NovelXXXChapter 363 Citrine had expected to run into plenty of familiar faces from Crestwood's elite circles at the event. But when she stepped inside, she realized everyone in the room was a stranger. Not a single friend or acquaintance in sight.
The gathering itself was unlike any business function she'd attended before. Normally at these things, the CEOs and moguls would be jockeying for position, playing their tired games of flattery and subtle sabotage, deals and drinks flowing in equal measure.
But tonight, the guests didn't seem interested in making deals or exchanging hollow pleasantries. Instead, they sat back in their chairs, perfectly at ease- almost as if this was a family dinner rather than a high-stakes corporate gathering. What struck Citrine most was the sense of equality between them; no one tried to dominate the conversation, no one fawned over anyone else. There was a quiet, genuine respect that filled the room, and for the first time, she witnessed a business event that was both peaceful and harmonious.
The shock of it left her both surprised and deeply unsettled.
She sat quietly, observing the people around her and listening in on their conversations without drawing attention to herself.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBits and pieces of their chatter began to paint a picture. Whenever they spoke about the chairman of Stellaris Group, their voices took on a tone of profound respect, as if referring to their leader.
Another familiar ncropped up: the Shadow Syndicate.
Citrine had heard of the Shadow Syndicate in her previous life. As far as she knew, it was a coalition of over fifty powerful companies, something akin to the old merchant guilds, so influential that even Crestwood's most established families steered clear of crossing them.
Yet the Shadow Syndicate always kept a low profile; news about them was rare, and Citrine herself had only caught whispers.
But from the way these people spoke, she had a feeling that the mysterious boss they kept referencing-the one at the top of Stellaris Group-was also the head of the Shadow Syndicate.
If her suspicions were correct, that meant Sebastian, the chairman of Stellaris Group, was also the Syndicate's leader. And everyone here tonight was a member, loyal to him.
But CICI Group wasn't part of the Shadow Syndicate. So why had Stellaris Group invited them here? Citrine's mind was spinning.
It had been more than half an hour since they'd arrived, and Carlotta was growing impatient. "What's with the chairman of Stellaris Group? Is he planning to keep us waiting all night?" "Relax, I'm sure he'll be here soon," Citrine replied, far calmer than her companion.
After several more minutes with no sign of anyone from Stellaris Group, Citrine excused herself and headed to the restroom.
Even as she washed her hands, her thoughts kept circling back to the invitation. What did Stellaris Group want with CICI Group? Suddenly, a loud crash shattered her thoughts-the sound of something slamming into a door.
"Who's there?" Citrine called out, stopping in her tracks.
No answer. She was about to leave, but as she stepped forward, another crash echoed through the hall, even louder this time, followed by a pained, guttural scream.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHeart pounding, Citrine instinctively looked up toward the second floor. The sound had definitely cfrom upstairs.
Without hesitating, she slipped off her heels and crept up the staircase.
Every door on the second floor was tightly shut. She couldn't tell which room the noise had cfrom, so she stood quietly in the hallway, listening for any sign of movement.
This time, silence stretched on and on. Just as she was about to give up and turn back a door behind her swung open without warning.
She barely had tto react before a pair of strong arms grabbed her and dragged her into the room. She the floo hard before she could even see her assailant, and the door slammed shut behind her with a bang. Her captor nodded toward the far side of the room. "Boss, she's here." As Citrine tried to scramble to her feet and see who this 'boss' was, her eyes landed on someone nearby—and what she saw made her gasp in horror.
No matter how fearless she thought she was, nothing could have prepared her for the scene before her eyes.
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