"We meet again," Vanessa greeted Tristan.
Tristan had just stepped out through the building's back exit for a smoke. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he asked, "Are you following me?"
"What if I am?" Vanessa shrugged, her gaze sweeping over him from head to toe. "I always thought Tristan Felan never appeared without company. Yet here you are, alone tonight?"
"She couldn't make it," Tristan replied simply.
Vanessa chuckled. "I don't believe you don't have a spare. Or would you mind if I accompany you?"
Tristan smiled faintly. "Are you looking for a backer because Madam Neri is here as well?"
Vanessa laughed it off, as if she had expected that response.
"You're really well-informed. Well… she doesn't want me lingering around Xavier anymore. She's quite vicious, you know. She even asked me to become her personal maid."
This time, Vanessa wasn't exaggerating.
Ever since Madam Neri discovered she was Xavier's ex-wife, she had made things difficult for her. Vanessa had not only lost her position as Xavier's assistant, but she had also been cut off from any business dealings connected to Neri Medical Hospital.
Even her own family blamed her for ruining their once-beneficial relationship with the Neris.
"It's just one snake wary of another, don't you think?" Tristan said meaningfully.
Vanessa's smile stiffened for a fraction of a second. "I seem to have made quite a bad impression on you. But as someone who understands women… in this society, do you really think it's wrong for us to strive for the best for ourselves?"
"Your version of 'striving' isn't something a man like me would appreciate," Tristan replied coolly. "Besides… is that even the right word for it?"
Vanessa "...."
Weren't people always saying Tristan Felan was gentle and tolerant toward women? If not for the smile on his face, she would have thought he was scolding her.
"I get it," Vanessa raised her hands in mock surrender. "I made a mistake. You don't have to be so hard on me. Anyway… may I be your companion tonight?"
Tristan flicked his cigarette aside. "Suit yourself."
----
At the banquet, Madam Neri occasionally cast glances toward Xavier.
Since the gathering wasn't limited to business elites, many politicians were also present, including the Songs.
Despite the Neris' current predicament, Madam Neri's presence remained formidable.
At that very moment, she met Xavier's gaze.
He gave her a subtle, knowing nod and her heart lurched.
"Brother, shouldn't you say something in support of Brother Bryce?" Calin muttered beside Sergei.
Ever since Bryce had been announced as a rising star in business, Sergei had remained distant, as if her fiancé didn't exist.
Sergei shot her a condescending look. "You and Father are making a mistake relying on that man. So what if he's a rising star? Can he surpass Shin Keir? His company can't even compete with KGG's annual dividends. What exactly are you so smug about?"
Calin glared at him, irritated. But with so many people around, she chose to remain silent and walked away.
Besides… the real show was about to begin.
"Here, let's say this is my way of asking you not to be too harsh on me," Vanessa said, handing Tristan a glass of wine.
"Does it matter to you?" Tristan asked as he accepted it.
"Of course. After all, you're Tristan Felan."
"You misunderstand. I was never the one you offended. If you want to change the public's perception of you, shouldn't you apologize to Zahn Neri?" Tristan said before downing the drink.
Vanessa shrugged. "I don't think he's the type to forgive."
They continued chatting, but as more guests approached Tristan, Vanessa eagerly joined in the conversations.
Whenever people asked about their relationship, especially those who recognized Vanessa as the woman currently going viral for taking advantage of the drunk Zahn Neri, Tristan would simply state that they had only just met.
"Wow… you really know how to cut ties cleanly," Vanessa rolled her eyes. "Those people are practically warning me to stay away from you."
Tristan didn't respond. Instead, he excused himself, a faint unease settling in his chest.
Vanessa followed, concern flickering across her face. "What's wrong? Did you eat something bad? Do you need to step out? You know I can't stay at the banquet. I'm afraid Madam Neri might pounce on me."
As Tristan stepped into the quiet hallway, his heart began to pound violently against his chest. His pulse raced, veins subtly rising beneath his skin as his vision swam with dizziness.
"What's wrong with you?" Vanessa asked, frowning.
"Was it you?" Tristan let out a low chuckle.
"Me? What are you talking about?" Vanessa's brows knit together, but Tristan swayed slightly, his mind drifting as if suspended in water.
---
Back at the banquet, the stage remained lively with a series of company presentations, announcements, and acknowledgments.
When it was KGG's turn, Shin stepped onto the stage. His expression was unreadable, yet a quiet gloom lingered beneath the surface, his gaze swept across the vast banquet hall, searching.
Had Yeri returned?
Suppressing the thought, he began his speech.
Midway through, he caught Bryce mouthing something at him.
Shin paid him little attention, but as a demon, he easily deciphered the silent words:
'I got you a present.'
As his speech concluded, Shin turned toward the massive screen to present KGG's projections for the current year and the years ahead.
Secretary Yun stepped forward to take over.
The screen flickered to life then abruptly went black, glitching.
Then, without warning, the video changed. Muffled, suggestive sounds filled the hall.
A collective gasp rippled through the audience, shock and disbelief spreading like wildfire.
As realization dawned, some guests turned away in discomfort, while others remained frozen, eyes locked on the screen.
---
When Tristan regained his senses, he found himself in a dimly lit room.
After confirming he was alone, he pushed himself up from the bed. His eyes landed on a camera set up directly opposite it.
A slow, devilish grin curved his lips.
He had noticed it long ago, the wine he drank had been laced with an aphrodisiac. But such things were meaningless to him.
After all, like Shin Keir, he was a demon.
Still, he chose to play along, a spark of dangerous amusement flickering in his eyes.
After checking his surroundings, Tristan concluded they were on one of the upper floors, the hotel section, conveniently reserved for guests attending the economic forum.
The door was locked from the outside, just as he had expected.
As he turned on the lights, he finally noticed a figure lying on the bed, concealed beneath a blanket, something he had somehow overlooked until now.
With casual indifference, Tristan approached and pulled the blanket back, his smile froze.
Yeri?
His expression darkened instantly. He leaned closer, checking her condition. Fortunately, she was merely asleep, not drugged.
But of all people… why Yeri?
A faint crease formed between his brows.
Tristan considered informing Shin immediately, but recalling that Shin would be giving an important speech, he decided to delay it and investigate first.
Fortunately, as a mental demon, Tristan possessed a unique advantage. By simply touching an object, he could trace fragments of what had transpired behind the scenes. It was slightly taxing in a human body but far from dangerous.
Moments later, a satisfied smile slowly spread across his face.
Tristan tried to wake Yeri, gently shaking her shoulder, but she remained fast asleep.
After confirming once more that she wasn't drugged, he let out a quiet breath of relief.
Soon, people from Hexion arrived.
As Tristan handed over Yeri's purse, something slipped out and fell to the floor with a soft sound.
A USB?
Why would Yeri carry something like this to such an event?
Picking it up, Tristan turned it over between his fingers, a faint, intrigued smile forming.
They wanted a show?
He would give them one, just not the kind they had planned.
Something far more… unforgettable.
The scheme itself wasn't difficult to unravel. If a scandal involving him and Yeri were to erupt, the one who stood to benefit most was, naturally, Bryce Gate.
What greater satisfaction than watching Shin Keir crumble under the supposed betrayal of both his fiancée and his trusted relative?
Not to mention, the fallout would be catastrophic.
Tristan, the vice president of KGG, entangled with the CEO's fiancée, it would be a scandal powerful enough to shake both the Keir family and the entire company.
A ruthless plan designed to destroy everything in one strike.
---
With so many influential figures gathered, and with Bryce ensuring the presence of numerous media outlets, especially those from major corporations, the scene displayed on the massive screen sent shockwaves through the banquet hall.
But it wasn't the scene Bryce had anticipated.
In fact, he was just as stunned as everyone else.
It wasn't until Calin tugged at him urgently and someone nearby began retching, that he snapped back to reality. His gaze swept across the hall as he barked orders for the screen to be turned off.
From another corner, someone else was shouting just as desperately, insisting it was fake, a fabrication orchestrated by their rivals.
But the damage had already been done.
The guests erupted into hushed yet frantic whispers, disbelief rippling through the crowd.
"Was that Madam Neri and that man…? Oh my God—!" a woman gasped, unable to finish her sentence.
Some guests recoiled in outright disgust, a few even doubling over as nausea took hold.
"Look at Master Song, he looks like he's about to have a heart attack. He's been yelling to shut it off for ages."
"And Xavier Song… how could he even stomach that? Has he lost his mind? Even if it's Madam Neri from a noble family, that's just..."
Their voices trailed off, swallowed by the chaos as the scandal detonated across the room like a social bomb, leaving reputations in smoking ruins.
"But I heard Madam Neri does have a close relationship with Xavier Song. Many people have seen them together countless times… but no one really imagined it was that kind of relationship."
"Zahn Neri has been going against his mother lately. Do you think he knew about her… shameful affair?"
"In fact, Madam Neri has been in the spotlight far too often recently. Didn't the legal battle involving Neri Medical Hospital have something to do with her? I also heard her former daughter-in-law is suing her."