The upset

"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, welcome once again to the 30th annual BMNW award night!" the MC boomed, his voice amplified to fill every corner of the vast ballroom.

"Without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to our patron of the night, the Chairman and President of the Sentinel Group of Companies, Mr. Edwards!" The MC gestured dramatically, prompting a wave of warm applause and a standing ovation as the elderly patron made his robust way to the podium.

"Need me to dig up some dirt on them?" Kelvin murmured to Davin, barely moving his lips as he subtly gestured towards Kathryn's table with his jaw.

Davin, his gaze fixed on the stage, responded absently, "What for?" His fingers danced across his phone screen, responding to a barrage of emails.

Kelvin rolled his eyes, a low grunt escaping his throat. "Don't tell me you're actually working at a time like this." He received only silence in return, his brother lost in his digital world.

Finally, Davin pocketed his phone. With a slow, deliberate grace, he lifted his glass of ruby-red wine, inhaling deeply. The aroma filled his senses. A small, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips.

He paused, holding the glass just below his mouth, savoring the anticipation. Finally, after an eternity of held breaths, he took a slow, deliberate sip, allowing the liquid to cascade over his tongue, transporting him to a realm of pure indulgence.

The small, private ritual did not go unnoticed. A ripple of hushed admiration spread through the room, the women near his table practically breathless with fascination.

Oblivious to the stir he was causing, Davin continued to sip his wine, his thoughts drifting, against his will, to the woman with the phoenix tattoo emblazoned across her back.

She was beautiful. No point in denying it. Exquisite, even. He admitted, the thought unbidden, as he swirled the wine in his glass. But there's something guarded about her… something simmering beneath the surface.

"Now, moving on to the next, and arguably most anticipated, category of the evening… the CEO of the Year Award!" The MC's voice cut through his thoughts. "So many companies have raised the bar this year, it's anyone's guess if we'll see an upset. So, without further delay, let's project the nominees, and then… the winner!"

Every eye in the ballroom snapped to the giant screen, the air thick with anticipation.

A hush fell over the room, so complete you could hear the faint hum of the projectors. When the screen flashed with the winner, a collective gasp rippled through the room. Shock, disbelief, and outright outrage painted the faces of the assembled guests.

"A rookie? What the actual f—?" one of the business moguls sputtered, his voice dripping with incredulity

"How is this even possible?" another guest whispered, bewildered, the question echoing the thoughts of everyone in the room.

"Barely a few years in the industry, and he's snagging the most prestigious award? There has to be a mistake," one veteran business mogul muttered, his voice rising just enough to carry to Davin's table, a transparent attempt to curry favor with the Zetrov Conglomerate president.

Around Davin's table, several pairs of eyes watched him, eager to gauge his reaction. But Davin remained impassive, his gaze fixed on the podium, a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

You should all be ashamed that a rookie from nowhere managed to climb the ranks and stand beside me, he thought, a silent challenge thrown at the room, as he carefully avoided making eye contact with anyone.

"Well, well, well, for the first time in BMNW history, we have a tie!" the MC announced, his voice regaining its earlier cheerfulness. "Meaning, tonight, two CEOs will be taking home the prestigious award. So, without further ado, please welcome to the stage… President Davin Banks and CEO Arthur Sterling!"

Davin, radiating the effortless charisma of a Greek God, rose to his feet and strode purposefully towards the stage, Kelvin trailing closely behind him.

Arthur, a more approachable charm emanating from him, straightened to his full height, flashed his signature Mr. Nice Guy smile, and made his own graceful ascent to the podium.

"I would kill to see them walk a runway," one of the women at a nearby table sighed dreamily.

"It should be illegal to be that gorgeous as a man," another murmured in response.

"Worth braving my father's company for this show alone," a younger woman chimed in, fanning herself dramatically.

"I would give anything to have either of them in my bedroom," another said, her voice hushed with longing.

Kathryn snorted softly, a touch of annoyance tightening her features. "Insufferable," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Utterly shameless," Rebecca agreed, a delicate sip of wine masking her amusement

---

"President Banks," the MC simpered, "having won this prestigious award for the past nine consecutive years, what words do you have to mark this new milestone?"

"Just doing my job," Davin responded, the deep timbre of his voice sending a shiver through more than a few attendees. A simple statement, delivered with an undercurrent of power that was impossible to ignore.

"So, are you surprised, as we all are, to be sharing tonight's award with a new face in the industry?" The MC's tone carried a distinct condescension that grated on Davin's nerves.

Davin scanned the audience, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces, searching. Then, he found her – a flash of hazel eyes amidst the crowd. He was amused to see a flicker of annoyance on her face.

"I believe the 'new face' in the industry has a name, no?" he drawled, his eyes locking with the MC's, a subtle challenge hanging in the air. The MC offered a nervous laugh, nodding vigorously.

"Answering your question," Davin continued, his voice cutting through the room with icy precision, "I wasn't aware that this award was mine to share. Or are you suggesting it's been reserved for me, year after year, regardless of the contributions of other companies?" He leveled the MC with a pointed stare, watching him squirm under the weight of his gaze.

"No, no, President Banks, that's not what I meant at all," the MC stammered, mopping beads of sweat from his brow.

Davin held his gaze for another beat, then, with a barely perceptible shift, his eyes flicked back to where the hazel-eyed woman sat. Her expression was now carefully neutral, a blank canvas. How many faces does she have? he wondered, the thought surfacing unbidden. He turned back to the microphone.

"I am not surprised that another capable CEO has achieved a milestone that none of my predecessors here could manage," he said, a ghost of a smirk playing on his lips.

"So, in a nutshell… I'm impressed," he concluded, his voice leaving no room for further discussion. With a final, deliberate look towards the woman with the captivating eyes, he turned and strode from the stage, his exit as commanding as his presence.

Kelvin, ever the dutiful brother, collected the award on Davin's behalf and strolled back to their table, a mischievous glint in his eyes.