Chapter 159 The Unpayable Price

Chapter 159 The Unpayable Price
"If that woman is not Dela, who is standing on our platform?" Sarah demanded, turning her head toward the stage stairs in total shock.

The rotor blades wound down to a slow, steady thrum, dust and scattered paper settling across the auditorium floor.

Helena stood up from the front row of the VIP box, her posture rigid under the hall lights.

"Her name is Yuri," Helena stated, her voice carrying over the idling aircraft engines. Sarah blinked in complete bewilderment at the unfamiliar name. It didn't match any local celebrity or regional commercial model in the entire province — but it wasn't entirely unfamiliar, either.

"The only Yuri known to me sings on international television networks," Sarah said, gripping the stage handrail with both hands. "That person belongs to the most famous music group in the world."

Helena stepped down toward the central aisle to join them near the stairs.

"The Diamond Star Band," Helena confirmed. "Lead vocalist and three-time Miss World titleholder." Sarah felt her throat go dry as the reality hit her chest.

Diana reached the top of the stairs, her dark coat brushing the wooden railing. "A public figure of that stature does not travel to small provincial launch events without a massive contract," Diana noted.

"Who invited such a high-profile guest to this venue?"

Sarah shook her head rapidly, her thoughts racing through the morning schedule. "Our marketing team never contacted her agency," Sarah stammered. "Dela was our first choice, but our company budget could not even afford Dela's appearance rate for a single promotional shoot."

Dela was a domestic celebrity with massive booking demands and heavy corporate contracts. An international artist of Yuri's status operated on a completely different financial plane that regional firms could never touch.

Sarah turned her gaze directly toward the VIP seating area.

"President Frost, did your office arrange this arrival?" Sarah asked. Helena read the question on Sarah's face before the words fully formed. "The Frost Group holds immense commercial resources, Sarah, but our influence cannot pull an international figure across borders on five minutes of notice."

Nobody in the province held that kind of authority. Helena kept her gaze steady, watching the tall woman standing on the stage.

Diana leaned forward against the polished stage rail to get a clearer view of her.

"The visitor is not inspecting the product displays," Diana observed. "Her eyes are searching the back rows of the auditorium." Sarah followed Diana's line of sight toward Yuri.

The woman in the designer jacket stood near the podium, her gaze sweeping across the velvet seats. Dark sunglasses concealed her eyes, but her head turned toward the empty corners of the convention hall.

The woman lifted a small black phone to her ear.

Two brief words left her lips. The private call ended in three seconds. The woman slid the phone into her pocket and removed her dark sunglasses with a smooth motion.

A bodyguard took the glasses, stepping back into the security perimeter. The woman walked toward the center of the platform.

Eight suited men moved in formation behind her, keeping the surrounding crowd at bay.

Sarah watched the woman approach. The woman's silhouette had resembled Dela from a distance, but the reality was striking. Every feature on the woman's face held a sharp, natural balance that drew every pair of eyes in the hall.

The woman stopped three paces from the podium. Her dark eyes settled on Sarah's face with quiet focus.

"Are you Sarah Quinn?" the woman asked, her voice calm and clear.

Sarah stood straight. "Yes," Sarah answered. "I am the Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Beauty."

The woman tilted her head slightly. "Mr. Luke's wife?" the woman asked.

Sarah froze.

The question caught Sarah completely off guard. The name of her husband carried clear respect in the stranger's voice. Sarah pushed the confusion aside and gave a firm nod.

"I am Luke's wife," Sarah said. The woman extended a clean, manicured hand toward her.

"My name is Yuri."

Sarah took the offered hand. The grip was firm and professional. "I am here to serve as your new brand ambassador," Yuri announced.

The statement carried across the open microphone on the podium. A sudden, heavy crash echoed through the front speakers.

The supermarket director stood near the center aisle with empty hands.

The metal microphone rolled across the stage floorboards, screeching against the audio monitors. His mouth hung open in total shock. Panic seized his chest as his fingers twitched against his trousers in front of the woman standing beside Sarah.

The business owners in the second row dropped their receipts onto the carpet. The men who had demanded instant refunds looked at the stage in absolute disbelief.

Departing investors stopped at the main exit doors, turning back toward the stage in stunned silence.

A national actress leaving the stage was a minor commercial setback. The presence of a global superstar transformed a local product launch into an international event. The retail bosses realized the magnitude of their mistake, deep shame washing over their faces.

Store managers scrambled to pick up their discarded invoices from the floor. The supermarket director tried to reach for his dropped microphone, but his knees shook too violently to bend down.

Reporters surged forward against the metal barriers, raising cameras without making a sound.

Flashing lights reflected off the polished jars of skincare cream on the display table. Live broadcast feeds updated across every major media channel in the province. Sarah looked at the superstar standing before her, her mind calculating the harsh business reality.

Her practical business sense returned with sudden force. An endorsement from an international icon carried astronomical costs that would crush any regional firm.

The contractual demands and appearance fees of a world-tier artist exceeded Zenith Beauty's total valuation.

Sarah stepped closer, keeping her voice low so the microphones would not catch her words. "Miss Yuri, our company is deeply honored by your arrival." Yuri maintained a warm, steady gaze, waiting for Sarah to finish her thought.

"Zenith Beauty cannot accept this arrangement," Sarah continued, forcing herself to decline the offer. "Our current operational budget cannot handle your standard management fee."

Sarah pulled her hands back, bracing herself to turn the global star away.

Yuri raised one finger, cutting off the rejection before the final sentence ended. "Do not worry about the finances, Mrs. Quinn." The singer stepped past the podium, her tone calm and absolute.

"My team will not invoice your company a single cent," Yuri stated clearly. "The endorsement contract for Zenith Beauty is completely free."

Sarah stared at the global superstar in absolute silence.