Chapter 4 Veil of Power

At Zenith Lux, the most prestigious business empire in Halcyon City, luxury was the standard, and power dictated influence.

The towering glass structure gleamed under the city lights, a symbol of absolute financial dominance.

It was the kind of place where only the wealthiest dared to step foot.

As Tatiana and Alexander stepped out of the grand establishment, their presence exuded elegance and power.

They had just concluded an important meeting, one that only proved Alexander's family's dominance in the business world.

At that moment, a fleet of luxury cars pulled up to the front of Zenith Lux, their engines humming smoothly, radiating wealth and status.

Among them, a single car stood out-sleek, black, and commanding attention like a swan among ducks.

From it stepped Desmond Ashford.

Dressed in a fitted dark suit that outlined his lean yet strong frame, Desmond exuded quiet confidence.

Yet, unlike the men who flaunted their wealth, his presence carried an air of mystery.

As he moved toward the entrance, his sharp gaze caught sight of two familiar figures-Tatiana and Alexander.

His instinct was to avoid them.

He had no desire for confrontation, no interest in bringing up the past.

Yet, the more he tried to be unnoticed, the more fate seemed to push them toward him.

Tatiana was effortlessly elegant, her beauty undeniable.

Her fitted Hermès dress hugged her slender waist and soft curves, giving a quiet elegance.

Each step in her Louis Vuitton heels was poised and confident.

She stood close to Alexander, leaning slightly into him as she spoke, her tone laced with admiration.

"Alex, your family now ranks first in the ultra-exclusive stage at Zenith! Wow!" she said, her voice filled with excitement.

Alexander smirked, enjoying the praise.

Zenith Lux wasn't just a business empire; it was the pinnacle of all elite enterprises, boasting a total net worth of over 700 billion dollars, increasing daily.

Every influential business in the city was somehow tied to it, making it the ultimate playing field for the powerful.

Owning shares in Zenith Lux wasn't an easy feat.

There were five crucial stages to pass before even obtaining 5% of shares, a percentage worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

However, beyond that, the ultra-exclusive stage was where only the top three members resided.

It was a level reserved for those who had complete control over industries, and under these three, all other candidates who passed the five stages were placed, constantly striving to improve their rank and influence.

Alexander's family stood at the very top, holding the number one spot on the ultra-exclusive stage for two years straight.

They enjoyed a profit share of over 89.7% monthly, amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Their name alone commanded respect, and many aspiring business owners sought their favor to rise in status.

"Well, a wealthy family like yours deserves nothing but the best," Tatiana continued, her admiration clear.

Alexander shrugged with a proud smile.

"It's been two years since we ranked first, yet no one has even come close to competing with us."

Desmond observed them silently.

He saw the way Tatiana blushed and how she smiled at Alexander in a way that was never reserved for him.

The contrast was painful, but he refused to dwell on it.

He turned away, determined to move forward.

But just as he was about to step into the building, fate played its cruel hand.

In a mere second, Tatiana and Alexander were right in front of him.

The moment Tatiana laid eyes on him, the smile on her face froze.

Then, her expression twisted into one of irritation.

"Why are you here?" she demanded, her voice sharp.

Desmond's eyes met hers, his gaze calm but unreadable.

"Why can't I be? Are places not meant for people to be?"

Tatiana scoffed. "Sure, it's meant for people. But not trash like you."

Desmond raised a brow. "Trash?"

Tatiana folded her arms.

"Okay, tell me, can you even compare yourself to him?" She stepped closer to Alexander, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder.

Alexander chuckled, slipping his hands into his pockets, exuding arrogance.

"Me? Compared to this nonentity?" He shook his head, letting out a mocking laugh.

"He must have come here to beg for money or something."

Tatiana smirked. "Oh! I almost forgot you're a snitch. You must be here to spy on me again."

Desmond sighed, shaking his head dismissively. "I'm just here to take over my company."

A tense silence followed.

Tatiana's eyes widened for a split second before bursting into laughter.

Her laughter echoed, drawing the attention of passersby. It was a laugh-filled with mockery and disbelief.

"Mr. President of Zenith Lux!" she mocked, laughing even louder.

Alexander looked at her, confused, before turning to Desmond with amusement.

"What did he just say?" Alexander asked.

Tatiana wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "He said he's here to take over his company!"

Alexander let out a dry chuckle, then shook his head. "This has to be the biggest joke of the year."

Tatiana turned back to Desmond, her eyes gleaming with ridicule. "Do you even know what Zenith Lux is worth? A company whose net worth is in the billions, increasing daily? No one even knows how high it truly is now."

"And this worthless man claims he owns it?" Alexander smirked. "His brain needs to be checked."

Tatiana's laughter returned. "Even if he wanted to check his brain, how would he afford it? I doubt he even has fifty dollars on him right now."

Alexander snapped his fingers. "Well, at least I can help him with that. He has, after all, helped my girl with her house chores before." He turned to Tatiana with a smirk.

Tatiana gasped dramatically. "Oh no! I can't believe I was once married to this liar!"

Desmond stood still, unmoved by their insults.

He said nothing.

He didn't react, didn't argue, didn't let them see if their words got to him.

His silence was far louder than their laughter.