2026-02-06 03:39:04Marcus barely noticed the music anymore.
The room was still busy—people were laughing, glasses were clinking, and everyone was talking at once. But to Marcus, it all felt far away, like he was watching a movie with the sound turned off.
He kept looking at Freya.
It wasn't just because of the bright lights or her beautiful dress. He was looking at her because he couldn't figure her out. Why was she so nice to him? Why did she protect him? She didn't look at him like he was poor trash the way everyone else did.
He also wondered how she would react later. He wondered what his friend Emmanuel would think, too.
When the truth finally came out, everything would change. There was no going back.
On the stage, Mr. James cleared his throat to get everyone's attention.
The DJ turned the music all the way down. A sudden silence spread through the hall. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked toward the front.
"Ladies and gentlemen." Mr. James said into the microphone. "Thank you for waiting so patiently."
The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"As I said before." he continued, "the CEO of Galaxy Corporation couldn't make it here tonight."
People in the crowd groaned and whispered, feeling disappointed. But Mr. James raised his hand to calm them down.
"However." he said, "Galaxy Corporation has sent a representative instead."
Everyone leaned forward, listening closely. Marcus felt Freya move slightly beside him.
"This representative." Mr. James added, "has the same exact power and authority as the CEO himself."
That news hit the room like a lightning bolt. Students stood up straighter. People pulled out their phones to record. The whispers got louder and more urgent.
Mr. James paused for a second and then smiled.
"And the latest news I have." he said slowly, "is that the representative is already here."
The room went wild. "What?" "He's here?" "Where is he?"
Marcus stood perfectly still. He didn't move a muscle.
"He is in this room right now." Mr. James said, letting the excitement build. "He is standing among us."
Suddenly, everyone was confused and curious. People started looking at each other’s faces, clothes, and how they were standing. Everyone was thinking the same thing:
Is it that guy over there?
Is it her?
Could it be me?
Marcus watched the chaos without saying a word. Freya looked around, looking very interested. "That’s... a big surprise." she whispered.
"Alright, settle down." Mr. James shouted over the noise. The crowd finally got quiet again.
"I know you want to know who it is." he said. "But Galaxy Corporation wants to keep it a secret for now. Just keep your eyes open. He might walk onto this stage at any moment."
Marcus breathed out slowly.
"Once he gets on stage." Mr. James added, "he will stay for exactly five minutes before leaving."
Five minutes. That was all it would take to change someone's life.
"But before that happens." Mr. James said, "we have someone who wants to speak." He pointed to the side of the stage. "Please welcome Mr. Jackson Quinn!"
The crowd started cheering and clapping loudly. Jackson walked into the spotlight looking very sharp and confident. He acted like he owned the stage.
Marcus watched him calmly.
Jackson raised his hands to quiet the crowd. "Are you ready for what's coming next?" he asked with a big grin.
"YES!" the crowd shouted back.
Jackson laughed. "Good. Tonight is a big deal. As I promised, this night isn't just about cars. It's about opportunities."
The students nodded, hanging on his every word.
"The fact that the representative is already here." Jackson said, "means some of you might have already talked to him without knowing it."
People got even more excited.
"That's great." Jackson added. "It means the company is watching us. For anyone looking for a job or a business deal, tonight could change your whole future."
The crowd loved it.
"The representative will be looking at business plans." Jackson continued. "And remember, if you have any trouble tonight, come to me. My family has been working with Galaxy Corporation for years. We are very close."
Marcus almost smiled at that lie.
"So relax." Jackson finished. "Enjoy yourselves. I will help you get what you want."
The hall filled with loud applause as Jackson stepped down. Everyone knew what was coming next. The next person on that stage would have the power to change everything.
Freya sighed softly. "This night is getting intense." she said.
Marcus looked at her one more time. Soon, she would know. Soon, Emmanuel would know. Soon, the whole world would know.
Marcus knew that even though the room was loud right now, the silence would be deafening once people learned the truth.
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Chapter 98: The Shield
The gun appeared so suddenly that Freya didn’t process it at first. One moment the Escalade was just a dark shape blocking the highway, and the next, the driver’s window was down. A man leaned halfway out, his arm steady as he leveled a handgun directly at the Ferrari’s windshield.Time didn't just slow down, it froze. Victoria’s breath hitched in her throat, her hands locked on the wheel. Freya stared into the dark circle of the barrel, her mind refusing to accept what her eyes were seeing.On the phone, Jack’s voice cut through the silence calmly.“Don’t move.”His voice was low, with no tension underneath it. “Do not move. Stay exactly where you are.”Victoria’s knuckles were white, her fingers digging into the leather of the steering wheel. “I— I can’t…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.Freya’s heart was thumping so hard against her ribs it felt like it was trying to break out. The gunman didn't shout. He didn't make a scene. He just aimed with a calm, deliberate focus tha
Chapter 97: Shadow Confirmation
Victoria didn’t take her eyes off the rearview mirror for a second. "They’re still there," she said, her voice dropping into that flat, quiet tone people use when they’re trying not to freak out.Freya twisted around in her seat again, squinting through the glass. The headlights were constant— not flashing, not swerving, just hovering there like a ghost."How long has it actually been?" Freya asked, her heart starting to beat nervously against her ribs."Since we pulled out of the event," Victoria replied.The city was thinning out as they hit the outskirts. Emmanuel’s car was long gone, and the traffic was dying down until it was just the two of them and that silent set of lights.Freya’s mind started cycling through every bad scenario she’d ever seen in a movie. "Should we call Jack? Maybe he can do something."Victoria nodded. "Yes. Do it now."Freya grabbed her phone, her thumb hovering over the screen. Then she froze. "I don’t have his number."Victoria glanced at her, eyes wide.
Chapter 96: The Light in the Dark
Freya pulled the phone away from her ear. The silence that followed was heavy.Victoria was the first to break it. "Who was that?"Freya just shook her head, staring at the blank screen. "No caller ID. Just an unknown number."Emmanuel’s brow furrowed, his eyes darting toward the parking lot exit where the Maybachs had disappeared. "What did they actually say to you?"She hesitated, her voice coming out a bit thinner than she wanted. "They said Marcus is pretending. That he isn't who he says he is."That shut everyone up for a second. Emmanuel started looking around instinctively, his posture shifting like he was expecting someone to jump out from behind a car. "That’s not some random prank. Someone is definitely watching us right now."Victoria’s face went pale. "You really think so?""Think about it," Emmanuel argued, his voice low and urgent. "Marcus gets hauled off in a black car, and two minutes later, you get a cryptic call. That’s a coordinated move, Vic. It’s not a coincidenc
Chapter 95: The Separation
The grand hall was dimming now, the bright stage lights were replaced by the functional hum of work lights as staff began dismantling the equipment. Small clusters of students still lingered in the venue, their voices low as they discussed and replayed the night’s drama.Freya let out a long, shaky exhale, the kind that comes when your body finally realizes the crisis is over. “I’m beyond exhausted,” she said, a tired laugh catching in her throat. “Can we just go?”Marcus looked at her for a heartbeat. The adrenaline that had been keeping her upright was clearly fading, leaving behind a fragile sort of weariness.“Yeah,” he said. “Let’s get out of here.”As they walked toward the exit, Emmanuel couldn't stop glancing back at the parking lot. “I’m still not over that convoy,” he muttered, shaking his head. “All white. Even the hypercars. I mean, who actually does that? It’s a complete flex.”Victoria rolled her eyes, though she was smiling. “Focus, Emmanuel. Freya literally just won
Chapter 94: The Real Threat
The music was still thumping, and the silver confetti was still drifting through the air like slow-motion snow, but the atmosphere was already beginning to sour.Freya stood at the center of the stage, the heavy sash draped over her shoulder and a massive bouquet cradled in her arms. She was trying to pull in a normal breath, but the crowd wouldn't let her. They were chanting her name in a rhythmic, deafening roar that made the stage beneath her feet vibrate.“FREYA! FREYA!”The MC gave a short, energized laugh into his mic. “I think it’s safe to say we have a clear favorite tonight!”When he handed her the microphone, Freya shook her head, looking half-delirious with a mix of exhaustion and shock. “I honestly didn't expect this,” she said, her voice sounding small but clear through the speakers. “I just... I just wanted to try.”The roar that followed was even louder than the first.But in the VIP row, the energy was different. Jason Quinton stood up.It wasn't a sudden movement. It
Chapter 93: The Crown and the Spark
The silence in the hall had a physical weight to it. It wasn't that jittery, nervous energy from before, it was the heavy, decisive quiet that comes right before a life changing sentence is handed down.The MC cleared his throat, a small movement that seemed loud in the stillness, and stepped away from the center of the runway. His polished shoes made a rhythmic click click click against the floor as he approached the judges' table. Every head in the building followed him like a pendulum.The five judges sat perfectly upright. The silver haired executive at the center didn't say a word, he just slid a slim black folder across the glass. Another judge placed her hand on top of it for a split second— a final, silent confirmation— before the MC accepted the file with both hands.The rustle of the paper as he opened it sounded like a landslide in the vacuum of the room. He scanned the page, his eyebrows twitching upward just a fraction of an inch, before he snapped the folder shut and t
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