Chapter 55: Ariana’s Speech at the Gala Goes Viral

Chapter 55: Ariana's Speech at the Gala Goes Viral

Like most high profile charity events, the gala began without a hitch. Things were smooth, polished and spotless. People dressed in lastest designers clothes walked around, sipping drinks, talking quietly and pretending that their donations could change the world. Yet, tonight's occasion meant a lot more to Ariana than all her other experiences. It meant more than simply having bright lights or casual talks. It was now her time a time to demonstrate her ability, not just as a Camelo but as a person capable of making a difference.

The night went on and soon everything felt right.

It took her many hours to prepare the speech she was going to deliver, making sure each word was clear about what she truly wanted to say, without being influenced by work or home pressures. She prepared in the mirror hundreds of times, fixing her voice, her movement and the look on her face. The speech needed to be real and from the heart. For a long time, her family looked after the Camelo Corporation. However, it was time to give the company a new vision.

Her heels produced a clear sound as she walked across the shiny marble floor to the front. As every guest fell silent, the air around them turned full of excitement and their eyes moved to her. She stood still for a bit, adjusting the microphone, thinking about the struggles she had overcome to get where she was. Even though she felt nervous, it wasn't the same as before and she knew she was prepared. She was in charge now and she wouldn't let it go.

"Hello everyone, how are you this evening?" Ariana said, maintaining a firm tone, despite a hint of vulnerability in her words. "I want you to know that I'm here to share my experiences as a person and as a woman, not just as the head of the Camelo Corporation or as a business owner. I have stayed away from active roles for many years, noticing that my views and decisions were often ignored or not followed."

She looked at everyone who came to participate in the event. Among them were business contacts, people in her social circle and former schoolmates. Yet, there were some in the crowd too those who had come just for the hope of getting a glimpse of the daughter of a business empire.

"I am not talking about numbers or profits," she added, sounding more gentle. "What I really want to talk about today is responsibility. Being accountable to the people we help, the hard working staff who build our companies and the people who will follow us in the future."

Her messages were straightforward, even so they had lasting meaning. She could tell from how the crowd reacted lots of nodding and several jotting down ideas. She managed to resonate with me. But she never wanted this to be symbolic alone; she cared about acting as well. She became harder to look at as she started talking about the past and her family's history.

"For far too long," she continued, "profit, corporate control and the urge to take the lead have dictated the policies of the Camelo Corporation. I think it's important that we try to do better. 

We can create a future where we are leaders not only in business, but also in innovation, in ethics and in making things sustainable. To me, the future of this company should focus on making a difference, not just on profit."

Everyone stopped talking. Her heart was running fast, but she held herself back from getting nervous again. She had been waiting so long for this to happen. Her speech moved past helping the company and suggested ways she could help the world.

"So, tonight is only the first step," she went on. "What we do at this gala, what we support through this charity and what we fight for in this cause it speaks to the values I wish to bring to the Camelo Corporation. The order of importance should be the communities, the planet and the people we hire. I'm hoping to guide the world to this future. That's why I want to show you what I see coming in the future."

The first applause was not loud, but it grew in intensity and covered the grand ballroom in approval very fast. A combination of adrenaline and confidence came over Ariana for the first time. For the first time in a while, it felt like she was responsible for her own future.

After finishing her speech, she let a feeling of achievement overcome her. She had finished expressing herself as she wished. She had earned recognition for herself.

She had no idea at the time that the impact of her words would grow ever stronger.

Things were so quiet in the large room, even with the dimming light, that Ariana chose to go to a peaceful corner of the private estate. 

Lots of ideas ran through her thoughts as she recalled everything that happened that night the speeches, the talks and the compliments. It was accomplished. She hadn't expected to be hit by a flood of notifications the second she started looking at her phone.

In the beginning, she received only a small number of comments from friends and messages from a few school board members. As time continued, the fears grew stronger. Not long after, Ariana's phone kept vibrating as she got new messages, mentions and the previews of recent posts from friends on social media.

Her hands paused above the screen, trying to guess what awaited her. Next, she started slowly scrolling down the many comments on the video.

"Is Ariana Camelo the new face of corporate change?"

"What she imagines would truly benefit this world. Finally, a person who isn't just focused on making a profit!"

"She's not just a person with wealth passed down. She knows why ethics and responsibility are so important in life."

The response to her post was truly amazing much better than she ever expected. She felt her heart beating fast as she opened the news stories that were appearing on the internet. Newspapers labeled her speech a landmark moment and claimed it was one of the best corporate addresses in some time. They said her vision for the company showed a lot of promise and her leadership might lead Camelo Corporation toward a more sustainable and responsible future.

Ariana didn't think it would end up like this. Nevertheless, her speech quickly went viral and changed the way the Camelo story was being told on social media. She was no longer only admired for having so much wealth. She became the leader of a different kind of activism, pushing for care about employees rather than only about profits for the company.

"Did I really do that?" Ariana murmured quietly, looking at the screen as if what she saw wasn't real. Her eyes showed surprise when she saw that so many people had watched her speech.

It wasn't just seeing statistics that interested her. Some of the most notable messages came from business people, well-known influencers and a handful of prominent activists who had heard her speak out.

It was happening at that instant. Her public approval was going up.

Ariana didn't realize that Lincoln had come in until much later and his face gave nothing away as usual. "You have really stirred things up," he said, using a voice low enough for others to continue listening."

Still busy with her messages, she hardly looked up. The question, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" came from her, clearly surprised.

"It can depend on your perspective," Lincoln said, putting his arms across his chest. "But it's obvious you have gained plenty of interest. There is good to be found, but in other aspects it doesn't quite work."

She knit her brows. "I don't understand what you are saying."

Lincoln did not immediately respond to the question. He pointed toward her phone instead. "A lot of people are watching what you do right now. Some of these people won't be friends with you."

Her face settled into a frown as a hard feeling settled inside her. "I'm aware," she said weakly. All my hard work leads up to this moment.

Lincoln nodded in a way that showed understanding. "Watch out for yourself. Some people aren't always going to appreciate what you do. You have ignited the argument. Currently, I focus on making sure things don't development too much."

Ariana let her chair sink back while her eyes stayed on the display in front of her. What she said had sparked a revolution, but it would also make her a target.