Okay, I'm ready to dive into this chapter.

  Here's the continuation, focusing solely on the specified events and adhering to the requested style:

  The chandelier glittered, its light bouncing off the polished marble floors of the venue, a microcosm of the social jungle Luna was now navigating.

  A cocktail party, they called it.

  More like a shark tank disguised as a garden party.

  Luna’s stomach did a nervous flip-flop as she took in the sea of unfamiliar faces, each one a potential hurdle, a calculating eye assessing her worth.

  The air thrummed with low conversations and the clinking of glasses – a symphony of subtle power plays.

  She could practically taste the ambition and the barely concealed rivalry.

  It was giving serious "who's who" vibes, and not in a good way.

  But beneath the flutter of apprehension, a steely resolve ignited within her.

  She was no longer that naive girl who had been tossed aside like yesterday's news.

  She was a phoenix rising, and this fancy party was her first battlefield.

  Luna straightened her spine, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips, the kind that said, “Try me.

  ” She scanned the crowd, her gaze sharp and focused, like a hawk eyeing its prey.

  It was game on.

  Then, like a bad penny, Sophia waltzed into view.

  Her appearance was as predictable as a plot twist in a B-movie.

  There she was, draped in a dress that screamed "look at me," weaving through the crowd like a venomous snake, her fake smile flashing like a neon sign.

  Luna's eyes narrowed.

  Classic Sophia, always the drama queen.

  And sure enough, Luna caught snippets of Sophia's whispered conversations.

  It was all "poor Luna" this, "desperate for attention" that.

  Sophia was working her magic, painting Luna as the desperate climber, a gold digger with no shame.

  The audacity!

  It was giving major ‘jealous much?

  ’ vibes.

  Luna's grip tightened on her glass, the cool crystal a small comfort against the simmering anger.

  Oh, Sophia, you just had to go there, didn't you?

  She watched, a knowing smirk creeping onto her face.

  It was time to give the audience a show they wouldn't forget.

  Time to serve up some truth, extra crispy.

  She knew exactly how to play this game, and the first act was about to begin.

  Sophia, her voice dripping with sugary poison, was now addressing a small group, her gestures dramatic and pointed.

  As Sophia opened her mouth to spew another lie, Luna took a slow, deliberate step forward, the clink of her heels echoing in the suddenly hushed space.

  “Sophia,” she said, her voice smooth as silk, yet with a sharp undercurrent that promised a storm was brewing.

  "Sophia," Luna's voice cut through the air, as crisp as a freshly starched shirt, "talking about desperation? That's a curious topic, coming from you." She held up a small, sleek device, its screen glowing.

  "I believe this little gem might refresh everyone's memory about who's *really* been clinging to…let's just call it, 'opportunities.'"

  The screen displayed a series of messages, Sophia's frantic pleas to Luna for connections, for favors, for bailouts – all carefully timestamped and undeniably damning.

  The whispers turned into gasps.

  Sophia's carefully crafted fa?ade crumbled faster than a stale cookie.

  Her face drained of color, resembling a sheet of printer paper.

  Her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but no sound escaped.

  The audience, moments ago buzzing with gossip, was now silent, all eyes fixed on Sophia's spectacular implosion.

  Luna lowered the device, a small, satisfied smile playing on her lips.

  "Next time, Sophia, try a little less projection. It clashes with your outfit." The burn was slow, deliberate, and oh-so-satisfying.

  The crowd, sensing blood in the water, shifted away from Sophia, leaving her stranded in a sea of disapproval.

  Luna, however, wasn't done.

  This was just a warm-up.

  The sharks, however, weren't just circling Sophia.

  They were eyeing Luna too.

  Mr.

  White cleared his throat, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

  “Impressive, Ms.

  Davies.

  Quite the…performance.

  But theatrics aside, can you deliver?

  This little gathering isn’t a stage for personal vendettas.

  ” His voice dripped with condescension, testing her, prodding for weakness.

  Others chimed in, echoing Mr.

  White's doubts.

  "We've heard whispers, Ms. Davies. About your…past. Your qualifications." The questions came rapid-fire, each one designed to chip away at her credibility, to expose her as a fraud.

  Luna met their gazes head-on, unflinching.

  "Whispers are for the insecure," she retorted, her voice calm and steady.

  "My qualifications speak for themselves. My *results* will silence any doubters." She proceeded to dissect their concerns, laying out her strategy with the precision of a surgeon, her knowledge of the market sharp and insightful.

  She didn't just answer their questions, she dismantled them, turning their doubts into grudging admiration.

  The air crackled with a new kind of tension, not of suspicion, but of anticipation.

  The sharks, though wary, were intrigued.

  This wasn’t the naive girl they expected.

  This was a player.

  Just as a few hesitant nods began to ripple through the crowd, a deep voice cut through the murmur.

  "Intriguing," Leo said, his eyes fixed on Luna, a flicker of something unreadable in their depths.

  "But tell me, Ms. Davies…"

  Okay, I'm ready to continue the chapter, picking up where we left off.

  I'll make sure to maintain the "strong and爽" style and focus on the key events and character interactions.

  Here we go:

  Sophia’s eyes widened, her painted smile faltering for a split second.

  Luna could practically see the wheels turning in Sophia's head, scrambling to regain control of the narrative.

  But Luna wasn't giving her the chance.

  “Sophia, darling,” Luna purred, tilting her head with a hint of amusement, “it’s fascinating how you manage to be so well-informed about my life, despite not being in it.

  ” The room went silent.

  Every eye was on them, the hum of conversation replaced by a palpable tension.

  This was better than any reality TV show, and Luna was just getting started.

  Luna casually moved closer, her gaze never wavering.

  She paused, making sure everyone could hear her next words.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  “You see, it's a curious thing about gossip.

  It’s often so far removed from the truth.

  ” She allowed a small chuckle to escape, a sound that echoed with confidence.

  “For instance, the claim that I’m ‘desperate’?

  Oh, honey, the only thing I'm desperate for is a decent cup of coffee around here.

  ” Her words landed with a soft thud, shattering Sophia’s carefully constructed web of lies.

  The shift in the atmosphere was immediate; Luna had seized the stage.

  A few scattered titters could be heard, and even some of the more seasoned socialites seemed amused, their interest piqued.

  Luna could see the panic flicker in Sophia's eyes.

  It was delicious.

  Sophia sputtered, her voice losing some of its practiced smoothness.

  “Luna, I… I just meant…” she stammered, but Luna cut her off with a raised hand.

  “Save it, Sophia,” Luna said, her tone cool and dismissive.

  “I’m not here to play your petty games.

  ” Luna turned her attention to the other guests, her smile widening, a genuine smile that reached her eyes.

  “Besides,” she added, her voice carrying across the room, “I believe we all have far more interesting things to discuss, wouldn't you agree?

  ” She smoothly transitioned, subtly shifting the focus from petty gossip to business, her eyes sweeping the room until they landed on Mr.

  White.

  Mr.

  White, who had been watching the interaction with a calculating glint, nodded, his expression unreadable.

  "Indeed, Ms. Davies," he said, his voice smooth.

  "Perhaps we could discuss the potential partnership we spoke of earlier?" Luna smiled, her gaze locking with his.

  "I believe that is an excellent idea." She turned back to Sophia, her smile turning colder.

  "Maybe you should try your hand at a real job for once, rather than just gossiping all day?" It was the perfect mic drop, and Luna was ready for the next act.

  As Luna engaged Mr.

  White in a business-focused conversation, Leo observed her from across the room, a thoughtful expression on his face.

  He watched her navigate the complexities of the social scene with a finesse he hadn't anticipated.

  The earlier suspicion he had felt was now replaced with something else, something akin to respect.

  He was drawn to her sharp mind, her steely resolve, and the way she handled Sophia with such effortless grace.

  There was a fire in her eyes that intrigued him, a strength that went deeper than just her outer appearance.

  He found himself, much to his own surprise, wanting to know more.

  The game was most definitely on, but this time, he wasn't sure who was playing whom.

  As Mr.

  White started excitedly talking about numbers and percentages, Luna felt a gaze fall upon her.

  Looking up, she met the intense gaze of Leo and something in her stirred, a feeling she couldn’t quite explain.

  Maybe this rebirth was about more than just revenge...

  Luna met Leo’s gaze, a flicker of defiance in her reborn eyes.

  His words, laced with thinly veiled skepticism, stung, but she refused to let it show.

  She’d faced worse than the condescending stare of a wealthy heir.

  “Mr.

  Sterling,” she replied, her voice calm and even, “my consultations are my own affair.

  Just as your presence here is undoubtedly driven by your own… *interests*.

  ” She emphasized the last word, subtly mirroring his earlier tone.

  Mr.

  White, caught between the two powerful figures, shifted uneasily.

  He coughed, breaking the tense silence.

  "Well, gentlemen, Ms. Davies' insights have been invaluable. As you know, this project..." he trailed off, clearly flustered by the sudden shift in atmosphere.

  Leo's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Luna.

  He recognized the subtle jab in her words.

  Intriguing.

  Most women would have crumbled under his scrutiny, yet she held her ground.

  This piqued his interest even further.

  Was she truly as naive and incompetent as he initially assumed?

  Or was something else at play?

  Ignoring Mr.

  White’s rambling, Leo turned his attention back to Luna.

  "Is that so?" he purred, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

  "Perhaps you'd be willing to share some of these *invaluable* insights with me?"

  Sophia, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of jealousy and amusement, seized the opportunity to interject.

  "Oh, Leo," she simpered, placing a hand on his arm, "don't tease poor Luna. I'm sure she's very busy with… other things." The implication hung heavy in the air – that Luna wasn’t capable of handling such complex business dealings.

  Luna’s jaw tightened.

  Sophia’s petty attempts to undermine her were predictable, almost tiresome.

  But this time, she wouldn’t let them slide.

  “Actually, Mr.

  Sterling,” she said, addressing Leo directly, ignoring Sophia completely, “I have a proposal that might benefit both of us.

  ” She paused for effect, drawing their attention.

  “Mr.

  White’s project is just the tip of the iceberg.

  I believe I have a strategy that could significantly increase the Sterling Corporation’s market share in the renewable energy sector.

  ”

  Leo raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

  Her confidence was unexpected, almost audacious.

  “And what makes you think you possess such valuable information?

  ” he challenged, though a flicker of genuine curiosity shone through his skepticism.

  Luna smiled faintly.

  "Let’s just say I have a knack for seeing opportunities where others don’t." She met his gaze directly, her eyes holding a glimmer of something he couldn’t quite decipher.

  It was a challenge, an invitation, and a warning all rolled into one.

  Mr.

  White, sensing a potential shift in power dynamics, nervously cleared his throat.

  He desperately wanted to retain control of the situation, but the undeniable pull between Leo and Luna had sidelined him.

  Leo considered her for a long moment, his expression unreadable.

  Finally, he gave a curt nod.

  “Very well, Ms.

  Davies.

  I’m willing to hear you out.

  Come to my office tomorrow morning.

  ”

  A small, almost imperceptible smile played on Luna’s lips.

  The first piece of her plan had fallen into place.

  She had secured a meeting with one of the most influential men in the city, a man who, unknowingly, held a key to her revenge.

  This was just the beginning.

  The glimmer of hope she had clung to in the darkest hours was beginning to burn brighter, fueled by the promise of retribution and a future she would carve for herself.