The Gala of Masks
A week later, CraneCorp hosted its annual charity gala — an event once run by Julian, now led by Selene.
She stood at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in a midnight-blue gown that shimmered like frost beneath the chandelier light. Her hair was swept back, exposing the sharp lines of her jaw and the steel in her posture.
Every camera turned.
Every whisper fell silent.
Selene Kai was no longer the Ice Queen.
She was the Crown.
And the crowd bowed without knowing why.
🔁 Marcus's Redemption
Marcus approached her slowly through the crowd, his tux sharp but his eyes remorseful.
"I wasn't invited," he said quietly.
"You weren't disinvited either."
He offered a small smile. "Camille's data dump revealed everything. I lost my license. Might even face charges."
Selene sipped her champagne. "Actions have consequences. Surprised?"
"No," he said. "But I still needed to say… I saw what you did. How you fought. How you didn't break."
Selene raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And I believe in you now. I just wish I had sooner."
For a moment, Selene softened — not for him, but for herself.
"You weren't the only one late."
💥 Julian's Exit
Julian stood across the room, surrounded by board members, journalists, investors — yet alone.
He watched Selene hold court like a monarch, every word she spoke calculated yet genuine. When their eyes finally met, she excused herself and walked toward him.
"Leaving?" she asked.
He nodded. "Europe. Just for a while. Some board members suggested an advisory position overseas."
"You agreed?"
"I did."
Selene folded her arms. "So this is goodbye."
Julian looked at her like she was the only person he'd ever really seen.
"No," he said. "This is goodbye for now."
She reached into her clutch, pulled out a key.
"To my penthouse?"
He smirked. "To our past."
She pressed it into his hand and whispered, "Then come back when you're ready to build something new."
💡 A New Offer
As the gala winded down, a woman approached Selene from the shadows. She was older, in her fifties perhaps, dressed in velvet red with silver streaks in her hair and the calm of someone used to being obeyed.
"You must be Ms. Kai."
Selene turned. "And you are?"
The woman extended a card.
Evelyn RourkeDirector, Helix International Holdings"Global minds for a global future."
"I saw what you did here," Evelyn said. "You rebuilt a fractured empire in days. We could use that kind of mind."
Selene narrowed her gaze. "What are you offering?"
Evelyn smiled. "A global merger. Five companies. One network. And you, Ms. Kai, at the helm."
Selene's breath caught for half a second.
Power. Real power.
She slid the card into her purse.
"I'll think about it."
"You'll say yes," Evelyn said. "People like us always do."
🔐 Camille's Last Card
Elsewhere, Camille Rae sat in her prison cell, back against cold stone. Her eyes burned under the flickering light.
A guard passed by. She barely looked up.
Until the envelope slid beneath her door.
She opened it, and her expression changed.
Inside was a photo — grainy, black and white.
A sonogram.
And a note:
"You were right not to trust them. Let's finish what we started."— V.
Camille smiled.
The war wasn't over.
It had only just begun.