Mayqueen Gala #3

The banquet carried on but the hall had not recovered from Seth’s revelation. Whispers still snaked between jeweled women and tuxedoed men, every voice carrying disbelief.

Thea Balmero…no, Thea Blackwood…stood openly beside the most powerful man in the room. It was unthinkable, and yet undeniable.

Runes stood stiff, his jaw locked so tightly a vein pulsed along his temple. His glass of champagne trembled in his hand, bubbles catching the light like sparks threatening to ignite. The orchestra began playing again, awkwardly, the notes too loud against the quiet of the crowd, but nothing could disguise the humiliation pressing against Runes.

His reputation was almost ruined by the same woman who now stood at Seth’s side. And now the man he had hoped to impress, to ally with, had chosen her…married her without a word.

The room moved on but Runes could not. His eyes went over to Thea still standing right next to Seth as he introduced her to a few of his business partners.

Her smile remained radiant and with each person Seth introduced her to, the more she seemed to win over. The judgement in their faces was now replaced with admiration and a few handshakes were exchanged.

Runes clenched his jaw, the man he insulted the other day was Seth Blackwood? How could he have missed that?! He groaned internally, know that Seth now has a perception of him that could damage their alliance.

He paused, Seth should have called off the agreement if he wanted nothing to do with him right? Runes smirked, the Blackwood Empire must really need him then…

Posy, still glowing in her gown but with fury twisting her features, slipped closer to him. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Runes… we can’t let them humiliate us like this. You must…”

“Silence,” Runes snapped, his teeth bared in a smile for the guests watching him. His words were low but venomous. “You’ve done enough tonight.”

Posy scoffed. “I've done enough? How the hell is any of this my fault? You should be angry at Thea but I'm on the receiving end of your anger? Why?”

“Why?” Rune asked, his voice low as he turned his eyes back on Posy. “You knew who Thea's new husband was and you said nothing to me.”

“What? I had no clue who her husband was! I…”

“Shut up!” Runes snapped, his voice a low whisper. “You didn’t know uh? Why didn't you give me her contact when asked?”

“I..”

“You knew what our deal was, didn't you? You wanted to ruin this for me!” he accused.

“What are ypu saying?!”

Runes leans closer, his voice dripping in venom. “You think the Blackwood would work with a company like Balmero? Keep dreaming. You are no where in par with them and you know it! You can’t even get a damned merger right! Keep dreaming.”

Posy’s eyes widened, the rebuke striking her like a slap. She had expected anger at Thea, at Seth but turned upon her?

Heat rose to her face, fury choking her. She clenched her fists at her sides and followed Runes’ gaze across the room, her eyes narrowing as they fell on Thea.

Thea, radiant in her green gown, stood quietly by Seth, who had moved on to greet a cluster of international dignitaries. She smiled politely, but her posture was poised, her hand still tucked within Seth’s arm.

Jealousy twisted Posy’s stomach until it burned. The sight of Thea who was suppose to be the stain, the disappointment, now standing where she should have stood was unbearable.

She waited until Seth’s attention was occupied before making her move.

At the serving table, where silver trays gleamed beneath soft lights and waiters replenished delicacies, Posy approached. Her heels clicked against the marble floors.

Thea was choosing a glass of sparkling water when Posy stopped beside her. For a moment, they stood in silence, their reflections caught in the polished silver serving trays.

“How did you do it?” Posy asked finally, her voice deceptively soft. “How did you seduce him?”

Thea didn’t look at her. She lifted her glass, taking a slow sip.

Posy’s smile faltered. “You think you can ignore me? I deserve to know. You ruined everything. You ruined my future with Runes, and now you’ve stolen this too. Was it a trick? Did you seduce him the way you seduced—”

Thea turned, at last meeting her gaze. Her eyes were calm, steady. “You assume I owe you answers. I don’t.”

The bluntness sliced through Posy’s composure. “You’re nothing without me!” she hissed. “ I could ruin your life even further! Without my silence, you’d still be rotting in disgrace. Don’t think Mr Blackwood's name will protect you forever..”

Thea’s lips curved in a smile. “Your silence was never mine to depend on. And I don’t need Seth’s name to stand taller than you. I always did.”

Posy’s face flushed red. Words caught in her throat, fury choking her. Thea turned away, her gown whispering against the floor as she rejoined Seth, leaving Posy trembling by the serving table, her nails digging into her palms.

The night pressed on. Laughter resumed, the orchestra swelled, deals whispered at tables once more. The night carried on like Seth Blackwood didn't just announce his marriage to Thea Balmero..

Finally, the host’s voice rose above the crowd, announcing, “Ladies and gentlemen, please, your attention. Mr. Seth Blackwood will now address us.”

The orchestra fell silent. The crowd gathered and applauded. All eyes turned to the man at the center of the storm.

Seth stepped forward with practiced ease, his hand briefly squeezing Thea’s before releasing it. He mounted the small platform at the front of the hall, his presence commanding without needing volume.

“Esteemed guests,” he began, his voice deep and measured. “Tonight, we gather to celebrate not only the successes of Mayqueen but the strength of this city’s future. Partnerships, alliances, and vision are what shape industries and shape lives.”

He paused, scanning the hall. Every pair of eyes was fixed on him. Even Runes, seething with fury, leaned forward, desperate for the words he had been waiting to hear.

“Some of you came tonight anticipating an announcement,” Seth continued, his tone shifting subtly. “A partnership between Blackwood Industries and Mayqueen and…The Sterlings Empire.”

A ripple of anticipation surged through the crowd. Runes’ chest swelled, this was his moment, his triumph reborn.

“There is no such deal.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Gasps. Murmurs. Faces turned to each other in shock.

Seth’s expression was calm, unbothered by the storm his words unleashed.

“There was never to be such an agreement. Blackwood Industries amd Mayqueen has no interest in merging with the Sterlings. I allowed the rumors to stand because sometimes silence speaks more loudly than words. But let me be clear tonight: the deal does not exist. It never has.”

All eyes shifted to Runes, whose face had drained of color. The weight of humiliation crushed him, his earlier pride now ashes in his mouth.

Seth continued, his voice cutting cleanly through the noise. “What I value, what I will always defend, is loyalty. Integrity. And strength, not borrowed from another’s name, but forged through adversity.”

His gaze flicked briefly toward Thea before returning to the crowd. “Tonight is not about empty deals. It is about vision and the courage to stand by it.”

The hall erupted into applause, a wave of respect cresting for the man who dared dismiss The Sterling Empire so openly.

But for Runes, the sound was daggers.

He staggered back, his champagne glass slipping from his hand and shattering against the marble. Faces turned toward him, pitying, mocking. His humiliation was complete.

Seth descended from the platform, returning to Thea’s side. With a nod to the host, he ended the evening. “Enjoy what remains of your night. The gala has concluded.”

Waiters moved swiftly, the orchestra packed their instruments, and guests began filtering out in murmurs of awe and gossip.

But Runes was not finished. Not yet.

He pushed through the dispersing crowd, his eyes locked on Seth and Thea. “Mr Blackwood!” he barked, his voice rough. “We need to talk…”

But before he could reach them, Seth’s bodyguards stepped forward, imposing men in tailored suits, forming a wall around Seth and Thea.

“Out of my way,” Runes snarled, his voice cracking with desperation.

The guard in front, expressionless, shook his head. “Mr. Blackwood is not available.”

“Damn you!” Runes roared, his fury spilling out at last. “You can’t do this to me! You can’t just dismiss me like I’m nothing…”

But his voice broke, his words scattered. For the first time in years, Runes didn't look like a titan, but a man stripped bare, his pride in ruins.

Thea stood beside Seth, watching silently as Runes’ fury collapsed into something uglier: defeat.

Seth’s hand brushed against hers once more. He did not look back at Runes as they left the hall together, his guards falling into step behind them.

The last thing Thea heard as the doors closed was Runes’ ragged breathing, echoing across the emptying ballroom.