"Can't we simply cancel the event? " We are already in a lot of trouble," Emery uttered, her messy hair drawn all over her face. Emery asked his father to cancel the event amid rising tensions in the company.
Richards's company had decided to hold a charitable event.
The event was hosted in the luxury hotel of Richards. It was named the Night Of Giving.
"No, we have to host it; otherwise, the company's name will be more trouble." Mr. Richard said, his eyes narrowed, standing from his chair in Emery's office.
* * *
"I was thinking of going to the charity event which the Richards are hosting". Grayson said, eating dinner at the table.
"What do you say"? He asked, trying to get her input on this.
"Yes sir, it's actually a good idea. This way, all the big business people of the country will be able to know you". Sarah said, her voice was a little crisp. Maybe it was because her mouth was full of food.
'I will definitely go there and show them". An evil smile on his face as he smirked a little.
"Looks like you are trying to confront them". Sarah said, turning her head up.
"Yeah, I will show them how much I am capable of". He replied, the curls on his head were visible, and it looked like a long plan was running on his mind.
"Panic suits them well, and I am good at doing that". He smirked, calmed and relaxed, knowing what he was doing and what he would do in the future.
Both of them laughed.
The charity gala is hosted in the grand ballroom of a luxury hotel in the city. It is considered to be an iconic landmark in the city.
The venue looked beautiful, adorned with extravagant decorations: chandeliers sparkled with crystal prisms, the tables were set with fine china and gold accents, and soft classical music filled the air.
The city's elite—business magnates, socialites, and celebrities—mingle, dressed in their finest dresses. The event's theme is A Night of Giving, with banners placed everywhere in the main hall.
Emery came inside the main hall dressed in a black emerald dress, looking smoking hot. Her expressions looked a little weird. The thorough makeup on her face concealed the ongoing crisis's tension.
Something was troubling him from inside. It was the crisis she was facing. She was trying really hard to hide her emotions, but what did she do? She could never miss the event, otherwise she would face serious humiliation and her company would be defamed and everyone would know that her company was having a bad time.
She had to smile because she had no other option. She welcomed the guests softly and exchanged greetings until something happened that she didn't expect in her dreams.
The atmosphere suddenly shifted towards the main gate.
"Who is there?". The crowd started murmuring.
The whole hall filled with people started chirping. Emery could hear the whispers of people altogether.
A pack of cars stopped in front of the main entrance. Grayson came out of the vehicle wearing a black tuxedo.
Grayson entered the main hall and got everyone's attention. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, showing elegance and a testament to great wealth.
His sharp gaze and confidence sparkle his presence in the main hall. Everyone gathered around him, greeting him and getting his attention.
"What the Fuck!!!. What is he doing here". Emery asked herself in her mind.
She rushed to Mrs. Richard.
"How dare he show his face at our event," Emery said, her eyes filled with rage.
"He's here to provoke us. Don't let him win". Mrs. Richard leans in, hissing.
Emery's eyes grew wider as she saw Grayson. He was transformed so much that she was even unable to recognize him.
"But how has he changed so much? " How has he gained so much wealth?". Emery asked, her voice cracked.
This was the question to which even Mrs. Richards had no answer. She chose to stay quiet and leave from there.
Emery gathered some confidence and tried to approach Grayson. This was actually what Grayson wanted.
His charisma and mysterious aura had drawn the attention of everyone in the hall.
"You've got nerve showing up here, of all places." Emery approaches Grayson after gathering confidence, her face a mask of cold civility.
"Why wouldn't I? After all, it's for a good cause. " I wouldn't miss an opportunity to support Richards' generosity," Grayson replied, his expression cold. The sarcasm in his tone cuts through the air, earning sharp glances from nearby guests.
Their conversation becomes a verbal sparring match, laden with veiled threats and sharp retorts.
"I don't know what game you're playing, but remember, I won't let you win," Emery said, her tone rising constantly, filling with rage.
"Oh, Emery, this is not a game; this is the real world, and what is happening around you is reality. You have to face it". Grayson smirked a little, sarcasm clear from his tone.
The surrounding tension arose continuously, and everyone could feel it.
"Bring my checkbook, please!". Grayson asks one of the servants.
He tore one check.
"See? I can be charitable, too. " You should thank me for saving face at your event," Grayson said, handing over the check to the charity representative who collected it from all the charities.
He turns to Emery with a mockingly sweet smile. The confidence in his eyes was on another level.
Emery's heart skipped a beat. She felt her chest heavy as she couldn't breathe. She was torn to see Grayson. She had never ever imagined that Grayson would destroy her like this.
"This event is only for people with good class and dignity," Emery said, her red eyes narrowing and her tone increasing slightly.
"Emery, you must think and speak because your words can become trouble for you. You know that?". Grayson said, remaining calm in the tense situation.
"But I must admit that your family's idea of hosting a charitable event and then using all the collected money for your leisure is an excellent idea, I must say," Grayson added, confidence clear in his tone.
"I don't know what you are up to, but I won't let you succeed; remember that," Emery said, her eyes filled with rage and fury.
"What? " I don't know what you are saying! " I am just here for a good cause." Grayson replied and smiled a little, saying that he didn't know what Emery was talking about.
"You should be cautious before doing something after what I have done to you, and you know what I am capable of," said Mrs. Richard came from behind as she saw Emery and Grayson's heated conversation from a distance.
"Careful, Mrs. " Richard, don't you ever think of underestimating me again," Grayson replied while remaining calm; his facial expressions didn't change.
"I would love to stay and chat more, but I have to meet other important people as well," Grayson said as he swiftly tried to go away from there.
Grayson left from there, meeting other people in the hall.
"How did he become so untouchable? What could have happened". Emery's mind raced, trying to find incomplete answers to her questions.
"He's not here only to humiliate us. He's here to show the world that he's our equal—or worse, our superior". Emery murmured, going near her mother. She couldn't blink her eyes looking at Grayson.
"The real question is, how did he transform so much?". Mrs. Richard asked Emery, amazed to see Grayson.
"We surely have missed something. I don't know how he got so much wealth". Emery said, looking into the eyes of his mother.
She resolves to dig deeper into his activities, knowing this public display is only the tip of the iceberg.
"Let them see what I've become. " This is only the beginning." Grayson smirked and decided to leave the place.
Deep down in his mind, he knew. The damage has been done.
Grayson walks away, leaving the party.
"He's not just here to humiliate us. He's here to show the world he's our equal—or worse, our superior". Emery said to herself, cracking her knuckles.
"I have to find out how he has got so much power". She murmured, looking at Grayson leaving the venue.
Richard's family remained stunned in the main hall as Grayson left. They were shocked; their hearts just stopped. It was like they were having a heart attack.
They had yet to discover who was behind the cruise company's crisis.
Their job had now become easy. They knew that the crisis was somehow linked to Grayson.
All the surrounding circumstances, Grayson's unexpected release from jail, and his sudden transformation all point out that Grayson could be involved in all the crises in their company.
"The Richards have ruled this city long enough. But every reign ends, Emery. Yours will, too. And I'll be there to watch it burn". He smirked, looked at the hotel, and left the place in his car.