The unstoppable vengeance of Micheal Krux.

41. Dinner Invitation

Chapter 41; The Dinner Invitation

By evening, the entire city was talking about Michael Krux.

Every business channel replayed clips from the interview repeatedly while social media dragged Luxter Energy through endless discussions and theories. Some people praised Michael for exposing corruption in powerful companies, while others accused him of trying to destroy a family business out of personal bitterness.

Either way, one thing became obvious.

He now controlled the narrative.

Inside Luxter Mansion, the atmosphere had become unbearable.

Layla sat quietly in the living room scrolling through the headlines on her phone while her father paced across the room angrily.

“He planned this,” he muttered for what felt like the hundredth time that day. “Every single step was planned.”

Gabriel loosened his tie tiredly. “Complaining about it won’t stop the market from reacting.”

Her father stopped walking immediately. “So what exactly do you suggest?”

Gabriel hesitated briefly before speaking.

“We meet him privately.”

The room became silent.

Layla slowly looked up from her phone.

Her father laughed bitterly. “Michael won’t meet me.”

“He may meet Layla,” Gabriel replied carefully.

Layla frowned immediately. “Why me?”

“Because right now,” Gabriel said calmly, “you’re the only person he hasn’t completely shut out.”

Layla almost scoffed.

Michael barely tolerated her.

Every conversation between them felt tense.

Controlled.

Uncomfortable.

But before she could refuse, her father spoke again.

“You’re going.”

Layla’s eyes narrowed instantly. “You’re not serious.”

“This family is bleeding money every hour,” her father snapped. “You think this is the time to argue?”

Layla stood up slowly. “So you want me to beg Michael for help?”

“No,” Gabriel interrupted quickly. “We just need to calm the situation before it gets worse.”

Layla stared at both men quietly.

Something about this irritated her deeply.

Not long ago, they spoke about Michael like he was beneath them. Now suddenly, they wanted her to sit across from him politely because their company was collapsing publicly.

The irony almost made her laugh.

Her father walked toward her slowly.

“Tomorrow night there’s a charity dinner at the Imperial Grand Hotel,” he said. “Michael will attend.”

Layla frowned slightly. “How do you know?”

Gabriel answered this time. “Because he’s sponsoring half the event.”

That surprised her.

Michael had returned quietly at first, but now he was everywhere.

Business headlines.

Television interviews.

Public events.

It almost felt like he was forcing the entire city to look at him.

And forcing the Luxter family to watch helplessly.

Her father’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

“You’ll speak to him there.”

Layla folded her arms tightly. “And what exactly am I supposed to say?”

“Convince him to back off.”

Layla stared at him in disbelief.

“You really think it’s that simple?”

Her father looked exhausted now.

“No,” he admitted quietly. “But we need something.”

The room became silent again.

For the first time in years, Layla saw desperation in her father’s face.

And somehow, that unsettled her more than Michael’s revenge itself.

The next evening, the Imperial Grand Hotel overflowed with luxury.

Politicians, celebrities, investors, and business executives filled the massive ballroom dressed in expensive suits and glittering gowns while cameras flashed nonstop near the entrance.

Layla stepped out of the car wearing a fitted silver dress that caught the light softly with every movement.

Normally she enjoyed events like this.

Tonight, she felt tense.

The moment she entered the ballroom, whispers started immediately.

“That’s Layla Luxter.”

“She came alone?”

“Do you think Michael Krux is really attacking their company?”

Layla ignored them and continued walking calmly through the crowd.

Then she saw him.

Michael stood near the far side of the ballroom speaking casually with a group of foreign investors. A dark suit rested perfectly against his tall frame while several people around him laughed at something he said.

Layla slowed slightly.

This version of Michael still surprised her sometimes.

Power looked natural on him.

Too natural.

One of the investors suddenly noticed her approaching.

“Mr. Krux,” the man said with a smile, “I think someone is here for you.”

Michael turned calmly.

Their eyes met briefly across the room.

Unlike everyone else around him, he showed no surprise seeing her there.

Almost like he expected it already.

Layla walked toward him slowly while the people around them watched curiously.

“Miss Luxter,” Michael said calmly once she stopped in front of him. “You look uncomfortable.”

The people nearby chuckled lightly.

Layla forced a polite smile. “And you look very entertained.”

Michael lifted his glass slightly. “Business has been interesting lately.”

Face slap.

A small one.

But enough to irritate her.

The investors around him excused themselves carefully after sensing the tension between them.

The moment they left, Layla lowered her voice slightly.

“My family wants to speak with you.”

Michael gave a soft laugh.

“That must have been difficult for them.”

Layla ignored the comment. “This fight is getting out of control.”

“For them?” he asked calmly.

“For everybody,” she corrected.

Michael studied her quietly for a few seconds before replying.

“You still don’t understand what’s happening.”

Layla frowned slightly. “Then explain it.”

He looked toward the crowd briefly.

“You know what the funny thing is?” he asked calmly. “Five years ago when I lost everything, nobody cared whether things were fair.”

Layla swallowed slightly but said nothing.

Michael’s expression remained calm, but his eyes had become colder now.

“I begged people to listen,” he continued quietly. “Nobody did.”

Something about hearing that unsettled her.

Because for the first time, she could actually imagine it.

A younger Michael.

Alone.

Ruined.

Abandoned by everyone around him.

Michael suddenly stepped slightly closer.

“Now your family is begging me for mercy,” he said softly. “Interesting how life works.”

Layla looked away briefly before forcing herself to speak again.

“What exactly do you want from us?”

Michael stared at her for a moment.

Then his gaze slowly moved behind her shoulder.

A faint smile touched his lips.

Layla frowned immediately and turned around.

Her breath caught slightly.

Several reporters had just entered the ballroom.

And directly behind them, Her father had arrived.