Chapter 104: Seeking One’s Own Death
Outside the Meridian Gallery, the red carpet was still a chaotic sea of flashing lights and shouting voices. A sleek white sedan pulled up, and Alex stepped out, looking sharp in a tailored tuxedo.
He turned and offered his hand to Anna, who stepped out with a forced smile that had been perfected through years of social climbing. As they walked toward the entrance, Alex leaned in and pulled her closer, their hands interlaced for the cameras.
The paparazzi, sensing a new angle, went into a frenzy. "Alex! Anna! Is it true? Are you two engaged?" one photographer yelled, leaning over the velvet rope.
Alex beamed, giving a confident nod to the cameras. "We are very happy to share that we’re looking forward to our future together," he said, his voice loud enough to be captured by the nearest microphones. The announcement sent the crowd into another wave of camera shutters. Alex felt a surge of pride, truly believing that this public display was cementing their bond.
Anna, however, felt a wave of revulsion wash over her as Alex’s palm pressed against hers. The sensation of his skin made her skin crawl, but she kept her smile fixed, waving at the reporters with practiced grace. ’I just need to get through the door,’ she thought. ’Alex is the only ticket I have to get close to Jake right now.’
The news of Jake’s massive inheritance and his ownership of this very gallery had changed her plans as she never wanted to attend the event with Alex. She wasn’t here for Alex; she was here to find a way into Jake’s orbit. And only she knew her reasons.
The moment they cleared the heavy glass doors and the noise of the crowd dimmed, Anna’s smile vanished. She pulled her hand away from Alex’s grip almost instantly, reaching into her clutch for a mirror. "Have you been able to arrange that family dinner with Jake yet?" she asked, her voice sharp and demanding.
Alex’s expression faltered for a fraction of a second. "I haven’t had the chance to talk to him directly. He’s probably swamped with work. He was already busy before and now ith the inheritance and all that, he probably has no time for the near future."
In reality, Alex’s stomach was in knots. He had tried calling Jake a couple of times in the last few days. Not only were the calls not answered, but they hadn’t been returned—something that never happened. Usually, Jake called back within minutes. ’He can’t know, right?’ Alex asked himself, trying to steady his breathing. ’There’s no way he found out the truth.’
"At least check if he’s actually here," Anna snapped, looking around the opulent foyer. "I don’t want to waste my night sitting in the general section if he’s not even here."
"I sent him a message asking him earlier," Alex lied smoothly. "I’m just waiting on the reply. You know he kinda busy right now." He hadn’t sent a single text, too afraid of seeing the ’read’ receipt without a response.
As they reached the check-in desk, Alex leaned over the counter, trying to look important. He gave their names to the attendant and then leaned in slightly. "Could you let Mr. Rivers know that Alex is here? No need for a surname, he will know who I am. I’d like to congratulate him personally when he has a moment."
Anna watched him, a faint, predatory smile returning to her lips. Alex saw the look and felt a wave of relief. He thought he was finally putting in the effort she wanted. The guard made a brief note on a digital tablet and pointed them toward the general seating area. Alex led Anna away.
---
Back in Box 1, the silence that followed Elizabeth’s greeting was heavy enough to feel physical. Jake could feel the eyes of his partners drilling into the back of his head. They were waiting for him to trip, to say the wrong thing, or to treat her like just another socialite. But Jake simply held her gaze, his grip on her hand firm but polite before he released it.
"I’ve heard that name a lot in the last forty-eight hours," Elizabeth said, her voice smooth and devoid of the usual pretension Jake encountered in Veyra’s elite. She took the seat next to his, crossing her legs with a grace that made the velvet chair look like a throne. "A titan in the making who suddenly discovered a golden ladder and became a real titan. It’s a very compelling story, Jake."
"Stories are usually edited for the public," Jake replied, taking his own seat. "The reality is a lot more tedious."
Leon finally found his voice, though it sounded an octave higher than usual. "Lizzy was... interested in the gallery’s reopening. Since it’s the first official event with you as the owner, she thought it was the right time to visit."
’Liar,’ Adrian thought, casting a sideways glance at Leon. ’She forced her way into your car because she wanted to see if the new power in Veyra was a lion or a house cat.’
Elizabeth laughed softly, a sound that made Noah visibly relax an inch. "Leon is terrible at lying. I’m here because my father was curious about the sudden shift in Aurelia and the entrance of Aurelia Capitals and Golden Investments. And my mother wanted to know who was bold enough to mess with the Sterling family’s plans so publicly. I decided to come see for myself."
Jake leaned back, his expression unreadable. He knew exactly who her parents were. In the country’s high-stakes political and military landscape, the Roys name was synonymous with total authority. Having her here wasn’t just a social visit; it was an inspection from the highest level.
"And? What’s the verdict so far?" Jake asked.
"The night is young," she said, her eyes shifting to the stage as the house lights began to dim. "Let’s see how you handle the room first."
Down on the floor, the host stepped up to the podium, his voice booming through the hidden speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Meridian Gallery. Tonight, we celebrate beauty, history, and most importantly, the spirit of giving. All proceeds from tonight’s auction will be donated to the National Youth Development Fund."
The host paused, looking up toward Box 1. "Before we begin, I would like to formally acknowledge the man who owns this very house. Please join me in welcoming the new owner of the Meridian Gallery, Mr. Jake Rivers."
Anna heard the introduction and immediately got excited like a little fan girls. Alex saw it and became envious and jealous because she was reacting that way to someone whom she had never met before. But when it came to him, he got the cold shoulder.
The room erupted into applause. In the general seating area, people craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the private box. The clapping was enthusiastic, but Jake could feel the underlying hunger in the room. Most of these people weren’t clapping for him; they were clapping for the billions they hoped to siphon away through business deals and ’charity’ partnerships.
"Quite the reception," Lizzy whispered, leaning slightly toward Jake. "They look like they want to eat you alive."
"Let them try," Jake said quietly, his eyes fixed on the stage. "I’m not easily digested."
Lizzy smiled, genuinely impressed. Most men Jake’s age would be sweating under the combined weight of her identity and the gaze of the entire room, but Jake hadn’t even adjusted his tie.
"Lot number one," the auctioneer announced, as a beautifully preserved 18th-century nautical compass was brought out. "An exquisite piece of maritime history. We’ll open the bidding at fifty thousand marks."
The bidding was swift. Paddles rose across the floor. "Sixty thousand!" "Seventy-five!" The numbers climbed steadily until the gavel fell at one hundred and twenty thousand marks.
The second item was a rare diamond-encrusted brooch, a heritage piece that drew gasps from the crowd. The bidding started at two hundred thousand marks and quickly spiraled. Jake watched the process with a detached interest, while Noah and Marcus occasionally whispered about the bidders they recognized. Finally, the brooch sold for four hundred and fifty thousand marks to a wealthy industrialist in the front row.
"You’re very quiet for someone who just made a million marks for charity in ten minutes," Lizzy remarked, watching Jake’s profile.
"I’m just observing the players," Jake replied. "It’s a good way to see who has liquid cash and who is just putting on a show."
Marcus leaned over to Jake, whispering under the cover of the crowd’s chatter. "Sterling is in Box 14. He’s been staring at us through binoculars for the last ten minutes. He looks like he’s aged a decade."
Jake didn’t look. He didn’t need to. "Let him stare. The more he watches us whisper, the more he’ll wonder what his head is worth on the open market."
’He’s cold,’ Elizabeth noted, her peripheral vision locked on Jake. ’He doesn’t have the jittery energy of a new billionaire. He has the stillness of a hunter.’ She realized then that her father’s curiosity had been well-founded. Jake Rivers wasn’t just a lucky kid; he was a problem that Sterling was never going to solve.
---