Chapter 155: No Stronger Shield
"Mr. Hale, Ms. Alani Stones, daughter of the president of Stones Group in Whitehaven, is requesting a private meeting with you. How would you like me to respond?"
Before Captain Rico could send over his intelligence report on Lady Francine, Luca received a call from Secretary Cecelia.
"Whitehaven?" he murmured, raising an eyebrow.
He couldn’t remember ever meeting the Stones heiress. More importantly, none of his businesses had any connection to Whitehaven’s fine ceramics industry.
If it wasn’t business, then there was only one logical explanation.
Gordon had handled Stones Group’s shipping network for years. Now that Gordon was behind bars, the Stones family was almost certainly looking for a new maritime partner.
"Did she mention why she wanted to see me?" Luca asked.
Cecelia paused for a second before answering.
"She didn’t say it directly, but I’m almost certain it’s about their transatlantic shipping routes to Europe. President Luiz used to oversee those contracts."
"In that case, I’ll pass. Tell her to contact Mr. Vanderbilt instead."
"Understood, sir."
A faint smile crossed Cecelia’s face. Her new boss seemed almost immune to the charms of wealthy socialites. It was an amusing observation, though she wisely kept it to herself.
"Oh, one more thing, Boss. The Northstar Children’s Foundation is holding its annual charity gala tomorrow evening. Would you like to attend?"
Before Luca could ask what it was, she continued.
"It’s the most prestigious children’s charity in New Orleans, and one of the best-known nonprofit organizations in the country. Every year they host a fundraising gala attended by major business leaders, celebrities, and philanthropists. The Hale-Viv Conglomerate has a permanent VIP table."
Luca wasn’t particularly fond of glamorous social events, but genuine charity was another matter.
He had more money than he could spend in several lifetimes.
Sometimes he still remembered the days when he worked endlessly just to hit a monthly sales target.
He couldn’t save everyone in the world, but now that he had both wealth and influence, there was no reason to be stingy when it came to helping children.
"I’ll be free tomorrow evening. Send the venue details to my phone."
"Right away, Boss."
After ending the call, Luca gently swirled the wine in his crystal glass before taking a slow sip.
"You accepted the invitation?"
Vivienne walked over in a light silk robe carrying a plate of freshly sliced fruit. She settled beside him on the couch with effortless grace.
"You’re familiar with the foundation?" he asked, popping a grape into her mouth.
She smiled as she accepted it.
"I’ve attended once before with my father."
The mention of him softened her expression.
Noticing it immediately, Luca slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close.
"Then let’s go together tomorrow."
"Mmh."
She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. A gentle warmth spread through her as she looked up at the sharp lines of his face.
’My darling... everything about him is impossible not to love.’
The following evening...
A custom Rolls-Royce glided beneath the grand entrance canopy of The Meridian Hotel & Resort.
Inside were Luca, Vivienne, and Naomi Monroe.
Behind them came another executive sedan carrying PB and Marceline, followed by six black SUVs packed with Crescent Security operatives maintaining a tight perimeter around the convoy.
It was the first time Luca had traveled with security on this scale.
Normally he preferred keeping a low profile and hated unnecessary displays of power. But after everything that had happened in New Orleans, he wasn’t willing to take chances with Vivienne’s or Naomi’s safety.
Protecting them came before everything else.
"Luca... this place is gorgeous!"
Naomi stepped into the marble lobby and looked up in amazement at the enormous crystal chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Wait... isn’t this supposed to be a charity gala? Doesn’t renting a place like this kind of defeat the purpose?"
"Haha! Miss Monroe, you’re overthinking it."
A familiar laugh sounded behind them.
Harvey Adams walked over with a broad grin.
"The foundation doesn’t pay for the venue. Everything here is donated by private sponsors."
"Mr. Adams."
Luca smiled as they shook hands.
"Hey, I already told you," Harvey laughed, lightly punching his shoulder. "Drop the formalities. Just call me Brother Adams."
"Haha... alright, Brother Adams."
"That’s better."
Harvey looked Luca up and down before letting out another laugh.
"You’ve really been making headlines lately. Half the biggest stories in New Orleans this month somehow lead back to you."
He had always known Luca was capable.
But even he had been stunned when Gordon Luiz was arrested.
Everyone in New Orleans knew how deeply rooted the Luiz family was. Harvey never feared them, but even he would’ve thought twice before declaring open war against Gordon.
Yet within days, the entire empire had changed hands.
The conglomerate had even been renamed.
No matter how many times Harvey replayed everything in his head, he still couldn’t figure out how Luca had pulled it off so cleanly.
If Luca knew what Harvey was thinking, he’d probably just shrug.
’Naomi and I went shopping, spent some time at home, and Gordon somehow managed to destroy himself.’
Ridiculous as it sounded, that was exactly what had happened.
As the gala drew closer to starting, more guests streamed into the hotel.
Veteran CEOs arrived with elegant companions. Young tech founders walked in beside famous models. Well-known actors and actresses, faces usually seen on red carpets, greeted photographers before entering the ballroom.
Hostesses guided everyone to their assigned tables.
At the front stood an elegant stage illuminated by warm golden lights. Dozens of beautifully decorated banquet tables filled the hall below, each topped with elaborate floral arrangements.
Although it was a charity event, nothing about it felt modest.
Everything reflected luxury.
Luca, Vivienne, Naomi, and Harvey were escorted to a VIP table near the stage.
"Mr. Hale?"
Just as Luca was about to sit down, a graceful voice called his name.
He turned.
The first thing he noticed was an impossibly elegant pair of long legs.
Then his eyes lifted to her face.
She was stunning.
Poised.
Refined.
But unfamiliar.
He stood politely.
"Good evening. Have we met?"
"My apologies. I should’ve introduced myself first."
The woman offered a graceful bow.
"I’m Alani Stones, general manager of Stones Group in Whitehaven."
Recognition flashed across Luca’s face.
"Ms. Stones."
He remembered Cecelia mentioning her the previous day.
"I wanted to personally thank you," she said sincerely. "Because of your recommendation, Mr. Vanderbilt agreed to meet with us yesterday. We were able to finalize our shipping agreement without any issues."
"No thanks are necessary."
Luca smiled politely.
"I didn’t influence the negotiations. George signed because your company met his standards."
Even as he spoke, another thought crossed his mind.
’George signed a multimillion-dollar shipping contract that quickly?’
’Did that old man really wrap everything up after one meeting?’
’That’s not exactly how international logistics negotiations are supposed to work...’
He briefly wondered if George had been charmed by Alani’s beauty.
Then he dismissed the thought.
’No. George’s far too professional for that.’
Shaking the random idea away, he gestured toward his seat.
"If that’s everything, Ms. Stones, I’d better take my place. The ceremony is about to begin."
She hesitated.
Her fingers lightly gripped the edge of her evening clutch before she gathered her courage.
"Mr. Hale..."
She looked him in the eyes.
"I’d really like to thank you properly. If it’s not too forward... would you allow me to treat you to dinner sometime?"
Luca blinked in surprise.
She seemed like the reserved, elegant type.
He hadn’t expected her to be so direct.
Still, their business relationship had already ended with the signing of the contract. They barely knew each other.
"I appreciate the invitation," he replied with a courteous smile. "But I’ll be extremely busy for the next few days. Let’s leave dinner for another time."
He paused before adding,
"And really... you don’t owe me anything. Earning Vanderbilt’s trust was entirely your own accomplishment."
For the briefest moment, disappointment flickered across Alani’s face.
She hadn’t expected to be rejected the first time she’d ever invited a man to dinner.
The invitation had never been solely about gratitude.
That was only part of it.
News of Gordon Luiz’s downfall had spread through both Whitehaven and New Orleans, making one fact abundantly clear.
Luca Hale had become one of the most powerful men in the region.
Meeting him in person only reinforced what she’d heard.
He was even more impressive than the newspapers suggested.
Despite growing up surrounded by wealth and influence, she found herself strangely nervous around him.
There was another reason she had approached him.
Her father was pressuring her into an arranged marriage with the heir of Maison Premier in the Capital.
She needed someone powerful enough to stand between her and that future.
Someone her father couldn’t simply ignore.
And standing before her now was exactly that person.
Young.
Handsome.
Unimaginably wealthy.
And powerful enough to bring down the Luiz family almost overnight.
To Alani, there was no stronger shield than Luca.