Jasmine's POV
The air buzzed with anticipation as the MC stepped onto the stage his confident demeanor radiating authority. He cleared his throat, and the chatter quieted to a hush.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, welcome to the annual Crestfall Business Gala," he announced, his voice echoing through the grand hall. "Tonight, we celebrate innovation, collaboration, the future of our city, we honor old alliances and forge new beginnings. We have a special guest, a visionary leader who has taken the business world by storm. Please join me in welcoming the enigmatic and mysterious heiress of Duval holdings."
The door swung open, and a stunningly beautiful woman walked in, commanding attention. I, Jasmine, with my raven black hair, porcelain skin and sapphire eyes, exuded confidence and poise. Before entering, I had taken a deep breath, steeling myself for the evening ahead.
"Jasmine, you can do this. There's no turning back." I whispered to myself
With a bright smile, I strode across the room, my stilettos clicking on the marble floor. I took the microphone from the MC and began my speech.
"Good evening." My voice resonated smooth, controlled. The silence deepened. "Tonight is not simply a celebration, but a step into a future shaped by vision and coloration. For years, Duvall Holdings has remained private, quietly shaping industries from behind the scenes. Tonight, that changes. Tonight, I stand before you as Miss Duvall of Duvall Holdings."
I did not give my first name. That omission was deliberate – a veil to protect that was left of my past. Whispers fluttered through the crowd like restless wings.
"At Duvall Holdings," I continued, "our philosophy is simple: strength does not lie in standing alone but in forging alliances. We seek not domination but progress. Partnership that foster innovation, integrity, and impact. Our investments are not in companies, but in possibilities. Today marks the day Knight Corps and Duvall Holdings sign the billion-dollar business contract."
I let the words linger, savoring the tension that filed the hall. They leaned closer without realizing it. Captivated by the promise in my tone.
"I look forward to building futures with those who dare to dream as boldly as we do."
Applause erupted – loud, eager, but layered with envy. I handed the microphone back. smiling faintly, and descended the stage. The mask of composure remained fixed as my heart thudded under my ribs.
The music swelled again, conversation resumed, but the air was different now. I crossed to a quieter corner and accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. The bubbles brushed against my lips, sharp and sweet. I savored the illusion of calm.
It began immediately.
"Miss Duvall." A man with slicked silver hair and a self satisfied grin approached, extending his hand. "Richard Howell. Howell Industries. Your words were inspiring. Our agricultural tech division would thrive with Duvall's support. We should discuss a merger."
I shook his hand, firm but polite. "Mr. Howell, your company's reputation is remarkable. Let's keep the conversation open."
His eyes grimed with triumph. He thought he'd won something, though I promised nothing.
Before I could sip my drink again, another voice intruded. "Miss Duvall. Alexander Trent, renewable energy. The world needs your kind of vision. Imagine what we could achieve together."
I offered him a warm smile. "Energy is indeed the heartbeat of tomorrow. We'll explore the possibilities."
He beamed, already envisioning signatures on contracts. I kept my silence.
One by one, they came – eager men and ambitious women, each pitching dreams wrapped in profits. I listened, nodded, gave them enough hope but never enough to bind. It was a game, and I had learned to play it well.
The last was a woman with emerald green earrings and calculating eyes. "Miss Duvall. I represent Silver Pharmaceuticals. Our research could benefit from Duvall's resources."
I tilted my head, weighing her carefully. "Medical innovation is vital. But we must tread with care. Let us revisit this with discretion."
Her smile tightened. She had hoped for more I gave her nothing.
And then….. it happened.
The prickling urge along my spine. A pull, magnetic, irresistible. Instinct demanded I look.
My eyes turned… and locked.
Across the room, amidst the glittering throng, a pair of storm-gray eyes found mine. Unflinching. Intense. Familiar.
Ares Knight.
For a suspended heartbeat, the world fell away. The chatter, the clinking glasses, the music – ll of it dulled into nothing. It was only him. Him, and the memory that clawed at my chest.
I tore my gaze away first, forcing attention back to the woman before me. But the champagne glass trembled in my hand. My mask threatened to crack.
I knew before I looked again – he was moving. Striding through the crowd like it parted for him alone. Which, of course, it did.
Ares Knight, in a suit tailored to perfection, broad shoulders, every line of him exuding power. he carried a glass of champagne, but it was the sharp, calculated and ruthless focus in his eyes that stole my breath.
He stopped at my table. the air thickened. His cologne… wood and spice… wrapped around me, unsettlingly familiar.
"Miss Duvall." His voice was velvet edged with steel. smooth, controlled, dangerous. He raised his glass in greeting. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
I summoned my calm, even as my heart hammered. "Mr. Knight. Knight Corp has a formidable reputation. A fitting partner for Duvall Holdings, I say."
One corner of his mouth curved. "Formidable, yes. Some say ruthless. I prefer to think of it as … precise."
"Precision is invaluable." I replied, swirling champagne in my glass. "It's what makes partnership thrive."
The word lodged in my chest. Inevitability. "Was he speaking of business… or something deeper?"
I kept my cool. "Perhaps. But inevitability still has to prove… profitable."
A flicker of amusement lit in his eyes. He leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough for intimacy. "Tell me, Miss Duvall… where have you been hiding? You wield mystery like a weapon. Power in silence. And yet… it feels… familiar.
Every nerve screamed. "Did he know?" "Did he sense who I was?"
I steadied my breathing . "Mystery ensures respect. Curiosity can be… useful."
"Or dangerous." His gaze never wavered. "Because curiosity demands answers."
For a heartbeat too long, neither of us blinked. The duel was silent, fought with words and eyes.
Then, he tilted his head voice deceptively light, and struck the blow.
"Forgive me, Miss Duvall," he said softly, "but you remind me of someone I once knew." His eyes searched mine, probing, daring me to flinch. "Though she was…. different. Always timid. Nervous. Never this confident."
The words sliced deeper than he realized. My throat tightened, but my face remained carved from marble.
Ares smiles faintly, almost to himself, and took another sip of champagne. But I caught it – the slip in his mask. A flash of recognition, a shadow of memory. His composure faltered, just for an instant, and that was enough.
He was close. Too close.
I steadied my breath, forcing calm into my veins. My mask had to hold, even if his questions threatened to shatter it.
Because tonight was only the beginning.
And Ares Knight was not the only one watching me.
As our eyes locked together again, a discreet photographer at the far corner raises a camera, snapping pictures of us together… proof that could stir whispers before the night is even over.