Chapter 14
At that moment, when William’s words echoed through the grand hall, a heavy silence fell across the room.
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.
"What did William just say?"
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.
The Victor family wasn’t giving out the mega contract tonight? They had not selected James yet?
And worse... the contract was still open for another month?
People began whispering among themselves in low, urgent tones, their voices heavy with confusion and disbelief.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. No this wasn’t how they heard about it.
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 James James had positioned himself as that man.
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.