The two of them were now back in the ballroom, talking about the intricacies of their business.
Darren had never thought much about the business of owning a bank, but after enjoying Charles's company, he started to see the intriguing world of banks.
Not long after, a woman — a literature graduate — joined them, flirting with both of them as she pretended to be interested in their talk of business. Then, another joined, and then men started to join.
The atmosphere had changed.
More and more people were starting to orbit Darren instead of Tyler.
Some of the former classmates — faces Darren barely remembered — now buzzed with forced smiles, looking for a chance to shake his hand, clink a glass, get close.
They listened to them talk about difficult business deals and fast calls. Charles spoke about surviving the bank robbery after being shot and how his bank had regained itself after the minor effects of it.
Darren talked about the intricacies of Bitcoin mining. How he had almost lost everything he had worked for, and how he had used strict calculations to save the operations multiple times.
Then, others began to chip in on things they did, and of course, this eventually led to the inevitable bragging.
"I just closed a Series B funding for my startup," boasted Amir Singh loudly near the champagne table.
"My app just crossed 2 million downloads," said someone else.
"Yeah? I'm opening my third restaurant chain," another chimed in.
All subtle jabs and peacocking, trying to stake their relevance in the new pecking order.
Darren, however, stayed silent — until a casual comment dropped.
Someone joked, "Aha! Why didn't you talk about it, Darren? I heard Horizon Strategies took a nasty hit recently. It was in Business Everyday in case you all missed it. The software product Darren's company launched was copied by Horizon Strategies, and it failed."
A few heads turned curiously.
Darren couldn't help the smile on his face, resting his drink against his lips.
"That is true," he said, voice mild. Sёarᴄh the NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
The room fell into stunned silence.
Eyes widened.
Mouths dropped.
Even Tyler, still brooding by the bar, jerked his head up.
"Jeez man. Horizon Strategies is a very powerful company. Playing them... as a startup. That's a big deal."
"Well they've been having some power issues recently. Tamara and her brother are still fighting for the CEO position."
"Well who was the CEO when it happened?"
"Tamara?"
"Yeah, it was Tamara."
"Well, there's no way she's getting that position now."
Tamara Johnstone, unfortunately, was standing a few feet away in a deep emerald dress, and she had heard all of it.
Her jaw tightened. She didn't have the strength to deny it. It's not like it wasn't true.
Darren moved his gaze and locked eyes with her. She had this look of dejection and defeat in her face. With the faintest tilt of her chin, she signaled.
'Talk? Privately.'
Darren finished the sip of his drink slowly, then murmured something light to the group he was entertaining. "Excuse me for a moment."
A few disappointed looks followed him as he detached himself.
He followed the swaying hips of Tamara like a guide until he arrived at the large side archway that led toward the garden terrace.
They stopped there, the noise of the ballroom muting behind them as they stood apart from the crowd, under the shadow of tall windows.
"Looks like you're enjoying your new popularity," she remarked, voice low and tense.
"Enjoying would be a stretch, Tamara," he returned coolly. "I'm simply entertaining it. You no be better to think I'm one who enjoys gloating."
Tamara looked at him, sighed and looked away. "Yeah, whatever."
Darren narrowed his eyes at her tauntingly. "Why am I here, Tamara?"
She tightened her lips, pride still clinging to her, but finally pushed forward.
"I need your help," she said bluntly.
Darren cocked a brow, faint amusement glinting in his sharp eyes.
"Help?" he repeated, savoring the sound. "You laugh at me at a dinner and you try to steal my investment. Then you want my help."
Tamara frowned, getting frustrated. "Come on, Darren. If you want an apology, then I'm sorry. I am. To me it was just business, I had nothing personal against you.'
Then she hesitated. "You know who had something personal against you? Ryan Anders. And I'm sure you hate him just as I do." She clicked her tongue. "For me, after how he sabotaged me with the NeuraNest software, I hate him too."
Darren understood where this was going. "So you want him gone," he stated. "And the only way you can get rid of him is if you're the CEO of Horizon Strategies."
She glanced at him. "I need that CEO seat, Darren. Permanently. Full title. Full board control," she said, her voice steely. "My numbers have gone way down, confidence level for me is down in the muck. Ryan is the cause of it too. That news to the press? Business Everyday. I'm sure he leaked it. He's trying to make me look back."
She exhaled, just once. "I need an edge."
Darren studied her, calm and unreadable.
"There are certain things I can do to get you that seat, Tamara," he said. "But I don't fight battles for free. And I don't fight stupid ones."
Her throat bobbed once, but she nodded sharply. "Is this battle stupid?"
Darren let the silence stretch another heartbeat, forcing her to sweat slightly, before speaking again. "If Ryan Anders goes down then I guess it serves a purpose."
"But in return," Darren raised a finger, calm but brooking no argument, "I want 7% stake in Horizon Strategies. 3 million dollars. And ally privileges. The money and the privileges can come after, but the stake, I want it before I do anything. Anything at all."
Tamara swallowed hard.
7% wasn't small.
It was a foothold — a very dangerous one.
But looking into Darren's calm, merciless eyes, she knew he wasn't asking.
This was the cost of salvation.
"…Fine," she said quietly, pride bleeding from her voice. "I'm desperate at this point so I'll do it. Just get me the seat."
A cold smile brushed Darren's lips. There was that desperation again. A loyal assistant
"That's a good girl," he said, turned and walked back toward the ballroom, leaving Tamara standing there, realizing that tonight, she hadn't negotiated with an equal.
Even though she governed a much bigger company, she was nowhere at Darren Steele's level.
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