The first week of April arrived, and with it, the outcome of Kian's bold bet. The market had crashed. The Celestial Diamond's value had plummeted, just as he predicted.
He was right. He had won.
He'd won big.
Zianna had executed his plan perfectly. She'd managed the bet with precision and skill, shedding her doubts as the market responded to their strategy. She'd seen the power of his vision, the accuracy of his predictions.
He sent her a quick email, a simple message.
[I told you.]
He didn't need to say more. She knew. She understood.
A few hours later, a reply popped up in his inbox.
[You're a genius, Kian. I can't believe you did it. You're a visionary.]
Kian smiled, his heart swelling with a mixture of pride and satisfaction. He had done it. He had proven himself. He had made a difference.
He had also won Zianna's trust.
And that was what mattered most.
He knew it was time for the next move.
He typed a new email, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
[Zianna, we're not done yet. There's another opportunity, a bigger one. This time, we go all in.]
He sent the email, his heart pounding. He waited, anticipating her response.
A few minutes later, her reply arrived.
[What do you have in mind?]
Kian knew she was curious, intrigued. He had her attention.
He typed back, his fingers firm, his thoughts clear.
[The Martingale bet. But not for just any market. We bet on Mt. Nigo.]
He hit send, and waited, a sense of anticipation filling him. He had presented his next challenge. The next step in their game.
A few minutes later, another email arrived, confirming his gut feeling.
[We bet on whether it loses its worth?]
Kian grinned. He knew he had her hooked.
He typed back, his confidence rising.
[Exactly. We bet against the hype. We bet against all those who think Mt. Nigo will become some sort of paradise. We bet it will fall.]
He hit send, and leaned back in his chair, a sense of excitement coursing through his veins. He was ready to play. He was ready to win. He was ready to change everything.
Zianna stared at the email on her screen, a mixture of trepidation and excitement churning in her stomach. Kian's proposal had been bold, audacious. Dangerous.
The Martingale bet, betting against the hype surrounding Mt. Nigo, was a risky gamble. A potentially catastrophic one.
She knew that. But she also saw the potential. She saw the opportunity. She saw Kian's unwavering conviction.
She knew he was right. He had won the previous bet, and he had done it against all odds. He had seen something others hadn't. And he was willing to bet big.
Zianna wasn't just a financial manager. She was a strategist. She was a risk-taker. She was a woman who thrived on the thrill of a good gamble.
But this was different. This was bigger. This was personal. She needed to consider the consequences, the risks involved.
But she knew, deep down, that she couldn't resist the challenge.
She couldn't resist the chance to be a part of Kian's vision, to be a part of something bigger than herself.
She sent a quick reply.
[Okay. Let's do it.]
She hit send, and a wave of relief washed over her. She had made her decision. She was in.
She felt the pressure building. This was her chance to prove herself, to show everyone what she was capable of.
But she also knew that she had to be discreet. She couldn't let anyone know about her bet. Not her boss, not her coworkers. Not anyone.
The next day, Zianna arrived at the office, feeling the weight of her secret burdening her shoulders. The whispers started immediately.
"Have you heard about the Mt. Nigo craze?" a coworker said, a smirk on his face. "Everyone's betting on it becoming the next big thing. I hear it's already worth millions."
Zianna forced a smile.
"Yeah, I've heard," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "It's exciting."
"You know, I'm thinking of putting some money in myself," another coworker said, his eyes gleaming with avarice. "It's too good an opportunity to miss."
Zianna's heart sank. She knew she was in the minority. She was betting against the crowd. She was betting against the hype. She was betting against the status quo.
"Good luck with that," Zianna muttered, trying to hide her anxiety.
The whispers continued throughout the day, each one a little louder, each one a little more mocking.
"Didn't Zianna bet against it?" a coworker said to another, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "She thinks Mt. Nigo will fail. What a loser."
Zianna tried to ignore them. But the words echoed in her mind, a constant reminder of her secret bet.
As the day wore on, Zianna felt her confidence waning. The pressure was mounting, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.
She knew this bet was more than just a gamble. It was a test. A test of her skills, her judgment, her resolve.
Zianna tried to focus on her work, but the whispers of her coworkers and the weight of her secret kept gnawing at her. Every time she glanced at the news, every time she saw an article about Mt. Nigo, she felt a surge of anxiety.
She had bet against the hype, against everyone. She had placed a huge bet, a Martingale bet, and she had done it against all odds.
But she was starting to feel the pressure.
She needed to stay calm, to keep her composure. She needed to keep her secret safe. But it wasn't easy.
The pressure was building.
One evening, Zianna was working late, trying to gather more information, to analyze the market trends. She needed to stay ahead of the curve, to anticipate any potential changes in the market.
Suddenly, her boss, Mr. Roberts, entered her office. He looked stern, his face unreadable.
"Zianna," he said, his voice cold and formal. "We need to talk."
Zianna's heart skipped a beat. She knew this conversation was coming. She had been expecting it.
"About what?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure.
"Your recent bet," Mr. Roberts said, his voice low and menacing. "The one you placed on Mt. Nigo."
Zianna felt a chill run down her spine. Her secret was out.
"How did you…?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
"Word gets around," Mr. Roberts said, his eyes boring into her. "And your colleagues aren't exactly thrilled with your decision. They're not thrilled with the idea of you betting against the company, against the market, against everyone."
"It was a personal investment," Zianna said, trying to defend herself. "It was a calculated risk."
"A calculated risk that could cost you your job," Mr. Roberts said, his voice growing colder. "You've been with the company for years. You've been a valuable asset. But this… this is a betrayal of trust. This is a violation of company policy."
"I'm sorry," Zianna said, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble."
"It's not about causing trouble," Mr. Roberts said. "It's about being loyal, about being a team player. And you, Zianna, have failed on both counts."
"What do you want me to do?" Zianna asked, feeling desperate.
"I want you to leave the company," Mr. Roberts said, his voice cold and firm. "You're free to go, anytime you want."
Zianna felt a wave of despair wash over her. Her job, her career, her future were all slipping away. She had made a mistake, a big mistake, and she was paying the price.
But she knew, deep down, that she couldn't give up. It's not about the money she bet but it's about her pride as a finance manager.
Months had passed since Zianna had sent that fateful email to Kian. The sting of Mr. Roberts' dismissal still lingered, but a new fire burned within her. She had put all her faith in Kian's vision, and she was determined to see it through.
The news flash, blaring from every television screen, confirmed what Kian had predicted. The hype surrounding Mt. Nigo had crumbled. A terrorist group had set up camp in the mountains, using the area as a base for their operations. The region was declared off-limits, a hotbed of conflict. The value of Mt. Nigo plummeted, its potential paradise now a warzone.
Kian was right. He had seen what others had missed. He had bet against the hype, and he had won.
Zianna, however, hadn't just won a bet. She had lost a job, a career, her sense of security. But the loss was also a liberation.
She was free. Free to follow her own path, to trust her instincts, to fight for what she believed in.
She joined Kian, his trusted advisor and partner in this risky game. Together, they watched the news unfold. The tension between the two countries escalated, their borders becoming a battleground. The whispers of conflict had become a roar, a chorus of war drums beating a relentless rhythm.
Then came the email. Mr. Roberts. The man who had dismissed her, who had called her a traitor, a rebel. He wanted to see her.
Zianna hesitated, a flicker of anger igniting within her. He had no shame. He had no remorse. But she knew she had to face him.
The meeting room was filled with the company's shareholders, their faces a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. Zianna could see the tension in the room, the questions in their eyes.
Mr. Roberts spoke first. "I called this meeting because we need to talk about Zianna. She may have made a mistake, but she also saw what no one else did. She was the wild card. The one who dared to bet against the tide. And look at what happened. She was right."
His voice was a blend of flattery and arrogance. He was trying to manipulate the situation, to regain control. But Zianna saw through his facade. She knew he was just trying to save face, to spin the narrative in his favor.
"I believe you're mistaken, Mr. Roberts," Zianna said, her voice calm and steady. "I made no mistake. I saw the truth. I trusted my instincts. And I was right. I'm not your wild card. I'm not your plaything. I'm not anyone's pawn. I am an independent woman with my own vision, my own strength, and my own resolve."
She stood tall, her eyes locked on Mr. Roberts. She had nothing to lose.
"I handed in my resignation, Mr. Roberts," Zianna continued, her voice unwavering. "I made it clear that I could leave at any time I wanted. And I'm leaving. I'm not your wild card. I'm leaving this game, but on my own terms."
Zianna walked out of the meeting room, leaving the shareholders stunned and the board members speechless. She had delivered a blow, a final act of defiance.
She was free.
And she was ready for her next move.
She remembers that Kian gave her his number then he texted him.
[Let's meet]