Chapter 6

 

The glittering crystal lights rained down on the luxurious hotel's ballroom, illuminating dozens of businessmen and political elites of Valcrest. Noah stood calmly, maintaining a precise distance of one step behind Valerie. The black evening gown wrapping the CEO's body successfully became a magnet for men's gazes, but Noah's tall, upright posture and intimidating stare were enough to build a barrier wall that no one dared to breach.

"Don't go far from me tonight," Valerie whispered without turning her head.

"Yes, Miss," Noah answered.

"And don't speak unless asked. Understand?"

"Of course."

Valerie took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter's tray. The CEO's gaze suddenly stopped and sharpened toward a corner of the room. Noah followed the direction of her gaze calmly.

Victor.

The traitor stood pompously with a glass of red wine, laughing arrogantly in the middle of a crowd of city officials.

"That is Victor," Valerie whispered in an annoyed tone. "The person who has been trying to interfere with V-Corp's stocks lately."

Noah stared at his former subordinate with a gaze that briefly dimmed, hiding a deadly storm behind it. "Do you want me to do something?"

"No. Just stay quiet. I'll handle it."

Valerie stepped forward, parting the crowd. Noah trailed behind her silently, like an invisible shadow. Upon realizing Valerie's arrival, Victor immediately put on a cynical smile.

"Valerie. I didn't expect you would come," Victor greeted. The man's eyes swept over the curves of Valerie's body from top to bottom with an insolence that made Noah's knuckles quietly clench behind the fabric of his suit.

"This is my event, Victor. I am actually the one wondering why your name is on the guest list," Valerie retorted sharply.

Victor let out a condescending laugh. "I came to give a final offer. Hand over the South project land to me, or your company will be destroyed tomorrow morning."

"You're crazy. That land belongs to V-Corp."

"Not entirely yet." Victor stepped closer, deliberately eroding the CEO's personal space. "I have connections that can block your permits overnight."

"Just try it," Valerie challenged fearlessly.

Victor's expression hardened. Without warning, his hand reached out and gripped Valerie's upper arm very roughly. "Don't test me. You don't know who you are dealing with."

"Let go!" Valerie hissed in pain, trying to pull her arm away.

Seeing the woman who was under his protection tonight being touched roughly, Noah's predatory instinct automatically took over. Before Victor's fingers could press deeper into Valerie's skin, a large hand shot out, cutting through the air.

Grab.

Noah gripped Victor's wrist as strong as a steel vise, locking the man's movements instantly.

"Take your hand off Miss Valerie," Noah reprimanded. His voice sounded very low, deep, and as cold as ice.

Victor turned his head with a condescending look. The man completely did not recognize his former king, who had now cut his hair neater and stood dressed in a servant's suit. "Who are you? An aide? Or Valerie's new pet dog? How dare you touch me."

"I said, let go."

Noah did not raise the tone of his voice even the slightest bit. He stared straight into Victor's pupils. With one micro-movement, Noah shifted his thumb's position, found the weak nerve point on Victor's wrist, then pressed it mercilessly.

CRACK!

"AAARRGGHHH!"

Victor's shrill scream echoed, overpowering the strains of classical music and instantly silencing the chatter in that corner of the ballroom. His grip on Valerie was released. Victor staggered backward with a deathly pale face, his breath racing as he held back the excruciating pain in his now broken hand.

Noah returned to his perfect upright posture, secretly enjoying the man's suffering with tightly concealed satisfaction.

"Bastard! You broke my bone?!" Victor cursed. His eyes stared at Noah with overflowing hatred, but Noah could see a flash of fear there as Victor realized how flat the expression of the man who had just crushed his bone was.

"Your hand slipped, Mr. Victor," Noah answered casually.

"You are going to die," Victor threatened with a trembling voice, enduring the stinging pain. He then glared at Valerie full of anger. "And your company is finished tomorrow, Valerie!"

Without waiting for a reply, Victor turned around and walked hurriedly leaving the room, escorted by his panicked aides.

An awkward silence briefly enveloped them before Valerie turned her body. The CEO rubbed her reddened arm, then glared sharply at her assistant.

"Who told you to interfere?!" Valerie hissed angrily, although Noah could see a speck of panic on her face. "Do you want to ruin my negotiation?"

"He was hurting you, Miss. I was just doing my job."

"By breaking his hand? You fool! He has access to the minister. My South project could be destroyed tonight!"

"The project will be fine," Noah answered calmly.

"How do you know?!"

Exactly at that second, the phone inside Valerie's clutch bag rang loudly. Noah glanced briefly at his watch. 08:01 PM. The execution from Leon ran perfectly on time.

Valerie took her phone and pressed the screen. A call from her personal assistant.

"What is it?" Valerie answered quickly.

Noah quietly observed his master's facial expression. He could vaguely hear panic from the voice on the other end of the phone.

"Speak clearly! What is wrong with the South project?!" Valerie snapped.