Chapter 9: The Red Carpet
Chapter 9: The Red Carpet
The night of the Starlight Studios Annual Charity Gala had arrived. It was the social event of the season in Los Angeles. The red carpet was rolled out in front of the massive, historic theater downtown. Paparazzi flashes exploded like a lightning storm as Hollywood elite, politicians, and billionaires arrived.
Julian stepped out of his limousine, dressed in a flawless midnight-blue tuxedo. Beside him was Clara, looking absolutely stunning in a sleek, emerald-green gown. They walked the carpet together, projecting a united, unshakeable front to the world.
Inside the grand ballroom, thousands of crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over the elite crowd.
Near the center of the room, Viktor stood holding a glass of champagne, holding court with several powerful investors. A few feet behind him, looking miserable and incredibly nervous, was Elena. She wore a cheap dress, her face pale, constantly scanning the exits. Viktor had forced her to attend to show the press that she was a "victim" putting on a brave face.
Julian caught Viktor’s eye across the room. Viktor raised his glass in a mocking toast. Julian simply offered a cold, imperceptible nod.
"Are all the feeds connected?" Julian whispered into a small earpiece hidden in his ear.
"All feeds are live, boss," Marcus’s voice crackled back from the control room upstairs. "We have hijacked the main broadcast. We are streaming live to every major news network covering the gala, plus YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. We have a global audience of about twenty million people right now."
"Stand by," Julian said.
He walked up to the main stage, approaching the grand podium. The room slowly quieted down as the billionaire film mogul prepared to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian’s deep, commanding voice echoed through the massive sound system. "Thank you all for coming tonight to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Tonight, we celebrate the magic of cinema. We celebrate the power of storytelling. But mostly, we celebrate the truth."
Elena shifted uncomfortably in the crowd. She looked at Viktor, who suddenly frowned, sensing that something was terribly wrong.
"In the movie business, we spend millions creating incredible illusions," Julian continued, his eyes locking directly onto Viktor. "But sometimes, the greatest monsters in the world aren't created by CGI. Sometimes, they are wearing expensive suits, drinking our champagne, and standing right in our very own ballroom."
May you like
The crowd murmured in confusion.
"Tonight, instead of our usual presentation, Starlight Studios is premiering a very special, unedited short documentary. A true story about greed, betrayal, and attempted murder. Roll the film."
