<h4>Chapter 236: what are our options?</h4>
The city of Noveria looked stunning at night. Tall buildings lit up in different colors, and the neon lights gave the city a beautiful, glowing look.
Each color reflected off ss buildings and steel towers, painting the metropolis with a panoramic glow of modern elegance.From a distance, it almost looked magical.
A sleek ck car cruised through the city’s bustling streets. Its polished surface mirrored the passing streetlights, creating fleeting shadows on its windows.
Advertisements yed onrge screens around the city, all showing the same message — the grand runch of J&D Globals, and a final reminder for everyone to attend before the event doors closed.
Inside the car, Ethan sat in the front passenger seat, his face serious and focused. He had aptop open on hisp, typing quickly and checking thest-minute details for the event.
At the back of the car, Davis sat silently. His head rested against the seat, and his eyes were closed.
He looked calm, but his hand was tightly clenched around his phone and the tense lines on his face told a different story. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his eyebrows were slightly furrowed with worry.
His thoughts drifted constantly—away from the event, Now and then, Ethan would speak up to ask something, and Davis would force himself to answer, snapping himself back to the present.
At one point, Davis opened his eyes and quickly dialed a number. The call connected almost immediately.
"Is she awake? Is the doctor still there?" he asked, his voice tight with suppressed emotion.
"Everything is fine, sir. But she hasn’t woken up yet," came Deborah’s calm and clear response.
Davis let out a quiet sigh, then whispered, "Thank you," before ending the call.
About an hourter, the car slowed down at the gates of the Grand Elite Hotel. The hotel stood tall and elegant, glowing in golden light. It looked as grand as its name, with beauty and luxury written all over it.
Outside the hotel, the media was already in ce. Reporters and camera crews stood near the entrance, waiting eagerly to snap photos and catch thetest news.
A long red carpet stretched from the front door all the way into the inner hall, ready for guests to make their entrance. A crowd of reporters and media personnel already gathered and cameras ready to capture every arriving guest.
Luxury cars kept arriving, and guests stepped out in stylish suits and sparkling dresses, smiling as they walked down the red carpet.
But Davis and Ethan didn’t follow the crowd.
Instead of stepping out into the spotlight, Ethan quietly wheeled Davis along a side path, away from the shing cameras and eager journalists.
They entered a private observation room — a space Jessica had arranged ahead of time to give Davis privacy and protect his image from public eyes. Though, it’s supposed to be a grand event but with so many situations around them, it better to be cautious..
Inside the grand hall, the atmosphere was warm and elegant. Soft music yed in the background, creating a calm and weing mood. Waiters moved around the hall, offering drinks and snacks to the guests.
In one corner, a table was filled with all kinds of delicious food, ready for guests to enjoy. Around the hall, guests greeted each other, shook hands, made toasts, and exchanged business ideas. Laughter, conversation, and the clinking of sses filled the air.
The seating was arranged in a smart way, leaving enough space for everyone to move and rxfortably. Above, a grand chandelier shone brightly, casting golden light across the room.
At the far end of the hall, the main stage stood ready—decorated with towering LED screens, poised to broadcast the runch presentation and showcase thepany’s new products.
A countdown began on the main screen just as Davis and Ethan settled into the observation room.
As the timer hit zero, the Master of Ceremony stepped onto the stage, weing the guests and outlining the evening’s program.
One unusual feature in the schedule drew interest: a segment allowing guests to invest on the spot. A bold move—notmon, but one Jessica had insisted upon. A safety, she’d said. Just in case.
It wasn’t amon approach, but Jessica had insisted on including it. She wanted to leave room for surprises — a backup n, just in case something went wrong.
Following the MC, Mr. Stan, the general manager, took the stage. His speech addressed the group’s fall and its long journey to recovery, but he tactfully avoided sensitive issues.
As his speech concluded, the LED screens yed a reel showcasing thepany’s research achievements and uing productunches—ted to hit the market post-event.
Back in the observation room, Davis was joined by a few close friends who hade to support him—and invest.
Despite the festive ambiance, Davis remained distracted, constantly checking his phone. After a few failed calls, Deborah finally picked up again.
Relief flooded Davis’ face. "Put her on the phone," he said immediately. He needed to hear her voice himself.
A momentter, her voice—though groggy—floated through the line. Davis’s tension melted totally. He spoke to her gently. "Awake? How are you feeling now?" He asked.
After a brief but warm exchange—coaxing and teasing her, he ended the call, a rare smile tugging at his lips.
His friends exchanged knowing nces. "You’re seriously henpecked, man," Alex teased.
Davis chuckled. "Wait until you find one like her. Then talk."
Just then, the MC announced that it was time for a speech from the CEO.
Originally, Davis was supposed to speak live, but Jessica had changed the n and arranged for an audio speech instead. A move to protect him from unwanted attention yet making his existence mysterious.
From his seat, Davis delivered a sinct but heartfelt speech. He spoke of resilience, gratitude, and the future. Most importantly, he credited his wife as the soul behind the runch.
With that, the newpany name was unveiled on the screen in bold letters:
J&D GLOBALS
Apuse thundered through the hall.
The crowd pped, the evening joyous and everything seemed to be going smoothly and under control... until the unexpected happened.
One of the LCD screens suddenly glitched, then lit up with a breaking news alert. Within seconds, phones buzzed, and whispers turned into stunned gasps.
#BREAKING NEWS#
"Newpany Investors Beware."
"New Company Just a Shell for Fraud."
"Investors Already Pulling Out — Don’t Be a Victim!"
"Mysterious CEO of the newpany beingunched is used of embezzling over $120 million from Allen Group before stepping down."
"Mr. Stan, a puppet of the criminal CEO."
"Insider documents leaked. Find out how the Previous administration destroyed the Allen Group and now runched it as a newpany."
The headline was apanied by what appeared to be screenshots of internal transfers, forged audit reports, and a blurred video of a man resembling Davis speaking in what was imed to be a private board meeting.
A synthesized voiceover echoed loudly through the hall:
"This is not apany built on trust. This is a shell built from stolen money. To all investors—run while you still can."
Gasps erupted as journalists scrambled to push the story, and guests stared in horror, loud whispers and mockery.
A few investors stood up, immediately making calls to suspend transfers.
Davis’ face tightened, his hand clenched into a fist as he read the headlines and observed the scene unfolding before him.
Ethan froze in shock, his hands shaking. He couldn’t believe Jessica’s wordsing true. Panic spread like wildfire.
Ethan was sweating. "Sir, what do we do?" he asked at loss of how to handle such a situation here in Noveria.
Alex turned to Davis, his eyes sharp. "This is sabotage."
Davis nodded. Of course, he knew it too. He took a deep breath.
"Then shouldn’t we do something about this?" Alex asked urgently, already on his phone calling mediapanies and demanding they remove the false news.
Everything was happening so fast, and the entire event was slipping into chaos.
Davis sat quietly for a moment, his face unreadable. Then, slowly, he looked at Ethan.
"What are our options?"