My Ex-husband's Uncle Can't Let Me Go

Chapter 4 - Deluxe Newspaper

Valerie's pov

“Gala,” I repeated under my breath, trying to remember where I had seen that. The line went dead before I could ask him anything but from his voice and choice of words I knew he wasn't someone that takes a no as an answer.

I passed the phone to Wilson before grabbing mine and walking out of the conference room. “Tell the tech department to track the caller and–”

“They couldn't,” Wilson interrupted me. “The caller was the one that found us.”

I stopped in my tracks turning to glance back at him, my heart stuttering. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“They traced the asset to an overseas newspaper company,” Wilson explained further, “which of course would be just a cover up for the real company.”

I continued walking without a word, she was sure the caller was powerful so why would he dump her grandmother's company's assets in a newspaper company.

The company was going to launch a new robot which was going to be a success because companies have started approaching her to partner with them so why did the caller not add the assets to his own business.

She was heading to the tech department but suddenly changed her mind, turning towards her office.

“Tell them to send the details of their search to my computer,” she ordered Wilson, walking out before he could reply.

It was once she stepped into her office that everything clicked and she remembered where the gala invitation all sprouted from.

She hurried towards her desk and picked up the invitation she had tucked neatly in between files before slumping on her chair. Seconds slowly turned into minutes as she kept twirling the invitation card in her fingers after reading its content for the upteenth time.

The gala was going to happen in Deluxe Hotel and suites, the top most expensive hotel in the country. This was where she had planned to host the grand opening for Adrian's company but she couldn't book it so whoever was holding the gala had to be a very prominent figure.

Suddenly her computer beeped, she dropped the invitation card immediately turning on the computer. The newspaper's name was Deluxe too, making her raise a brow in suspicion because that was more than just a coincidence.

Even though Deluxe Hotel was very popular, she couldn't find anything about Deluxe newspaper company on the internet, not even that they might have been bankrupt and closed down. Her eyes shifted to the invitation card again but before her mind could wander again, Wilson barged in without knocking.

“Ma'am, the mayor has agreed to a meeting.” He beamed, looking all excited.

“The mayor?” I repeated, my face twisting into a frown as my mind couldn't find the reason.

“You've been trying to meet with him concerning the city tower project,” Wilson refreshed my memory. “It seems like your effort paid off.”

“Okay,” I replied flatly. “You can go on my…” my voice trailed off as I remembered thaf was where Adrian was planning to use and get back my assets. “What time is the meeting?”

“He wants to see you in an hour,” he replied, “at the city town building.”

“That's fine, get the car ready then.” I dismissed, returning my focus back to my computer.

***

—Four hours later—

The car pulled up in front of the Whitmore's mansion and I stepped out staggering into the living area. It was until I fell onto the couch that I was able to get myself a bit. I rubbed my feet slowly, the aching pain making my head throb.

This would be my last time ever meeting the mayor because explain to me why he kept walking round the town building pointing at what I don't understand in the building's infrastructure throughout the three hour meeting.

I was about to close my eyes for a relief when the caretaker, Lady Betty, walked towards me.

“Ma'am, it's past eight already, do you still want to have dinner?”

I glanced at the wall clock, 8:23 pm. “No, thank you Betty.” I said, closing my eyes. But then something clicked in my mind, the gala will start by 9 p.m sharp and that is my only way to meet the buyer.

I forced myself to my feet, turning towards my room to freshen up but Betty's next words made me pause in my step.

“You had a guest, ma'am.”

“A guest?” I turned to face her, not certain why my heart beat suddenly accelerated.

“Yes and he left this,” she said, pointing at a big box on the table.

I was so absorbed in my troubles that I didn't even see it. I swallowed down nothing, not moving an issue but my gaze never left it. “Open it,”

“Yes, ma'am.” Betty said, walking towards it.

She opened it after a while of struggling with the packaging and the content left me daxed for more than a second. I hurried towards it and lifted the gown inside, it was the famous customized goddess gown which many ladies wanted to kill themselves over.

“Oh my God! Ma'am, this is breathtaking.” Betty gushed, her eyes tingling with admiration.

“Thank you,” I muttered about retiring upstairs with the gown when my eyes caught a note in the box.

“9 p.m. Don't come without the dress on.”

I gulped down nothing before crumbling the note and tossing it into the dustbin. Whether I wear it or not, what matters most is getting my company back and for some reasons, I was so glad Adrian wasn't coming home that night.

“Tell the driver to get the black limo ready in thirty minutes,” I instructed Betty before heading upstairs.

***

The moment I stepped into the hall, murmurs rippled through the crowd instantly as all eyes turned towards my direction.

“Who the hell is she?”

“Isn't that the goddess gown that the price can buy our entire country?”

“The gown looks so perfect on her, I bet she's beautiful under the mask.”

I wasn't surprised about the amount because the gown was worth it and I so much loved the woman I saw in my dressing mirror. The gown had brought out all my curves so perfectly fine, it swept the floor quite alright but had a long slight that stopped halfway my thigh. It was a backless gown with a not too big hole around my chest region.

“Ma'am, this way.” A man clad on all black said, guiding me to the front row.

Everyone had a mask so I couldn't see their faces. My face twisted at the hall setting, it was meant to be a gala so why was it set like it was an auction gathering.

I lowered myself in a chair but before I could ask any questions, a soft feminine voice came loud and clear from the stage.

“Welcome once again to our 54th auction day and for today we're starting our auction with a company, the Deluxe newspaper.”