14 CHAPTER 14
No one moved not even the waiters who had been walking through the aisles with silver trays. It was as if the whole room had been frozen in place by that single revelation.
But nowhere did it weigh heavier than on James.
“Wow…” he said, low but loud enough for those near the stage to hear.
“The Winner of the Rising Business Guru Award will receive exclusive partnership with
the Victor Family and a contract worth billions.”
And worse… the contract was still open for another month?
At that moment more murmurs rippled through the crowd. Some guests looked at one
another with raised brows. Some leaned close to whisper things like:
How could this happen? why hadn’t anyone seen this coming? all of them had believed
that tonight would crown James as the next business juggernaut of the city. He was
supposed to be untouchable after tonight. They thought the Victor family had already made their choice behind closed doors, and this entire ceremony was simply a formality.
The Victor family wasn’t giving out the mega contract tonight? They had not selected
James yet?
People had fought, bribed, and begged to get close to him. Over the past few days, his
phone hadn’t stopped ringing. Influential businesspeople, socialites, politicians everyone
was dying for a chance to be listed among his inner circle. Some had even offered their
daughters or sisters for dinner meetings, hoping to build an alliance before the deal
became official.
This wasn’t what they said would happen.’
The gentle background music faded into a distant hum in everyone’s ears. All eyes were wide, mouths slightly agape, and postures stiffened with disbelief.
Others those who had confidently bet on James’s win now stood red-faced, rethinking their strategies entirely.
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He swallowed hard, but the knot in his throat stayed. His jaw clenched tightly. His brows began to twitch as he fought to maintain his composure, but his chest was rising and
falling a bit faster now.
His expression was frozen at first. A faint smile still hung on his lips, the same one he had proudly worn moments ago when he delivered his speech. But now it was lifeless. His eyes once glimmering with confidence now darted in small, frantic movements as if trying to make sense of what he just heard.
Those who had loudly pledged partnerships with James just minutes ago began
pretending they hadn’t even spoken to him. Some pulled out their phones, already
drafting messages to other rising stars they had ignored in favor of James.
And in business, nothing was more dangerous than betting too early.
The atmosphere changed entirely.
His tone darkened as he added coldly, “And the first amendment will be kicking that fool
out” 2
He stood on the stage like a statue that had just been cracked from the inside. His fingers
were still loosely curled around the edges of the award plaque, but it felt weightless now
hollow, as if it meant nothing.
Like none of that mattered?
In his head, James replayed the official announcement the same one that had circulated
for weeks in newspapers, news outlets, and even on billboards.
“Could it be… we misjudged everything?”
At that moment, when William’s words echoed through the grand hall, a heavy silence fell across the room.
Instead, he swung his hand to point toward Cora still standing coolly in her pristine dress, her arms relaxed and her eyes unshaken.
‘No, no. This had to be something else.’
They had all gambled everything connections, resources, influence on a man who was no more than a temporary front-runner.
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14 CHAPTER 14
‘This couldn’t be happening.
Now… it seemed they had all jumped the gun.
Gasps rippled across the hall like thunder.
He didn’t wait for an answer.
“I thought James was already in. Wasn’t that the point of this whole award?”
People began whispering among themselves in low, urgent tones, their voices heavy with
confusion and disbelief.
Some even began subtly drifting toward the Victor family’s direction, hoping to reposition
themselves. Hoping to fix the mistake before it was too late.
For weeks, the city had been buzzing with rumors and headlines. “Victor Family Seeks New Partner Winner To Be Crowned At Upcoming Gala.” The public had taken it as gospel that whoever won tonight’s Rising Business Guru Award would automatically walk away with not just recognition, but a multi-billion-dollar deal with one of the most powerful family in the city.
And yet… now? Now everything felt like an illusion that had just crumbled into dust.
Even here at the event, James had walked in like a king.
He gave a dry laugh, twisted and strained.
And James James had positioned himself as that man.
2
“Is it… because she showed her ugly face here, and disturb the ceremony?”
At that moment James forced his lips into a sarcastic smile.
2
It was everywhere. Every soul in that room had read it, heard it, believed it. Hell he had
lived it, invested in it, planned his future on it.
He straightened his back and lifted his chin high, then turned his head toward William. “Is this because of what happened earlier?” he asked, his voice dripping with venom hidden
under calm.
At that moment, the thick fog of disappointment settled hard across the entire hall.
James took one step forward on the stage, still holding the award in one hand and
pointing with the other. His voice now rose just enough to carry his frustration.
“Wait, so the deal isn’t even secured?”
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. No this wasn’t how they heard about it.
And now William Victor-cool, confident, untouchable William was saying the contract
was still open?
“What did William just say?”
Quietly, Cautiously, As if not to draw attention to the sudden shift in their allegiance.
“I’ll make amendment, of course. Easy ones.
“If this,” he said, motioning toward Cora again, “is the reason for the sudden change, no
problem at all.”
People started avoiding James’s gaze. Some who had greeted him with eager
handshakes earlier now didn’t even glance in his direction. The weight of embarrassment
and strategic miscalculation hung over their heads like a dark cloud.
He gave a soft chuckle that had no warmth in it. Just bitter disbelief.
He had been treated like royalty.
Meanwhile, a few business tycoons who had spent the evening flattering James now slowly stepped away from his side.
James sneered.
Then he turned slowly, his sharp gaze searching the crowd as if expecting someone to
jump out and say this was all a joke, but no one did.
