Chapter 4
"The acquisition of the mines in South Ventia has been completed. Profits came in at forty percent above projections. Joint approval for the port expansion in Southeast Aeris has been cleared. And..."
He paused for a moment.
"There's been a problem with Prism again," Victor said.
Sera's eyes narrowed.
Prism was the core department of Noctis Group. It was in charge of gathering and analyzing global resource intel.
It operated completely separate from the rest of the business, answering only to her.
"What's going on?" Sera asked.
"Someone's digging into Nyx's real identity," Victor replied.
The car fell silent for a few seconds. The rain outside sounded louder than ever.
"How far have they gotten?" Sera asked.
"So far, they've only managed to trace a few shell companies in Southeast Aeris. They haven't touched anything important yet. But whoever's behind this, they're professionals. This isn't some run-of-the-mill snooping," Victor replied.
Sera drummed her fingers lightly on the car window.
"Let it go for now," she said.
"But..." Victor began.
"I said, let it go," Sera cut him off.
Victor immediately shut his mouth.
It had been twenty years.
Victor had been at Sera's side since she was fifteen.
He'd watched her at the negotiating table, forcing her rivals to sign humiliating terms, and seen her commanding operations in war-torn mines, unflinching in the chaos.
Victor had also witnessed her at fifteen, standing at her parents' funeral without shedding a single tear, before instantly turning around and taking over the entire family business.
But he'd never seen her like this before, soaked to the bone as she walked out of that house alone, without even an umbrella to shield her.
"Master, these three years..." Victor said quietly.
"It was worth it," Sera interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper, "I've repaid the debt. From now on, we owe each other nothing."
Victor didn't say another word.
The car turned onto the main road in the east of Stratford City, and the rain was easing off.
As they passed a brightly lit office building, Sera suddenly asked, "Who's hosting the business banquet next week?"
"The Stratford City Chamber of Commerce. The organizers are the Quinn family, who owns Evergreen Group. They've invited the top fifty business leaders in Stratford City," Victor replied.
"Is the Locke family invited?" Sera asked.
"Given their status, they're definitely on the list," Victor said.
Sera leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
A faint, barely-there smile curved at the corner of her lips.
Victor recognized that look instantly. Whenever she showed that expression, it meant that someone was about to get seriously wrecked.
"Give the Quinn family a call," Sera instructed.
"Yes, Master," Victor replied.
"Let them know that Nyx will be attending," Sera said.
Victor slammed on the brakes. The car came to a stop in the rain, sending up a spray of water behind it.
He turned his head in disbelief. "Are you sure about this, Master? You haven't shown your face in public for twenty years."
Sera opened her eyes.
Rain slid down the car window, streaking her face with shifting bands of light and shadow.
Her eyes were bright and piercing as she replied, "Twenty years. It's about time they saw what Nyx really looks like."
*****
The news spread the next day.
The announcement that Nyx would be at the dinner organised by Stratford City's Chamber of Commerce took the business world by storm.
Within just half a day, the guest list exploded from fifty to three hundred companies.
Business moguls from every corner of the country dropped everything and scrambled to book midnight flights to Stratford City.
Some even rushed in from abroad, just to see Nyx in person.
When Bradford Quinn, the old man of the Quinn family, got the news, his hands had trembled.
"Wait, what? Nyx? Are we talking about the same Nyx?" Bradford clarified.
"Yes, Mr. Quinn. Her Secretary-General, Victor, called personally to inform that Nyx would be there in person," his secretary had reassured.
Bradford was so excited that he almost smashed his cup.
"Raise the dinner to the highest standard! No, that's still not enough. We have to meet the standard of a state banquet!" Bradford instructed.
"Nyx controls thirty percent of the world's rare minerals. If we can establish a connection with her, Evergreen's market value could triple, maybe even more..." Bradford rubbed his hands together, his face flushed with excitement.
Then, a sudden realization hit him.
Bradford asked, "Wait, what pronoun did Victor use when he called?"
"She," his secretary answered.
"Nyx is a woman?" Bradford was shocked.
*****
Beneath the surface, Stratford City was in an uproar, but the Locke family was completely oblivious to it all.
Damian had been in a great mood lately.
Now that Mia had moved into his bedroom, every morning started with her smiling at him.
Life finally felt normal again.
The woman who was always in the way was gone, and he didn't feel the slightest bit guilty.
"Damian, do you think I should wear this dress to the dinner party?" Mia asked.
She spun in front of the mirror, the off-white floor-length gown gorgeously complementing her skin tone.
Damian looked up from the couch, a smile tugging at his lips. "You look great."
"Will you keep looking at me the whole night?" Mia probed.