CHAPTER FIVE
1015 Words
Salvador Global celebrated its forty-ninth anniversary six months ago with its usual elegance. The ballroom was illuminated with emerald and gold, and the decoration was reminiscent of a fairytale.
Ryan Salvador posed at the center of everything with a calm and sharp demeanor in her silver-gray dress. She maintained a steady voice as she moved from one group to another.
Mason Stone walked right behind her, in a tuxedo that was dark and crisp.
He was brought to an event for the first time and people were intrigued. He appeared to be a mystery they hadn't been told about. He moved.
“Dad, this is Mason Stone.”
Mateo Salvador lowered his gaze, his expression cold and unreadable. "Mason," he said. "I've heard of that term, risk management?
Mason responded with “something similar.”
Mateo didn't blink. "You come from the financial world?"
Mason shook his head slightly. “No, just issues.”
Ryan remained in a state of stillness beside him, his expression unreadable.
Casandra, Ryan's stepmother, stated “the world is brimming with surprises.”
“ I love surprises too”, Mason responded.
Casandra’s smile expanded. "So does this family too."
Later in the evening, Mason glanced over at Ryan as he headed to the car.
"Your family truly knows how... to size someone up”.
Ryan didn't give him a glance. "They didn't decline."
“Your version of approval?”
“They didn't expel you, she simply said, "That's sufficient."
He paused and asked, “ do you ever think it was too much.”
"No," Ryan replied, stepping into the car. "I've put in a lot of effort to prepare for this."
After six months, Ryan and Mason showed up together whenever necessary, took photos for the press, dined in the correct spots, and avoided each other when no one was around.
The plan was going smoothly until Mason made a change.
The building was still crowded with staff after a big conference at Salvador Global headquarters. Executives assembled near the elevators.
Ryan had finished presenting the company's three-year strategy and received praise for her boldness, but others were sceptical about her aggressiveness.
While walking across the lobby, Mason called out to her.
“Hold up, Ryan.”
She turned to see of how called me out to her
“ Mateo, what are your doing here?” She whispered to him as they got close.
He dipped his hand into his jacket pocket and pulled something out. Without being told, he went down on his knees.
“ What's going on, Mateo?”
Gasps echoed around the room.
Ryan's eyes widened as her body was locked in place.
“ What's is all this I ask of you”, Ryan asked asked again.
He quietly said 'Fixing the story', then raised his voice enough to be heard by everyone nearby.
Ryan Salvador, you are a hard act to follow. You don't ask, you don't demand, and you don't slow down, but I still want to experience every fake day of this false life. “ will you be mine forever?”
The conversation stopped, phones were raised, and the security guard near the entrance was already texting someone.
Ryan's heart was not racing, but a shift in her chest caused her to look down. He appeared calm, but his eyes were not acting properly.
She exhaled, then smiled for the cameras. "Yes," she said. "Of course."
Applause erupted and someone began to clap excessively. Mason stood up, put the ring on her finger, and kissed her on the cheek.
She whispered, smiling through her teeth, “that you could have warned me.”
He replied, “You wanted a show,but I did not”.
Few minutes later, Nelly appeared.
As she walked forward with champagne in her hand and her red heels clicking softly, her dress shimmering, and her expression was perfect -- pleasant, surprised, and supportive.
She greeted Ryan with a gentle hug and said, "Big sister, you've always had a love for surprises."
Ryan remained cool as usual. "It's just timing."
Nelly turned to Mason and smiled. “You're probably very courageous or lucky.”
“ I'll take either.” He replied.
Nelly's laughter was gentle. 'Congratulations to both of you. Truly. This place needed a little romance.' However, she had eyes for something else. Something Ryan admired.
As the crowd celebrated, reporters demanded official statements, and Mateo Salvador kept a suspiciously quiet from the mezzanine above, With her soft smile and slow steps, Nelly disappeared from view.
She didn’t further waste time.
She begins taking steps by getting her self involved in the knowing the staffs.
During the following week, she began attending meetings, which were small at first. She stated that she was just curious about operations and then began asking questions about the company’s finance, Human Resources and Risk reports.
She started making friends with heads of the departments. Sent mind blowing emails. Remembered their birthdays. Offered to “help out” when a compliance officer went on leave. Everyone thought she was just being sweet.
Mason understood what exactly was happening.
He moved closer to Ryan
“ This isn’t her playing around. She is making her plans.” Mason said to Ryan.
She didn’t look concerned. “ She might not be playing around but she can’t play my game”.
Mason paused. “ This isn’t her playing your game. She is smart about making her next move”
“So?”, Ryan asked with no concern.
“ We must come up with a strategy to deal with her.”
By the end of the month, three executives were already quietly fed with Nelly’s information. One even started suggesting her name during board conversations—as a “renowned option” for future leadership.
The company now has eyes on both Ryan and Nelly.
Mason kept playing his role. Kept wearing the ring. Kept the lie a lie.
But in the quiet moments—when Ryan wasn’t looking—he started to wonder if some part of the lie had started becoming real.
- Writer
