Chapter 19 — Shadows and Fire ⚡👑
The spotlight hit me like a blade, piercing the sudden darkness. My breath hitched, muscles tensing, as every pair of eyes in the hall — CEOs, reporters, Section E, Section A — locked onto me. The night of my revelation had been perfect until this… intruder in the shadows.
From the doorway, the figure emerged. Broad shoulders, a tailored black suit that screamed authority. The crowd recoiled instinctively; even Kaizer froze mid-step, eyes narrowing. My heart skipped a beat — recognition striking me before the murmurs of the audience could.
"Good evening, Crownveil," the figure said, voice low but chilling, carrying the weight of a threat I hadn't anticipated.
My instincts screamed. Business mode off, mafia mode on. Every muscle in my body coiled like a spring. I could sense Keifer behind me, his hand brushing my waist — protective, warning me not to move rashly. His presence grounded me even as tension cracked the room like electricity.
Section E gasped collectively. Edrix stumbled backward, nearly colliding with Blaster, while Yuri's pen fell from his hand in shock. They'd all known about Crownveil's mystery CEO, but this — this was chaos in person.
Percy leaned casually against the wall, eyes cold and unreadable. He had known my world long before tonight. He gave a slight nod, almost approving, almost warning.
Kaizer's lips curled into a smirk. "Interesting," he said, voice dripping with venom. "Seems our little genius has more secrets than we imagined."
I straightened, stepping forward into the spotlight. "I run Crownveil," I said calmly, eyes fixed on the intruder. "And nothing — no one — will stop what I've built."
The figure laughed, low and deliberate, as if amused by my audacity. "Bold words for someone who's just a student to most of us. Let's see if your empire can survive tonight."
My pulse quickened. Every corner of the banquet hall was alive with tension. CEOs murmured, some whispering among themselves. Section A stared, mouths agape. Section E muttered, half in awe, half in panic.
Keifer's grip tightened on my waist. "Stay behind me," he said, voice barely above a growl. His eyes burned with something feral — a silent warning to anyone thinking of underestimating me.
I leaned closer to him, voice calm but deadly. "I can handle this," I whispered. "But I'd rather handle them with you."
His smirk was almost sinful. "I wouldn't let anyone touch my girl."
The mysterious figure moved closer, slow and deliberate. And in that moment, the world narrowed to just us three — me, Keifer, and him.
"Crownveil isn't just your company, is it?" the figure said. "It's her."
The room froze. A collective realization rippled across the audience. Eyes widened. Whispers erupted. Every CEO, every student, every reporter — they all understood now.
I didn't flinch. I smiled, teeth sharp, eyes daring. "It's always been mine."
The intruder's expression hardened. "We'll see if it remains yours," he said. Then, without warning, he snapped his fingers.
From the shadows, men in black suits emerged — professional, armed, moving with precision. Panic surged through the room. Chairs scraped, people screamed, cameras flashed erratically, and Section E clung to each other, wide-eyed.
Keifer's hand tightened around my wrist. "Stay close," he growled. "No one touches you."
I slid behind him, my mind racing. Every training, every secret maneuver from years of Crownveil and my hidden mafia life kicked in. I wasn't just a CEO — I was a force to be reckoned with.
"Everyone stay calm!" I shouted, projecting authority. Even in heels, even in this gown, I had to appear untouchable. "This is under control!"
Percy stepped beside me, arms crossed. "I'd say otherwise," he said dryly, but his eyes were scanning every entry, calculating. He trusted me — but he knew the stakes.
The armed men advanced, but before any chaos could erupt further, Keifer moved. In one fluid motion, he intercepted the nearest intruder, his presence alone demanding attention. "Hands off," he barked, eyes flashing fire.
I felt a surge of warmth and adrenaline — our energies intertwined. Me and Keifer. Jayfer. Against the world.
The crowd's screams faded into white noise as I assessed the situation. Every CEO froze mid-step, unsure whether to flee, hide, or intervene. Kaizer's smirk faltered — he hadn't expected this. Yuri's pen was abandoned entirely. Section E was huddled, trembling but trusting me, their friend and now global powerhouse.
I straightened, stepping into the fray. "You wanted to test me?" I said, voice calm, lethal. "Welcome to Crownveil."
And then, just as the first move was made —
The lights cut out entirely.
Darkness swallowed the hall. Panic roared louder than any speaker or applause. Phones lit sporadically, shadows flickering across terrified faces.
I gritted my teeth. "Keifer — stay close."
"Always," he whispered back, lips brushing my ear. His hand found mine, fingers intertwining.
And in that perfect, fleeting second of darkness, everything changed.
Because then — I heard it. A low, deliberate voice I knew all too well.
"Jasper Jean Mariano… you've made this far, but the game has just begun."
✨ End of Chapter 19 — Shadows and Fire ✨
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Bye bye
Love you all 💗