Chapter 3: Announcement
Three days later, in the afternoon, I stood in the conference room of Grant Investment Bank, looking at the transaction records that Marcus had obtained from Goldman Sachs' internal audit department.
"Found it." Marcus pointed to a transaction on the screen. "After twenty million was transferred from Silvercrest's account, it went into a shell company in the Cayman Islands—Blackstone Holdings Ltd."
Who is the actual controller?
"We can't find it." Marcus shook his head. "Caymanian company law protects the privacy of beneficiaries. We can only see the board of directors list, which is entirely made up of lawyers acting as nominees."
I stared at the screen.
Blackstone Holdings.
This name is too common; it's intentional.
"Keep investigating," I said. "This money couldn't have just vanished into thin air; there will definitely be further action."
Marcus typed: "Give me two days."
I nodded, picked up my coat, and prepared to leave.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from my mother: "There's a charity gala tonight, and the Xiao family will be attending. Think about whether you want to go."
I replied, "I will go."
Then call Catherine.
Are you free tonight?
"What's up?"
"Come with me to a dinner party."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.
"Is it the banquet that the Xiao family will also attend?"
"yes."
"What time is it?"
"I'll pick you up at seven."
"No need," Catherine said. "I'll go myself. It'll be more effective for us to appear together in this kind of situation."
She hung up the phone.
I looked at my phone screen and a smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
This woman understands things so well.
At 7 p.m., hundreds of guests had already gathered in the charity gala hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
I stood at the entrance waiting for Catherine.
At 7:05, a black Bentley pulled up at the entrance.
When Catherine got out of the car, everyone's eyes turned to her.
She wore a dark green dress with a simple design and no unnecessary decorations, and her hair was styled in an elegant updo.
It's understated, yet captivating.
"Sorry, there was a bit of traffic on the way." She walked up to me.
"On time." I stretched out my arm. "Let's go."
She took my arm, and we walked into the hall together.
Instantly, whispers filled the hall.
"Is that the Grant family heir?"
Who is that woman next to him?
"I heard he's the vice president of Blackwood..."
"Where's Vivian? Aren't they always together?"
I ignored the noise and led Catherine straight to the champagne tower.
I took two glasses of champagne and handed one to her.
Are you nervous?
"I'm not nervous," Catherine said, taking a sip of champagne. "I've been waiting for this day for ten years."
Just then, a commotion arose from the other side of the hall.
Vivian and her father Richard walked in.
Vivian, dressed in a white gown and with exquisite makeup, was holding Richard's arm.
Her gaze swept across the hall, and when she saw me and Catherine, she froze.
Richard's expression changed as well.
He walked quickly toward me, with Vivian following behind him.
"Alexander," Richard forced a smile, "long time no see."
"Mr. Xiao." I nodded, my tone calm.
"And this is..." Richard's gaze fell on Catherine.
"Catherine, Vice President of Blackwood," I introduced, "my partner."
Vivian's expression turned even uglier.
"Alexander, we need to talk." Her voice trembled slightly.
What should we talk about?
"About...About us."
"Us?" I looked at her. "Vivian, there's no 'us' anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Literal meaning." I put down my champagne glass. "I thought you were a vulnerable person in need of help, but now I know you were just putting on an act."
Vivian's face turned deathly pale.
"What...what are you saying?"
"You understand."
Just then, Richard's phone rang.
He answered the phone, his expression growing increasingly grim.
After hanging up the phone, he was trembling all over.
"What's wrong?" Vivian asked.
"Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, Citigroup…" Richard's voice was hoarse, "Four investment banks simultaneously rejected our financing application."
Vivian was stunned.
Richard suddenly looked up, staring intently at me: "Did you do this?"
I didn't answer, I just straightened my cuffs.
The Grant family crest cufflinks gleamed silver under the light.
"The market will make its choice," I said calmly.
Then, linking arms with Catherine, they turned and left.
Behind them came Vivian's cries and Richard's roars.
But I didn't turn back.
As I walked out of the hall, Catherine glanced at me.
"You had this all planned out all along?"
"Three days ago," I said, "I sent a copy of Silvercrest's financial report to the risk management departments of those four investment banks, along with my signature and the Grant family's official seal."
"Then what?"
"Then they made their own choice." I pushed open the door, the cold night wind rushing in. "I didn't say anything, I just let them see the truth."
Catherine smiled: "You learn very quickly."
"I learned it from you."
We walked to the parking lot, and I opened the car door for her.
"What's next?" she asked.
"Wait for Marcus's message." I started the engine. "Once we find out where those twenty million went, we can completely destroy Silvercrest."
"Then what?"
"Then..." I glanced at her, "we'll talk about our business again."
Catherine didn't speak, but simply looked out the window quietly.
The Manhattan skyline flashed past the car window.
The city is brightly lit, but I know that some darkness lurks in the brightest places.
What I need to do is drag all that darkness into the sunlight.
