Chapter 133: A gay CEO?
’He’s... he’s gay?’
’Wait, what the hell is going on right now?’
’Is that... a guy he’s kissing?’
’No way. Who’s the other man?’
’How did this image even get on the screen?’
’Did the CEO seriously upload that on purpose?’
’That looks like a man... a whole man!’
’This company—what kind of sick joke is this?’
’I... I don’t get it. Is this part of the show?’
’CEO Augustine is kissing a man!’
’Oh my God, what the actual hell is happening?!’
The murmurs in the audience grew louder, filled with shock and disbelief as eyes darted from one person to another, trying to make sense of what they were seeing.
The image on the projector was undeniable—clear and easy to grasp.
It showed CEO Augustine Wales standing by a roadside, his body pressed close to a young man whose arms were wrapped tightly around him as they shared a passionate, unmistakable kiss.
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly, tension crackling through the silence that followed the stunned whispers.
Although the young man’s face was slightly blurred, his outfit was clearly visible to all.
Stunned!
Augustine stood frozen, the murmurs of the crowd fading into a distant hum.
His eyes were locked on the image displayed before him—himself and Charles Donald, caught in an intimate moment now exposed to the world.
The picture was taken on a day they had stood by the roadside.
Augustine couldn’t recall the exact moment, but he suspected it was either the day he took Charles shopping for clothes or the day they left the hospital—after Charles had collapsed from the tree he’d taken him to on their first date.
Still, trying to pinpoint the exact day was the least of Augustine’s concerns.
All he could think about was one thing—how that image ended up on the projector screen.
"CEO Augustine, explain to us what’s going on!"
"Yes, explain yourself! Is this a fashion launch or a gay parade?"
"A CEO can’t be gay—tell us this isn’t true!"
"I knew something was off! He’s always so cold to women."
The voices rose, no longer whispers but sharp accusations that cut through the silence like blades.
Disgust and outrage echoed across the room, growing louder by the second.
The once-glamorous hall now pulsed with tension and judgment.
Augustine’s breath hitched. His knees wobbled beneath him, the weight of a thousand eyes crashing down like a storm.
Augustine wished the ground would open and swallow him whole. Shame crawled over his skin like fire.
The audience, relentless, had begun taking pictures of the exposed image on the screen, their flashes like lightning strikes in a storm of judgment.
Just then, Reginald hurried over to the stage, his expression grave.
Leaning in close, he whispered calmly into Augustine’s ear,
"It looks like the projector system was hacked. The technician is working to take it down. But you—" he paused, his voice firmer, "you need to calm the room. Say something—anything—to make them feel at ease."
Augustine arched a brow, struggling to process Reginald’s words. "Make the audience feel at each? What the hell does that even mean?" he hissed through clenched teeth, keeping the microphone far from his mouth. "Just get that damn image off the screen!"
Reginald’s fingers curled tightly into his palms, his own rage barely contained. His jaw tightened as he growled under his breath, "We’re trying—but you need to hold it together before this spirals out of control."
Reginald’s hands gripped Augustine’s shoulder firmly, pulling him closer as his voice dropped to a low whisper. "Today is your design launch. Any small scandal, and your entire clothing brand could go down the drain. You have to act fast because..."
His words trailed off as his gaze locked on the flickering image on the projector. Augustine and Charles picture were still there, caught in a passionate kiss, but the image was beginning to glitch, signaling that it was about to vanish. Time was running out.
"Even if the technician manages to take the image down, you need to reassure the audience that you’re not gay," Reginald whispered, his voice steady yet urgent. "Don’t let this scandal ruin your reputation. You don’t have to come out to the gay closet at the expense of your hard work, so Augustine... protect your company image."
As Augustine’s trusted secretary, it was Reginald’s duty to offer the harsh truths, even when they were difficult to hear.
He knew that sometimes, saving face was just as important as staying true to yourself.
Reginald had nothing against Augustine’s relationship—he respected his boss too much for that—but right now, his priority was damage control.
Augustine’s eyelashes fluttered as if trying to blink away the rising panic. "What... what about Charles?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, lips trembling with fear.
"Charles is going to feel heartbroken if I deny this image. I... I promised him I wouldn’t hurt him like others have..." Augustine’s voice cracked as he spoke, his eyes still fixed on the fading image.
Reginald gently but firmly cut in, "The face of Charles wasn’t shown to the public, so you’ve got one less thing to worry about."
Immediately Reginald’s last words left his lips, the projector flickered and the clothing designs returned to the screen.
He gave Augustine’s shoulder a reassuring pat before quietly stepping off the runway stage, leaving the CEO to face the crowd.
Augustine stood motionless, his eyes scanning the sea of faces now drowned in hushed whispers.
The once fierce questions had dulled to murmurs, but the weight of their judgment still pressed heavily on his chest.
With a slow, deliberate breath, he raised the microphone to his lips, his hands trembling slightly—then, he did the unthinkable.
Author note;
Hello readers! I just wanted to let you know that the powerstones you send daily get wiped after one week. That’s how powerstones work, while golden tickets are cleared after a month. So, the golden tickets from last month are no longer valid—you’ll need to renew them! Haha.
Also, powerstones reset every week due to the system of the app, which is why I ask you all to keep sending powerstones, gifts, and even golden tickets to help promote this novel to a wider audience.
The only thing that doesn’t clear after being given to the author is the reviews! Keep those coming, too! Thank you all for your support!