CHAPTER 4 : The Announcement

___________
"The Announcement - Enter the Shadow King"
The mood in the Company HQ was off.
Celistina, Mia, Roxanne and Georgina field into the central auditorium, dressed in their usual chaos-coded casuals --
Glitter, black eyeliner, six types of lip gloss, and unnecessary high heels.... (⁠。⁠♡⁠‿⁠♡⁠。⁠)
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
Okayyyy why do I feel like we're about to be sacrificed ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
NovelToon
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
Girl if they make us sign NDAs before breakfast, I'm fleeing to Bali •⁠‿⁠• *sipping her boba tea*
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
I didn't wax my soul for this...
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
What is this vibe? Corporate funeral? (⁠ー⁠_⁠ー⁠゛⁠)
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
Something is coming. I feel it *deadpan*
Suddenly - lights dimmed. A hush fell.
The CEO walked in with the energy of someone who just saw God and was told to keep it quiet
CEO
CEO
Good Morning. No slides. No small talk. This is serious.
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
Okay Gandalf ಠ⁠‿⁠ಠ
CEO
CEO
In seven days our company will begin a classified collaboration.
CEO
CEO
Not with a Brand. Not with a country. With a man. One man.
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
That's either hot or terrifying *saying to her friends*
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
NovelToon
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
It better be both.....
The projector blinked to life. Onscreen the words:
"VORTIGERN INDUSTRIES" Military Intelligence. Weapon Logistics. Origin: Unknown.
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
That logo looks like it bites (⁠;⁠ŏ⁠﹏⁠ŏ⁠)
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
It’s giving... Illuminati but expensive *snorting*
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
I saw that name once in my dad’s CIA-level gossip thread *dead serious*
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
They build nations. And unbuild them. Quietly *cold*
CEO
CEO
He demanded three things: top talent, no press, no softness. Interviews will be in-person. You are welcome to apply—if you dare
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
If you dare’? Sir, this is a tech job, not Hunger Games: Weaponized Daddy Edition (⁠●⁠´⁠⌓⁠`⁠●⁠)
CEO
CEO
His name is—
Everyone leaned forward
CEO
CEO
RAEL. MIKHAIL. VORTIGERN. *cold*
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
WH-- *drink exploded in her hands* \⁠(⁠°⁠o⁠°⁠)⁠/
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
SHUT. UP. *gasping*
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
I— I know that name. I saw it on a Vogue blacklist and a United Nations database--- w⁠(⁠°⁠o⁠°⁠)⁠w
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
NovelToon
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
But he is HOTTT ⟵⁠(¯⁠◡⁠¯)
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
NovelToon
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
Girl… your man has villain energy *shaking*
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
He’s not my man!
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
He’s a… he’s ಠ⁠﹏⁠ಠ
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
A dark academic fever dream with access to nuclear launch codes! *said in one go*
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
Do you need water? Or therapy? *staring at her* -_-
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
I saw him once. At the Monaco Gala. The room shifted when he walked in. Security detail didn’t check him. They just stepped aside *cold as ever*
The slide changed...
A silhouette.... Tall. Shoulders like a throne. Face shadowed. No data. Just a quote: “I do not work with those who fear the unknown. I build with those who master it.”
NovelToon
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
WHY IS THAT HOT. WHY IS HE HOT. 😫
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
NovelToon
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
Don’t say that! That man builds missiles! *panicking*
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
I want him to ruin my credit score *clapping* 👏🏻👏🏻
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
I want him to ruin my..... umm.... schedule......
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
You mean your reproductive health....
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
.....he he yesss (⁠人⁠ ⁠•͈⁠ᴗ⁠•͈⁠)
CEO
CEO
*Pretending they're not feral*
CEO
CEO
His private helicopter lands July 15. Interviews begin the 16th. He’ll select candidates himself. Personally. That is all.
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
I need a fake PhD. I need an encrypted laptop. I need a therapist with clearance level Alpha-9.....
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
I need to delete my all unserious post.....
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
I'm getting a facial (⁠ ⁠╹⁠▽⁠╹⁠ ⁠)
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
I'm ordering another black blazer ^⁠_⁠^
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
If he interviews me, I will literally black out from pheromones....
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
NovelToon
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
I just know his cologne costs more than my rent....
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
I hope he doesn’t remember me.
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
No I hope he remembers me. 😶
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
No... no... No... I hope he forgets everyone except me. 😫
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
I need help 🫠
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
Yeah a "Big One" *sipping coffee*
Cue:
Red alert wordrobe planning
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
*illegally printing MIT degrees*
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
*watching Vortigern documentaries like they're k-dramas*
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
*updating her resume with bullet points like “Emotionally unshakeable” and “Once survived six hours with a CEO in a crisis”
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
*Staring into a mirror whispering*
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
I am not weak. But like he is Hot
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
What is wrong with me today ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ
------
The day of the Interview:
Mia (FL
Mia (FL's Bestie #1)
Why does he walk like the floor owes him money?
Georgina (FL
Georgina (FL's Bestie #3)
He looks like he would destroy a country if anyone dared to stare at him....
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
Guys..... I think I'm in love..... (♡⁠⌓⁠♡)
Roxanne (FL
Roxanne (FL's Bestie #2)
You haven't even spoken to him yet...
Celistina Vale (FL)
Celistina Vale (FL)
Exactly. That's how powerful he is.
..........
Next chapter recap....
The door opened
The air changed
And then----
Rael Mikhail Vortigern (ML)
Rael Mikhail Vortigern (ML)
Dismissed!
He didn't blink.
She didn't breathe.
And somewhere between humiliation and heartache, one thing became clear: He underestimated her.
And she's about to make him regret it.
.
.
___________________
Author 🎀 𝓒𝓻𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓵 🎀
Author 🎀 𝓒𝓻𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓵 🎀
Okay..... Let's be honest.... Do you think Rael actually forgot her? Or is he secretly obsessed already? 👀
Author 🎀 𝓒𝓻𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓵 🎀
Author 🎀 𝓒𝓻𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓵 🎀
If Celestina ends up back on the team, HOW do you think it happens? Pure chaos? Blackmail? Glitter-coded sabotage? 👀 Comment down 😉🎀
Author 🎀 𝓒𝓻𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓵 🎀
Author 🎀 𝓒𝓻𝔂𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓵 🎀
I hope you enjoyed this Chapter.....
-------
Hot

Comments

Gen-Z's Lawyer

Gen-Z's Lawyer

He rejected her? If he did She should slam her files on the table, grab his collar like it’s Exhibit A, and glare with the kind of courtroom chaos that makes judges sweat. Congrats, sir u just cross-examined ur own dignity

I'll Personally help her if it goes to court 🙂

2025-07-28

2

Gen-Z's Lawyer

Gen-Z's Lawyer

Y did u choose side character's pfp for ceo?
aura went to minus

2025-07-28

1

Gen-Z's Lawyer

Gen-Z's Lawyer

I don't hate my mind but sometimes I do 🫠

2025-07-28

1

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