Chapter 97 A Queen … Or Not!
Chapter Ninety-Six
A week later.
The main hall of the Oriental Hotel was elegant with soft gold lights and crystal panels.
There was a long stage in the front of the hall which was draped in white.
There were cameras in the hall which lined the front of the stage. These cameras were not there for the crowd but for the announcement, which was to be made later on.
This was the event where the bid for Nexus logistics project will finally be finalized.
The hall was huge but only a handful of people were around. They were the key players only and they stood around in twos and threes talking and acknowledging each other.
Selena Beaumont was also in the hall, looking like she’d rather be anywhere than at this boring event.
She had been forced by George to attend, however. The old man wanted her to take over the company later and claimed she needed some experience in this things.
Selena was bored as hell, but quickly became interested when Kurt and Vera appeared.
Everyone was talking about the bid and how they know who the winners are going to be.
The Vaughn Empire.
Kurt Eugene and Vera Hale were there, dressed in simple but classy attires. Vera was draped over Kurt’s arm like a piece of cloth and she walked around with him as he greeted key investors and participants in the industry.
She smiled as they complimented them for their amiable and loving nature, how loyal they were towards Elara and the Vaughn company.
Vera took everything in good timing, clenching her dress and gritting her teeth anytime Elara was mentioned but making sure her expressions did not betray her emotions.
It was like that bitch, Elara was always around even long after her death.
This was supposed to be her time to shine, for people to slowly start to see her and Kurt together and then gradually began to accept her as someone who was good for Kurt.
But Elara just refused to leave!
Vera did not know what she’d done to deserve this kind of torture. She just wanted her best friend’s life and man.
Was that so much to ask?
Kurt knew she was suffering by his side from anger and he would pat her hand affectionately, as he took her around and introduced her to people.
“Relax, it’s only for a little while,” he whispered in her ears surreptitiously, “You know she has only just died recently so everyone still remembers her. Just give it months or…years.”
“Years?!” Vera hissed back at him, her nails digging into his arms, but her smile remained intact for the cameras, “I should wait years for that bitch to be gone completely?!”
“Shh! Watch your tone. And your words!” Kurt gritted back at her. “What the fuck is wrong with you?! Some of the shareholders are here today. You’re not going to ruin things for me today do you hear me?!”
“Hmph!” Vera uttered in rage, turning away from Kurt in anger, even though she still held on to his arm.
Kurt ignored her, and continued to attend to the crowd.
His eyes darted to where some of the shareholders from Vaughn Empire were. They stood together, looking trim and refined.
When Kurt saw that he’d gotten their attention, he raised his glass to them, and they did the same quietly and in a dignified manner before they started moving towards him.
There were about six of them and they never did fail to make Kurt nervous whenever he had to speak to them.
Why the fuck do they always move in groups? This was why he could never bribe any of them up till then, because he could not just get one alone.
The shareholders approached Kurt and stood in front of him, their chin raised haughtily.
“Welcome, Directors!” Kurt greeted them warmly, and Vera curtsied beautifully, flashing the men a brilliant smile.
“Welcome Directors,” she uttered through her smile.
The shareholders regarded her with disinterest then turned back to Kurt. Vera clenched her jaw and bit back on her resentment.
“Kurt, I’m sure you’ve prepared everything for today, right?” One of the men uttered, staring directly at Kurt, “You’re sure there will be no mistakes.”
“Of course, Director,” Kurt uttered good-naturedly, “You can be rest assured that this bid is ours.” He laughed then looked around before leaning in to whisper in the Directors ears, “We are the only ones vying for it so it has to come to us.”
The shareholders looked at each other, “Very well then. If you say so,” Another Director replied, “It’s just that, it would be such a big shame if you don’t eventually get it. You might lose your position in the company, you know what right?”
Kurt laughed lightly even though his fists glanced by his sides, “Of course Director, I know what I’m doing. Please do not worry.”
“I’m not worried,” the Director replied in a stoic manner. And to Kurt’s surprise, he smirked, “You should be though.”
With that, the men turned on their heels and marched off from them, as elegantly as they’d approached.
Kurt’s smile slowly died off, replaced by a more venomous look.
“Those bastards,” he and Vera uttered simultaneously.
“You MUST get this project, Kurt!” Vera hissed in his ears, “Do you hear me?! You must get it! I’ve had enough of this humiliation!”
Kurt took in a deep breath, “Do not worry.” He uttered with a slight raise if his chin in an haughty manner, “Didn’t you hear when I said I was the only one bidding for this project? Every other person here is just for formality. The project and the contract belongs to Vaughn Empire. It belongs to me!”
Vera smiled in satisfaction at those words. This was the kind of moments that she cherished with Kurt. The time when they conquer and come out victorious together.
Kurt was going to be awarded the project, and those stupid old men who call themselves the board of Directors will be forced to acknowledge him.
Slowly, Kurt would then take over the Vaughn Empire and she would rise by his side, as his Queen.
“Yes Elara, I will be his Queen,” she muttered to herself as she took a glass of wine from a passing waiter, and sipped elegantly from it, “And you’ll be nothing more than rotting body in the ground!”
Just at that moment, the double doors to the hall swung open.
“What the…” Everyone uttered as they turned towards it, their eyes widening in astonishment at the sight before them.