Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Unveiling
CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT: THE UNVEILING
ANNA SERRANO
I stood in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom, watching as three maids worked carefully to fasten the crimson gown I'd designed specifically for tonight. The dress was a masterpiece, deep red silk that seemed to shift and shimmer with every movement, fitted perfectly to my frame with strategic draping that was both elegant and dramatic. The neckline was sophisticated, the back daringly low, and the entire silhouette spoke of power and confidence.
This is it, I thought, my heart beating faster. Tonight is the night.
My bedroom had been transformed into something resembling a professional styling suite. Several staff members moved efficiently through the space, makeup artists setting up their stations, hair stylists preparing their tools, assistants organizing jewelry and accessories, someone steaming a backup dress just in case.
The controlled chaos was strangely calming. Everyone knew their role, knew exactly what needed to be done.
Today was the BelleNova unveiling and grand opening party. After years of operating anonymously, of building my brand behind a veil of mystery and carefully cultivated intrigue, I was finally going to reveal myself to the world.
Tonight, everyone would learn that Anna Serrano—CEO of Serrano Holdings, daughter of one of the most powerful families in the country—was also BelleNova, the exclusive fashion designer that every wealthy woman in the city desperately wanted to work with.
The makeup artist began applying foundation with careful precision, and I closed my eyes, letting them work while my mind raced through everything that was about to happen.
I was excited. God, I was so excited I could barely sit still. My own company—built from nothing, nurtured through years of secret late nights and careful planning—was finally going public. BelleNova would no longer be just a name whispered in elite circles. It would be a legitimate, recognized brand with my face and name attached to it.
But beneath the excitement ran an undercurrent of nervousness that made my fingers drum against the armrest of my chair in an unconscious rhythm.
What if something goes wrong? What if the reveal falls flat? What if people reject the brand once they know it's me behind it?
I pushed the anxious thoughts away, focusing instead on the part of tonight I was most looking forward to:
Watching Abel, Flora, Selena, and Elena's faces when they realized the truth.
A smile tugged at my lips even as the makeup artist tried to apply lip liner.
"Please hold still, Ms. Serrano," she murmured gently.
"Sorry," I said, forcing myself to relax.
But I couldn't help the satisfaction that bloomed in my chest when I thought about what was coming.
I had personally designed dresses for all of them, custom pieces they'd commissioned months ago through BelleNova's exclusive request system. Flora had been beside herself with excitement when her design had been approved, bragging to anyone who would listen that she'd secured a BelleNova original for tonight's event. My former mother-in-law Elena had done the same, and Selena had made sure every woman in her social circle knew she'd be wearing BelleNova to the unveiling party.
They would all be wearing my designs tonight. Wearing them with pride, feeling superior and fashionable and elite.
And then I would step onto that stage and reveal that every stitch, every carefully chosen fabric, every elegant line had come from the woman they'd tried to destroy.
The woman they thought they'd successfully driven away in disgrace.
I can't wait to see their faces, I thought with dark pleasure. The horror, the shock, the realization that they've been giving me money and praise for years without knowing it.
"Anna!"
Sherry's voice broke through my thoughts. I opened my eyes to see my best friend and business partner sweep into the room, already fully dressed and looking absolutely stunning in her own BelleNova design, a sophisticated emerald dress that complemented her complexion perfectly and made her look like she belonged on a runway.
"Sherry! You look amazing," I said, genuinely impressed.
"Stop!" Sherry waved her hand dismissively but smiled widely. "They aren't even done with you yet and you're already giving compliments. Focus on yourself for once."
She moved closer, studying my reflection in the mirror with a critical eye that I knew came from months of preparation for this exact moment.
"You look incredible," she said, her voice softening. "And they haven't even finished your makeup or styled your hair yet. Anna, when they're done with you, you're going to look absolutely breathtaking. Out of this world. Completely untouchable."
I laughed, feeling some of my nervousness dissipate with her enthusiasm. "You're exaggerating."
"I'm really not," Sherry insisted. Then she turned to the staff working around us, her voice taking on the authoritative tone of someone who'd been managing this event for months. "Everyone, we need to move faster. Time is not on our side tonight. We have a schedule to keep."
The workers immediately picked up their pace, hands moving more quickly but no less carefully.
"Is the party in full swing already?" I asked, trying to gauge how much time we had left.
"Yes," Sherry confirmed, pulling out her phone to check the latest updates from our event coordinator. "Everyone who was invited has arrived. The venue is packed, every major name in the city's social and business circles is there. And it's almost time for the CEO to make her entrance and give her speech."
She looked up from her phone, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This is it, Anna. This is the moment we've been working toward for years."
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath. "Walk me through the plan one more time."
Sherry nodded, shifting into full professional mode. "Here's how it's going to work: You'll enter from the back of the venue and make your way to the stage while wearing a mask, something elegant and mysterious that fits the BelleNova brand aesthetic. The lights will dim, music will swell, and all attention will focus on you as you walk."
She gestured, painting the picture. "Then, once you're center stage with every single pair of eyes in that room locked on you, you'll remove the mask and reveal yourself. That's when you'll give your speech about BelleNova's vision, your journey, and your plans for the future."
"Don't go on stage showing your face from the start," Sherry emphasized. "The mask is crucial, it maintains the suspense, builds the tension, makes the reveal that much more impactful."
I nodded, committing the sequence to memory. "Mask on, walk to stage, all eyes on me, mask off, speech. Got it."
"Perfect." Sherry smiled.
"What about Hermione and Alexander? Have they left for the venue yet?" I asked.
"Yes, everyone has already gone ahead," Sherry confirmed. "Hermione went with Mother Serrano, they left about thirty minutes ago. Alexander went separately because he had that last-minute conference call, but he should already be there by now."
She glanced at her watch. "We're just waiting for the final touches on your styling, and then we'll head out. Our arrival is timed perfectly, you'll have just enough time to get into position backstage before your entrance."
"The photographers are ready?" I asked.
"Ready and positioned exactly where we discussed," Sherry assured me. "The moment you remove that mask, they'll capture every angle. By tomorrow morning, your face will be on every fashion blog, society page, and business publication in the country."
By tomorrow morning, everyone will know, I thought, a thrill of anticipation running through me.
The makeup artist finished with a final dusting of setting powder and stepped back. "All done with makeup, Ms. Serrano."