Chapter 300:
Up on the balcony, Elias raised his glass to her. Well played, my Queen.
The applause was thunderous, a standing ovation that went on for minutes. The elite of the city loved a winner, and Aurora had just won the season.
Sebastian stood frozen, the applause washing over him like a physical assault. He saw the investors who had been shunning him earlier now rushing toward the stage, business cards in hand.
“Mr. Kensington,” a reporter shoved a microphone in his face. “Did the Kensington family know about this partnership with Thorne? Is this a merger?”
Sebastian snarled, shoving the microphone away. “No comment.”
He turned to flee, but his path was blocked by the crowd surging forward.
On stage, Aurora was surrounded. But she wasn’t looking at the admirers. She was looking up at the balcony.
Elias set his glass down. He buttoned his jacket and began to descend the private staircase.
The crowd parted for him. The energy in the room shifted. Elias Thorne entering the fray was a signal that the game had escalated.
He walked up to the stage. The investors fell silent, stepping back out of respect—and fear.
“Miss Vance,” Elias said, his voice carrying in the sudden quiet.
“Mr. Thorne,” Aurora replied, her eyes dancing with victory.
“An impressive debut,” he said. He didn’t offer a handshake. He offered his arm.
“Are you here to collect your commission?” she asked, a playful edge to her voice.
“I’m here to escort the artist,” he said. “The car is waiting.”
Aurora took his arm. The flashbulbs went off like a supernova, capturing the image that would be on every front page tomorrow: the King and Queen of the city, united.
Discover endless adventures on g alno vels ; con
They walked through the crowd, an unstoppable force.
As they passed Sebastian, Elias stopped. He didn’t look at Sebastian with anger. He looked at him with pity.
“You should check your stock portfolio, Sebastian,” Elias said softly. “Pulse Interactive just announced the Phoenix integration. The market closed… favorably for us.”
Sebastian checked his phone. His hands shook. Kensington Enterprises was down twelve percent. Pulse was up forty percent. He hadn’t just lost the art. He had lost the war.
Aurora didn’t even glance at her cousin. She walked out into the cool night air with Elias, the platinum cuff on her wrist catching the light of the paparazzi flashes.
“Hungry?” Elias asked as they reached the car.
“Starving,” Aurora admitted.
“Good,” Elias said, opening the door for her. “Because we have a lot to celebrate.”
The heavy door closed, shutting out the noise, the cameras, and the defeated Kensingtons. Inside, it was just them.
Aurora leaned back, closing her eyes. “Checkmate.”
“Game over,” Elias agreed, signaling the driver.
As the car pulled away, Sebastian stood alone on the curb, the Checkmate painting burning in his mind. He realized then that he had never been playing against a girl from the country.
He had been playing against a grandmaster. And he had never stood a chance.
.
.
.