There was no shortage of power in the grand ballroom of the Celestia Royale Hotel that evening.
The chandeliers sparkled like starlight.
The air was rich with old money, influence, ambition… and secrets.
This was the annual Celestial Assembly — an elite gathering where the world’s most influential figures and noble bloodlines came to flaunt their power and affirm their alliances.
Titans from every industry were there. Politicians, royal family members, and CEOs dressed in silk and shadows.
But among the buzz and elegance, one name sat on every guest's lips:
“Do you think the CEO of Vireya Holdings will be here tonight?”
Vireya, the empire everyone used, praised, and loved — yet not a soul could claim to know its founder.
No photos. No interviews. Not even a confirmed name.
Only one thing was certain: she was a woman.
And somehow… the public adored her even more for it.
---
When the host announced Vireya’s name, the crowd held their breath.
A soft hush fell across the ballroom as a single woman walked gracefully up the steps.
She was tall, poised, and elegant in a deep crimson dress that shimmered with understated power.
Her face was hidden behind a simple black mask, leaving only her lips and jawline visible.
Her presence was gentle yet commanding — a silence that demanded attention.
She took the mic. The room leaned in.
“On behalf of Vireya Holdings,” she began, her voice smooth and warm,
“I thank you for this honor. Our founder and CEO regrets that she could not attend tonight’s gathering, as she is currently overseeing several key projects focused on the well-being of our citizens and the future they deserve.”
A subtle pause. Then:
“I am merely a staff member — one of many hearts beating behind the Vireya name. But rest assured, she is watching, working, and deeply grateful to every soul who believes in what we create.”
A wave of soft applause swept through the room, followed by hushed murmurs:
“She’s not here again…”
“But did you hear how she’s working for the people? Incredible…”
“Such selflessness... how can someone so powerful stay so humble?”
“She’s a mystery — a queen without a crown, yet everyone bows to her.”
A woman whose face no one saw.
Yet a name the world loved.
---
Then came the next name.
“Next, we call on stage — Novare Corporations.”
The atmosphere shifted.
If Vireya was a goddess… Novare was a storm.
From the far side of the ballroom, a tall man walked forward with unhurried grace.
Dressed in sleek black, his brown hair was tied loosely to one side, falling like velvet over his shoulder.
A pair of glasses framed his sharp face, and his green eyes pierced through every gaze — soft as grass for some, sharp as knives for others.
Felix Delgado.
No mask. No mystery. He didn't need one.
He was known, feared, and endlessly watched.
He bowed slightly to the crowd before taking the mic.
“On behalf of Novare Corporations, thank you for recognizing our efforts. We work in silence… but never without purpose.”
He paused, eyes scanning the sea of faces.
“There are many reasons why I continue to lead this company forward,” he said, voice calm and precise.
“But among them… one stands above the rest.”
“For her.”
“For the woman who inspires everything I do. The one I have long admired. Loved. And cherished — in silence or otherwise.”
The ballroom shifted.
Eyes widened. Fans fluttered. Gasps rose in elegant surprise.
“Who is she?!”
“He’s in love with someone?”
“Do you think it’s someone from the elite families?”
“Is she the reason Novare’s grown so fast these past two years?”
Felix offered no name. No hint. Just the faintest curve of his lips — a smile that somehow felt like a confession and a challenge.
He stepped down, returning to his seat.
The rumors exploded like fire across silk.
---
In the hours that followed, two mysteries dominated every whisper:
“Who is the CEO of Vireya?”
“And who is the woman behind Novare’s cold-blooded CEO’s devotion?”
What no one guessed…
Was that the answer to both questions…
…was the same woman.
And she was watching.
From behind a mask.
From behind a screen.
From behind everything.
Shana Rivera — the girl who died a nobody —
Now ruled two worlds, and no one even knew her name.
End of Chapter 4
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