Chapter 17
One month later, the annual Vella Global Shareholders Gala was held in the grand ballroom of the St. Regis Hotel.
The room was decorated with thousands of white orchids, shimmering under crystal chandeliers.
Over five hundred elite business leaders, diplomats, and celebrities filled the room, raising their glasses in celebration.
Evelyn stood at the podium, wearing a breathtaking emerald green gown that dazzled under the stage spotlights.
"Tonight, we celebrate not just financial prosperity, but the enduring power of integrity," Evelyn announced to the crowd.
"Vella Global has officially transitioned into a fully transparent, ethical global enterprise."
Applauses thundered through the ballroom as the board members stood up to give her a standing ovation.
Standing near the back of the room, Marcus Vance kept a watchful eye on the doors with his security team.
His radio earpiece buzzed with a sudden, encrypted transmission from the building's perimeter team.
"Marcus, we have an unidentified package delivered to the private valet entrance for Ms. Vella," the operative reported.
"It cleared the bomb sweep, but the courier insisted it be handed directly to her."
Marcus frowned, stepping out of the ballroom into the quiet marble hallway.
He met the operative near the elevator bank, taking a small wooden box wrapped in dark velvet.
May you like
Inside the box lay an antique gold pocket watch with the Vella family crest engraved on the cover.
Marcus opened the watch, revealing an old black-and-white photograph tucked behind the clock mechanism.
