Chapter 26: Rise with Grace
In the hall,
The event hall’s brightness dimmed gradually into a soft glow of ambient lighting, drawing the room into silence. A glass stand held stunning floral arrangements at the center of the stage.
In a crisp, tailored suit, Ezra stepped onto the stage with a microphone pinned on his blazer. He spoke as he stood tall and authoritative in front of all the top businessmen of Velmora, "Good evening, and welcome."
He pointed at the floral arrangement and continued without pause, "What you see before you is not just flora. It’s a symbol. Nature! Impossible to replicate in its truest form. And just like nature’s most protected creations... we introduce VANTEX Sentinel."
The back screen lit up with VANTEX Sentinel, the name flashing with unique graphics and motion.
Well, Aveline wasn’t really paying attention, though her eyes were on the stage. Her real attention was on Damien, who might look calm on the surface but had turned rigid after whatever Vivienne had pulled.
"Assistant Wilson..." she whispered just enough for the man beside her to hear.
Mike Wilson was watching the seamless panel sliding open, revealing the sentinel box, gunmetal gray. Sleek, surrounded by a soft pulse of light tracing its edges. The moment she spoke, his attention shifted to her.
She continued when she sensed his gaze on her. "Will you work for me?" she asked. Then she turned to face Mike and added, "Or my father?"
Aveline trusted Mike with her life, but the question was, would he keep her secrets from her father? She didn’t want to involve her parents unless absolutely necessary.
And a confidant of her father, being aware of her situation and Damien’s true colors, would help her in an emergency. This move was to avoid her parents doubting her if Damien ever pulled something vile.