

"Ethan, calm down," Chloe scolded in a sharp whisper, shooting him a warning look. "You're drawing attention to us. What is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?!" Ethan hissed, his eyes darting frantically around the room. "Chloe, I told you! That bastard Lucas has bodyguards! Real bodyguards! They forced me onto my knees on the cold concrete for hours! I'm telling you, something isn't right about him!"

Julian let out a loud, condescending chuckle, patting Ethan roughly on the shoulder. "Oh, pull yourself together, kid! Lucas probably spent the last of his divorce settlement money to hire a few local bouncers for an afternoon just to scare you. The guy is a penniless doormat! You're letting a homeless beggar rent space inside your head."

"Julian is right, Ethan," Chloe added coldly, her lips curling into a scornful sneer. "Lucas tore up my ten-thousand-dollar check out of foolish, desperate pride at the cafe today. He has nothing left. Stop embarrassing us in front of these executives."

"Is that so?"

A quiet, smooth voice cut cleanly through the noise of the ballroom.

Chloe froze. Her heart skipped a sharp, violent beat.

Slowly, almost against her own will, she turned her head toward the VIP entrance at the side of the auditorium.

Walking calmly into the ballroom was Lucas Vance.

The entire room seemed to dim in comparison to his presence. He wore a double-breasted, bespoke charcoal tuxedo tailored by master craftsmen, accentuating his tall, broad-shouldered frame. His dark hair was styled with effortless elegance, and his dark eyes burned with an icy, calm intensity that demanded absolute submission. Walking two paces behind him, impeccably dressed and carrying a leather document case, was Arthur, the silver-haired butler.

For a second, the surrounding conversations near the VIP entrance sputtered out. Several socialites and female executives turned their heads, whispering among themselves about the striking, powerful stranger who had just walked into the venue.

Chloe’s breath caught in her throat. Her mind reeled in utter confusion. How... how did he get in here? This is a invitation-only corporate summit!

Ethan gasped, dropping his glass of bourbon onto the carpet, where it shattered softly against the thick fibers. "I-It's him! He's here!"

Julian’s face flushed dark red with immediate rage. He felt an overwhelming surge of jealousy seeing how naturally Lucas commanded the attention of the room in that suit.

"What the hell is that parasite doing here?!" Julian snarled, stepping forward with aggressive strides to block Lucas's path.

Chloe quickly followed, her heels clicking loudly as she caught up to Julian. She glared up at Lucas, her initial shock morphing back into cold, arrogant fury.

"Lucas!" Chloe hissed, keeping her voice low so the media cameras thirty feet away wouldn't catch the scene. "How dare you show your face here?! Who gave you permission to enter this hall?"

Lucas stopped, casually adjusting his cufflinks as he looked down at her with a cool, detached indifference. "It's a public corporate summit, Chloe. Or did you buy the entire building while I wasn't looking?"

"Don't play smart with me!" Chloe snapped, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits. "You snuck in through the service doors, didn't you? You probably stole that tuxedo just like you stole those clothes at the cafe! You came here to harass me and ruin my funding deal!"

Julian stepped up beside Chloe, placing his hand inside his jacket, looking down his nose at Lucas with absolute disdain.

"Listen to me, you pathetic piece of trash," Julian threatened, his voice dripping with venom. "You have three seconds to turn around and get out of this building. If you don't, I will personally call the venue security team, have them drag you out through the front entrance in handcuffs, and plaster your face across every news network in the city as a disgraced stalker."

Lucas didn't flinch. He didn't blink. A faint, razor-sharp smile touched his lips as he looked at Julian, then at Chloe's flushed face.

"Call them," Lucas said softly.

Julian’s jaw tightened. "What did you say?"

"I said, call security," Lucas repeated, his voice carrying an unyielding, terrifying authority. "I'd love to see who they drag out first."

"You asked for it!" Julian yelled, turning toward the nearest security post near the VIP aisle. "Security! Over here! We have a trespasser who"

Before Julian could finish his sentence, the house lights across the massive auditorium suddenly dimmed.

A sharp, echoing spotlight snapped onto the main stage at the front of the hall. The live orchestra silenced their instruments, and the heavy, double-leaf oak doors leading to the backstage executive lounge swung open.

The main speakers blared to life with a crisp, commanding chime:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, esteemed guests and members of the press. Please take your seats. The new Chairman and absolute owner of Zenith Apex Corp is about to take the stage to announce tonight's corporate capital allocations."

The entire ballroom erupted into an eager, breathless hush.

Julian glared at Lucas one last time, pointing a finger directly at his nose. "You got lucky, you leech. Watch closely from the back row while Chloe and I walk up to that stage and receive our twenty million dollars. After the announcement, I'm having you thrown in prison."

Julian grabbed Chloe’s arm, leading her toward their reserved frontline seats near the stage. Chloe looked back over her shoulder one last time, her eyes locking onto Lucas’s calm face. A strange, suffocating knot of dread tightened in her stomach, but she forced herself to turn away and follow Julian to the front.

Lucas stood calmly in the middle of the aisle, watching them go with an icy, silent smile.

Arthur stepped up beside him, leaning in close. "The stage is prepared for you, Young Master."

"Let's go," Lucas whispered.