Chapter 15 THE ANNUAL GALA
Third-person POV
Flashes exploded outside the grand glass hall, a storm of cameras lighting up the night.
Paparazzi shouted over one another, reporters crowded the velvet ropes, and the towering headquarters of GLID glittered like a monument of wealth.
The only mystery left, its elusive unknown CEO.
One luxury car after another pulled up to the red carpet. Elegant actors and actresses stepped out, striking practiced smiles as the bulbs burst around them.
Each arrival brought fresh shrieks of excitement and attention.....until a black latest Rolls-Royce Spectre glided to a stop, sleek and silent, attention seeking.
Instantly, the crowd’s energy shifted.
Even the photographers stopped shooting the other celebrities, lenses snapping instead toward the single car that now owned the carpet.
The door opened slowly and a leg slipped out, fair, toned, and deliberate.
The crowd gasped, then Erica legs emerged.
Her dress was liquid fire: deep red silk clinging to every curve, backless and low-cut, shimmering with diamond-thread embroidery. Her hair fell in perfect dark waves, and the Louboutin heels she wore caught the light with each step.
“She’s stunning!” someone whispered.
“Who is she?” another gasped.
Then the other door opened, using the opportunity, Giselle stepped out next, smiling as if she owned the world.
The flashbulbs went wild.
“They came together?”
“Best friends? Power duo of the year!”
“Look at them—goddesses!”
The livestream exploded online, hearts and comments flooding the feed.
Giselle soaked in the attention, waving gracefully. Erica, by contrast, kept her face composed.....serious, unreadable. She never smiled for the cameras, and that mystery only made the world lean closer.
Every step she took down the red carpet radiated dominance; every actress who passed her could only glare and whisper.
“She’s using Erica’s fame to shine,” hissed Shen Annie, a rival actress, under her breath. “Pathetic.”
But when she reached Erica, she flashed a fake, sweet smile. “Lovely to see you.”
Giselle leaned toward Erica, murmuring just loud enough for her to hear. “Two-faced witch.”
Erica ignored her completely, expression cold as marble, and walked on.
Inside the ballroom, chandeliers hung like constellations. Erica moved through the glittering crowd, picked up a glass of wine, and took a slow sip.
“Gorgeous,” a voice murmured behind her.
Jaxon.
Erica didn’t even turn. “You flatter me, Jaxon,” she said dryly, rolling her eyes.
He chuckled. “Come on, drop the business tone. We’re not at a board meeting.”
Erica finally glanced at him, lips curling slightly—the same lips that Jaxon couldn’t seem to stop staring at.
“Where’s that devil you warned me about?” he whispered, leaning closer.
She tilted her chin toward the far side of the room. “There,” she said.
Across the hall, Giselle was laughing too loudly, flirting, the center of her own storm.
“Pretty,” Jaxon said, though his gaze lingered on Erica.
“She’s your type, then,” Erica replied coolly, walking away.
Jaxon followed her like a shadow.
On the opposite side of the room, Aaron stood silently, eyes fixed on Erica and Jaxon. His expression was unreadable, though the faint curl of his lip betrayed something darker.
“Pathetic,” he muttered under his breath.....then stopped.
A flicker of memory crossed his face, Celina, his own past drifted in.
Before he could retreat into thought, a familiar voice broke through the crowd.
“Aaron?”
Carter.
Shock widened Carter’s eyes. “Damn, you look… different. Ripped, even.” He laughed, clapping Aaron’s shoulder.
Aaron’s gaze met his—cold, unblinking. It sent a chill through Carter’s bones. Then Aaron softened it with a lazy smirk.
“Nice to see you too,” Aaron said smoothly. “You’ve changed… too.”
The either actresses nearby had noticed.
“Who’s that?”
“He’s gorgeous—look at those eyes!”
“I’d cast him in anything just to kiss him.”
Their voices made Carter’s blood boil.
“So,” Carter sneered, “did you sneak in here? Back then nobody gave a damn about you. What, you begged your way in? Followed some actress, maybe?”
Aaron just sipped his wine, his smirk never wavering.
“Funny,” Carter continued, laughing bitterly. “I remember you used to beg at my feet.”
Whispers rippled through the female as they chatted.
“Oh… he’s one of those types.”
“Pretty face, no power.”
“Shame. I liked him, too.”
Aaron smiled faintly, not minding their words, Hunan words no longer got to him.
Then the crowd gasped softly, others just looked away, Giselle had arrived at his side.
“Aaron,” she said, feigning surprise. “What a coincidence.”
Carter seized the moment, flashing his grin at her. “Actress Giselle! Lovely to see you.”
She smiled sweetly. “And you as well. You’ve… changed,” she said carefully.
Carter gestured toward Aaron’s tailored black suit. “You know, that suit’s worth billions. Only two of them exist in the world. How’d you get your hands on it?”
Aaron’s eyes didn’t even flicker. His attention had shifted to the stage where a hostess took the mic.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Annual Actor and Actress Gala! Tonight, we have the honor of hosting this event at the headquarters of GLID. Please welcome—the CEO himself!”
The crowd erupted.
“Oh my god, he’s here?”
“I’ve never seen him before!”
“Is he really as handsome as they say?”
“My future husband!”
Aaron set down his glass.
Carter snorted. “What, gonna sneak up for a photo?” Aaron ignored him and stepped away.
As Carter turned back to flirt, laughter dying on his lips, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
The crowd fell silent, Aaron walked onto the stage.
Every head turned. Cameras flashed like lightning.
“He’s… he’s gorgeous.”
“Is that—?”
“No way. That’s him?”
Even Giselle froze. Then, realizing, she smiled—perfectly composed. “We used to be high school classmates,” she whispered to an actress beside her.
“Seriously? You were friends with a multi-billionaire?”
“I envy you!”
Giselle giggled softly. “Oh, don’t. You flatter me.”
Carter stood stiff, face pale. His friends snickered.
“I thought you said he was a loser,” one whispered.
“Looks richer than you now.”
Carter gripped his glass until his knuckles whitened.
On stage, Aaron’s voice rolled through the speakers....deep, magnetic, commanding.
“Welcome,” he said.
Silence.
“I’m Aaron Knight, CEO of GLID. Thank you all for coming to this year’s Gala. It’s an honor to host every one of you here.”
The women in the crowd nearly melted.
He stepped back, gaze locking directly on Carter and then Giselle.
Giselle waved softly, hoping he’d return it. If he did, her fame would skyrocket. Carter saw the calculation and sneered. “Shameless.”
Aaron’s lips curved, he had seen through her trucks already yet he raised his hand and waved.
The crowd erupted.
“He waved at Giselle!”
“They look perfect together!”
“High school sweethearts—destiny!”
Giselle flushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, pretending to be shy. The envious glares from other women were daggers.
Aaron descended from the stage, instantly surrounded by businessmen and actors eager to shake his hand. Proposals, deals, collaborations and........chaos.
Giselle watched from afar, jealousy twisting her features. She broke away from Carter’s grip and walked toward Aaron.
“Don’t,” Carter hissed, tightening his hold.
She pulled free anyway, fake smile returning. This will make headlines tomorrow, she thought. Dating rumors with the CEO himself.
Carter’s laughter turned bitter. He downed his drink and walked off.
Just as Giselle reached Aaron.....The giant screen above the stage flickered.
Static. Then...
“Come on, just a kiss?” A man’s voice, it was Jaxon
The room went dead silent.
“A kiss?” Erica’s voice followed, their faces and environment came into view.
The footage showed her....standing, serious facing Jaxon. The entire hall gasped.
Aaron’s grip on the glass tightened. His eyes darkened instantly, as he scanned the screen. A grin curled to his lips.
"Interesting!"