Kathryn Blackwood

"Congratulations, CEO Sterling, on winning this year's prestigious award," the MC said, his tone noticeably more respectful now. "What words do you have for us tonight?"

"Well, thank you, my fellow businessmen and women, and thank you to everyone who voted," Arthur said, flashing a genuine smile. "But I don't think I deserve all the praise. Please join me in welcoming the President of Star Corporation, Ms. Kathryn Blackwood, and the Vice President, Ms. Rebecca Thornton. They are the brains behind the success of our company, and this award truly belongs to them."

Kathryn Blackwood, Davin thought, the name echoing in his mind. It suits her.

To the outside world, his expression remained a carefully constructed mask of indifference. No one would ever suspect that the notoriously aloof President Banks would consider any woman, let alone a rival CEO, to be worthy of a second thought.

Kathryn, radiating an aura of quiet power. She was a vision in black, a perfectly sculpted tall glass of red wine, every inch of her a testament to understated elegance. Rebecca followed, her own brand of charm and grace equally captivating. The two women, standing side-by-side, made a mockery of every beauty pageant winner in the room. They were simply… divine.

A collective murmur rippled through the ballroom as the two women gracefully made their way to the podium.

More than a few women in the audience were green with envy, their carefully crafted facades cracking under the weight of the blatant admiration directed towards Kathryn and Rebecca. Even the most jaded CEOs seemed momentarily mesmerized.

Recovering from their collective daze, some of the younger, more tech-savvy members of the audience snapped covert photos of Kathryn, the phoenix tattoo on her back clearly visible beneath the sheer fabric of her gown. Within minutes, the images were flooding social media, sending a tidal wave of traffic across the internet.

Reaching the podium, Kathryn and Rebecca were greeted by Arthur, who beamed at them with undisguised admiration.

Facing the audience, Kathryn offered a smile that could stop a heart, a carefully calculated weapon from her arsenal. The effect was immediate, another wave of murmurs and appreciative gasps washing over the room.

"Good evening, everyone," she began, her voice a smooth, silken caress that commanded attention without demanding it. "And thank you to everyone who voted. We are truly grateful. It's an honor to share this stage with so many of the industry's greats." Her gaze swept over the audience, pausing almost imperceptibly as it passed over Davin.

"Such a lovely voice," Kelvin murmured, leaning towards Davin with a lascivious grin.

Davin shot him a look that could kill.

"What?" Kelvin asked, feigning innocence.

"Keep quiet," Davin hissed, his eyes snapping back to the podium.

*You spend the entire evening buried in your phone, and now you want to pretend you're interested?* Kelvin mentally berated his brother, rolling his eyes in exasperation.

"This has been our dream for the past six years, to be recognized," she concluded, her voice laced with genuine emotion. "We are deeply grateful. Thank you, all." She offered a graceful bow, her movements fluid and elegant.

Arthur, beaming with pride, took both women by the arm, escorting them back to their seats amidst a sea of stares – a mix of admiration and thinly veiled envy.

Clearing his throat, the MC struggled to recapture the audience's attention, the spotlight momentarily stolen by Star Corporation's dazzling display. He plastered on a professional smile and forged ahead.

"Alright, moving on to the next prestigious category – the Company of the Year Award!" He glanced at the large screen behind him, his smile faltering for just a fraction of a second. Regaining his composure, he announced the winner with forced enthusiasm: "Star Corporation! For the first time in over a century, a company barely a handful of years old has taken home the most coveted prize! History has been made! Congratulations, Star Corporation!"

A thunderous applause erupted in the hall, though a distinct undercurrent of disbelief could still be detected. Kathryn, composed and unflappable, made her way to the podium for the second time that evening.

This time, she kept her remarks brief, simply thanking the MC, the organizers, and her fellow business leaders before accepting the award and returning to her seat with her usual grace.

"Definitely my woman of the year," Kelvin sighed dreamily, his eyes practically glazed over.

"Deduct thirty percent from everyone's salary in the company, starting next month. Including yours" Davin stated, his voice utterly devoid of emotion.

Kelvin snapped out of his reverie, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What? Why?" he sputtered, aghast.

"Do I need to spell it out for you?" Davin asked, his tone frosting over. Without waiting for a response, he rose from his chair and strode towards the podium, summoned to accept his own award – CEO of the Decade.

The rest of the evening unfolded as a near-constant stream of accolades for Zetrov Conglomerate. Award after award piled up: Company of the Decade, Personality of the Year, People's Choice Award, Philanthropist of the Year, Businessman of the Year, Businessman of the Decade…

"Wow," Rebecca murmured, utterly stunned. "Just… wow."

"That's a company to beat," Arthur said, his expression serious, his earlier exuberance tempered by the sheer scale of Zetrov's dominance.

"We can't beat that," Rebecca whispered, her voice tinged with a rare note of discouragement. "I mean, have you seen their statistics, their data? It's out of this world."

"Maybe not now," Arthur conceded, "but in a few years… say, five years more."

"I don't have five years to wait around and see if we can beat Zetrov before Carlos comes for me," Kathryn said, a sigh escaping her lips.

The weight of her past settled heavily on her shoulders, a stark contrast to the glittering triumph of the evening.

"Besides," she added, her voice barely audible, "I don't even want to beat them. Not like we could in twenty years." The words hung in the air.

"Then what is the plan?" Rebecca asked, her voice low and laced with curiosity.

"Make them our business allies," Kathryn said, a slow, deliberate smirk playing on her lips as she lifted her wineglass. Her gaze drifted towards Davin's table, and, as if drawn by an invisible string, their eyes met.

The moment stretched, a silent battle waged across the crowded ballroom. A contest of wills, a spark of… something. Then, with a subtle flicker of amusement, Davin broke the contact, turning his attention elsewhere.

Just as I suspected, Kathryn thought, a quiet satisfaction settling within her.

"Elaborate," Arthur said, reaching for a passing waiter and snagging a glass of wine.

"Partnership," Kathryn stated, the word hanging in the air like a challenge.

"It's not going to happen," Arthur said flatly, shaking his head. Kathryn raised an eyebrow, silently demanding an explanation.

"Zetrov hasn't accepted a partnership with another company in the past five years," Arthur explained, ticking off the points on his fingers. "And even if they were inclined, they are the ones who choose their partners, not the other way around. They're the gatekeepers, not the supplicants."

"That's a bit of a God complex, isn't it? Acting like they're doing you a favor just by considering you," Rebecca interjected, more of a statement than a question.

Arthur nodded grimly. "Davin Banks is a ruthless devil in the business world. They call him the God of Wall Street for a reason. Every decision he makes, or doesn't make, sends ripples through the entire financial market. He operates on a different level."

Listening to Arthur's assessment of Zetrov and its enigmatic leader, Kathryn's determination only hardened. She needed Zetrov in her corner, even if it was only for a few months. The stakes were too high to back down now.

"Rebecca, I need you to prepare an ironclad proposal by next month. We either secure a partnership or a strategic collaboration. I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," Kathryn said, her voice leaving no room for argument. Rebecca nodded, her expression reflecting the gravity of the task.

Leaning back in her chair, Kathryn sighed, a hint of weariness creeping into her voice. "Besides… we need to accelerate our timeline."

Understanding the unspoken meaning behind her words, Arthur subtly pulled out his phone, sending a quick text to their head of security, ordering an urgent screening meeting for 7:00 AM tomorrow. Time was running out.

"Are you going to the after-party at Zetrov's lé éssence?" Rebecca asked, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

For reasons she couldn't quite articulate, Rebecca desperately wanted Kathryn to connect with Davin Banks. She was convinced he was the only one with enough power and influence to truly protect her sister.

"What's with the sinister smile, and why are you wiggling your eyebrows at me?" Kathryn asked, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"So, we're going, right?" Rebecca pressed, giving her best puppy-dog eyes. The effect was so absurd, so out of character, that Kathryn burst out laughing.

"I can't believe you're giving me that look in public," Kathryn gasped, stifling another wave of laughter.

"Yes. We'll be going." Her smile held a hint of mischief, a spark of anticipation igniting within her.

The game, it seemed, was about to begin.