The Ice King's Rebellion

The Manhattan skyline was shining like a star , lit up by a non-stop barrage of camera flashes. Outside the venue, a fleet of luxury cars pulled up one after the other under the heavy, chandeliers. This wasn't just any event; it was the most exclusive red carpet in the entire history of New York Fashion Week. The place was crowded with celebrities, supermodels, and billionaires. But behind the glamorous smiles and handshakes, everyone knew the truth that every major headline for tomorrow’s morning papers had already been bought and paid for. Then, a sudden silence covered the place. A sleek, midnight-black Rolls-Royce headed to the entrance. The casual chatter in the crowd was replaced by urgent whispers. "Is that Alexander Vance?" "He’s actually here." "Clear the way! Get the cameras ready, now!" The crowd surged forward, desperately. Alexander Vance stepped out of the vehicle and onto the carpet. He didn’t even bother looking at the photographers . They were pushing each other apart just to get his attention. As the billionaire CEO of Vance Global, he never had to chase the spotlight. The spotlight always chased him. His black tuxedo was flawlessly tailored, fitting him so perfectly . With a sharp jawline, attractive blue eyes, and a cold expression, he looked less like a human and more like a vampire. Every step he took claimed absolute authority. A single glance from him was enough to quiet an entire room. Even the flashing cameras seemed to hesitate before his presence. "Mr. Vance, just one photo!" "Is it true Vance Global is buying out Belle Maison?" "Can you tell us who designed tonight's main collection?" Alexander ignored them all. He knew his silence carried far more weight than any answer ever could. Security quickly cleared a path for him as he reached the grand staircase. But then, a voice came from nowhere. "Stop right there!" It was a woman's scream. Heads snapped around. The security team froze in their tracks. Before anyone could react, a young woman crashed through the heavy metal barricades. "Miss! You can't go in there!" "Hey, stop her! Grab her!! She was too fast. She slipped past the first guard, and stepped directly onto the red carpet. A gasp spread through the crowd. Every single camera lens swung away from the VIPs and locked onto her. For a second, even Alexander stopped walking. She was absolutely stunning. It wasn't because she was dripping in diamonds or wearing expensive designer jewelry. It was the dress. She wore a crimson gown that flowed around her body like liquid fire. The embroidery shimmered beautifully under the heavy event lights, with every single stitch looking like it held a story of unbelievable talent. It wasn't just a pretty dress; it was a masterpiece by designer. Alexander’s eyes locked onto the fabric. His heart skipped a beat. He recognized that design. In fact, he had personally signed off on it. But that was impossible. That exact gown was supposed to be the crown jewel of Vance Global's upcoming couture collection. How was she wearing it right now? The woman went straight up to him. She was close enough to feel the his powerful presence, and close enough to catch the brief flicker of shock hidden behind his usual face.. Her hands were shaking —not because she was scared, but because she was furious. "Sienna Brooks..." a fashion journalist near the front muttered under his breath. "The independent designer." "I thought she dropped off the face of the earth," another reporter whispered, frowning. "Wait a minute... isn't that Vance Global's signature gown?" "No way. It can't be." The whispers turned into a roar of speculation. Sienna looked straight into Alexander's eyes. For the first time in years, someone actually refused to look away from his intimidating glare. Her pretty eyes were burning with pain—the kind of ache that only comes from deep betrayal. Months of sleepless nights, years of struggling to pay rent, hundreds of discarded sketches, and thousands of bloody stitches. Every single dream she had ever poured into that fabric had been ripped away from her before the world could even learn her name. She had even begged her boss for an explanation, only to be fired on the spot. She tried calling lawyers, but no one took her calls. She emailed every fashion magazine in the city, but everyone thought she was crazy. Tonight, she wasn't here to beg. She was here to claim the one thing they couldn't take from her: the truth. "You stole my life, Mr. Vance." A strange silence dropped over the red carpet. The cameras went wild, flashing all at once as reporters shoved each other to get a better angle. Alexander's face remained completely calm and unreadable. But deep within those eyes, something shifted. Confusion. Because the truth was, he had never seen this woman before in his life. Yet, the raw conviction in her voice didn't sound like a publicity stunt. It felt real. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and controlled. "Who are you?" Sienna let out a bitter, broken laugh. "That’s the funniest part, isn't it? You don't even know the person ,whose entire future your company just crushed." Behind Alexander, a few of his board members started glancing at each other nervously. One executive suddenly found the floor very interesting, while another awkwardly loosened his tie. Sienna caught the movement and so did Alex. Someone here is panicking. Sienna took another step closer to him. "So tell me, Mr. Vance. When you wear success stolen from someone else... doesn't it ever feel heavy?" Alexander’s stood straight and replied,. "I don't steal." "No, of course you don't," Sienna shot back instantly. "You just sign the contracts. Reporters gasped out loud. Who is she..? Is this true..? Did Vance Global actually rip off an indie designer? Sienna gently ran her fingers over the fabric of her dress. Tracing the hand-sewn embroidery with a heartbreaking tenderness she said"This dress... it isn't just fabric. It’s four years of my life. I skipped meals just to afford these materials. I worked at my desk until my fingers literally bled Because I genuinely believed that talent would be enough." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I was a fool. My boss stole my sketches and sold them directly to Vance Global. And tonight, your company is celebrating my dream... while I'm left with nothing." Alexander looked at the gown. This time, he wasn't looking at it as a gown. He was examining the fine details. The tiny, hand-finished stitches and the hidden embroidery techniques that were impossible to replicate without the original creator's hand. His mind began to race. He remembered reviewing the paperwork for this collection. Everything had looked flawless—the certificates, the copyright records, the chain of ownership. Could the entire file have been a forgery? Behind him, a senior executive quietly slipped a hand into his pocket and unlocked his phone. Alexander caught the movement. His expression darkened. Why was he acting so guilty? Why right now? The chief of security stepped up, whispering into Alexander’s ear. "Sir, just give the word. We can remove her immediately." Alexander didn't blink ,didn't answer. He couldn't take his eyes away from Sienna. She was standing alone against a whole corporate empire, yet somehow, she looked far more powerful than the army of executives standing behind him. Wealth, power, ambition, and betrayal had all just collided under the glare of a thousand cameras. Alexander came closer to Sienna. When he spoke, his voice was so low as it was meant only for her ears. "If what you are saying is true... then someone has lied to both of us." But before Sienna could even process it, a security guard grabbed her arm from behind, pulling her back. Another guard stepped in front of Alexander to shield him. Multiple executives started shouting over each other. And then, from somewhere deep within the panicked crowd, a terrified voice screamed out— "Don't let her speak! Shut her up before she exposes everything!"