Chapter 4 - The Monaco Gala
The air in Monaco was thick with the scent of sea salt and million-dollar perfume. The Grand Casino had been rented out entirely for the AURELIA Lumière launch. The room was a sea of haute couture, flashing cameras, and champagne.
Evelyn stood at the top of the grand marble staircase, wearing a blood-red Valentino gown. She looked like royalty. But inside, her stomach was tied in knots.
Below, mingling with the European elite, was Marcus Thorne.
He had the audacity to show up. He held a flute of champagne, catching Evelyn’s eye from across the room and raising his glass in a mocking toast. He thought he had won. He thought the cheap knockoffs flooding the Asian markets tomorrow would bankrupt her.
Evelyn descended the stairs, her expression serene, radiating power.
Julian materialized at her side, looking nervous in his tuxedo. “Evelyn, the press is asking about rumors of a leak. There are whispers on Wall Street that we’ve been compromised.”
“Let them whisper,” Evelyn said softly, not looking at him. “Whispers create anticipation. Have you found out who looped the cameras, Julian?”
He swallowed hard. “Not yet. The cyber team is still pulling logs.”
“How unfortunate,” she murmured, finally turning her piercing gaze to him. “Because I found the traitor this morning.”
Julian’s breath hitched. “You did? Who?”
“I’ll let you know after my speech.”
Evelyn walked away, leaving Julian pale and trembling, and took the stage. The lights dimmed, and a spotlight hit her. The crowd fell silent.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Evelyn’s voice rang out, clear and authoritative. “Tonight, we do not just launch a product. We launch a revolution.”
Behind her, a massive LED screen flared to life, showing the sleek, diamond-cut bottle of Lumière.
“There have been rumors,” Evelyn continued, pacing the stage, “that our formula was stolen. That a lesser company intends to release a cheap imitation.” She paused, letting the gasp ripple through the crowd. She looked directly at Marcus Thorne. “Those rumors are entirely true.”
Marcus frowned, his mocking smile vanishing.
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“But,” Evelyn said, her voice turning lethal, “what the thieves stole was our prototype from two years ago. An obsolete draft. What we are launching tonight is the Lumière Prime compound. Ten times more effective, globally patented as of three hours ago, and exclusively available at AURELIA.”
The crowd erupted in applause. Marcus’s face twisted in sheer rage. Evelyn had just turned his multi-million dollar theft into a massive investment in garbage.
