Part 2 — The Woman Behind the Microphone

The ballroom fell silent as I stepped onto the stage.

Julian's smile lingered for another second.

Then he noticed something strange.

No one was clapping.

No one was talking.

Even the orchestra had stopped playing.

I picked up the microphone.

"Good evening, everyone."

My voice carried effortlessly through the room.

Two hundred faces turned toward me.

Julian laughed.

"My wife wants to make a speech."

A few guests forced polite smiles.

I smiled back.

"No, Julian."

The smile vanished from his face.

"I want to make a correction."

The giant screens behind the stage flickered to life.

The Stratford Regency logo disappeared.

A new document appeared.

A legal acquisition agreement.

Signed.

Stamped.

Verified.

The date read:

4:48 PM.

Today.

Confused murmurs swept through the ballroom.

Julian frowned.

"What is this?"

I looked directly at him.

"This is the ownership transfer agreement."

The room became completely still.

"As of this afternoon, Stratford Regency Holdings officially changed ownership."

Bella looked confused.

Marcus Sterling stepped onto the stage beside me.

"For legal accuracy," Marcus announced, "all properties previously held by Vanguard Holdings are now owned by Mrs. Lakota Thorne."

Several investors nearly dropped their glasses.

Julian laughed again.

A nervous laugh.

"That's impossible."

"Is it?" I asked.

The next slide appeared.

Hotel portfolio.

Luxury resorts.

Conference centers.

Private clubs.

Every asset listed.

Every asset transferred.

Every asset now belonging to me.

Julian's face lost color.

"You don't own this company."

I tilted my head.

"No."

I smiled.

"I own the company that owns the company."

The ballroom exploded with whispers.

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For the first time all evening, Julian looked afraid.

And I was only getting started.