Chereads / The Shadow's Embrace / Chapter 21 - Meeting you again

Chapter 21 - Meeting you again

The following evening, a grand celebration was taking place in a lavish and upscale venue, organized by the Henderson Corporation. The event was an opulent affair, with guests dressed in their finest attire and the atmosphere filled with a sense of anticipation and excitement.

The venue was elegantly decorated with a red and black color scheme, reflecting the grandeur and elegance of the occasion. The walls were adorned with luxurious fabrics, and crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the room. The air was buzzing with chatter and laughter as attendees networked and mingled, drinking champagne and enjoying hors d'oeuvres.

As the event went on, a murmur of anticipation spread through the crowd as the time for the main speech approached. The guests eagerly waited for the moment when the new CEO, Dan Smith, would take the stage to address the crowd. Finally, the moment arrived, and the room fell silent as the emcee took the stage to introduce Dan.

Dan smiled and raised his hand, gesturing for the applause to subside. Once the room had quieted down, he began his speech, his voice steady and authoritative.

"Good evening, everyone. I am deeply honored and humbled to be standing before you as the new leader of the Henderson Corporation."

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to present the new CEO of the Henderson Corporation, Mr. Dan Smith!"

The room erupted into applause as Dan walked onto the stage with a confident stride, his charismatic presence immediately commanding the attention of the audience. He paused for a moment, taking in the sight of the room full of important figures and influential individuals.

"I'd like to express my gratitude to the board of directors and to Ferdinand Henderson for putting their trust in me to lead this great company into the future," Dan continued.

"The Henderson Corporation has a proud history and an unparalleled reputation in the world of medicine. As your new CEO, I am committed to building upon this legacy and taking the company to new heights."

Dan paused once more, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"We have an exciting vision for the future, one that will see us pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the field of healthcare. We will be investing heavily in research and development, and working to deliver innovative solutions that will make a real difference in people's lives. I am aware of the responsibility that comes with this position, and I assure you that I will do everything in my power to ensure the success and growth of the Henderson Corporation. As we embark on this new chapter together, I am confident that we will achieve great things. I look forward to working with all of you to build a brighter future for our company, our patients, and the world." Dan smiled faintly before adding, "And let's not forget to have a good time tonight. After all, tonight is a celebration. So let's put aside our business hats and

enjoy this beautiful evening."

The room erupted into applause once more, and the atmosphere became more relaxed and festive. People began chatting and mingling again, toasting to Dan's success and the future of the Henderson Corporation.

As the evening wore on, the celebration continued, with food, drinks, and conversations flowing throughout the venue. Dan took the opportunity to greet and socialize with the prominent attendees, his charm and confidence leaving a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Meanwhile, among the crowd of attendees, Warren was patiently waiting for his chance to speak with Dan. Dressed in a sharp suit, he observed the celebration with a mix of anger and determination, his eyes fixed on Dan. He had purposely arrived late, hoping to avoid any distractions and to approach Dan without drawing attention. As he sipped on a glass of champagne, he kept a watchful eye on Dan's every movement, waiting for the right moment to approach him.

While sipping his champagne, Warren noticed Dan walking towards the quieter corner of the venue, away from the busy crowd. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to confront Dan, and Warren quickly finished his drink before walking over to him.

Warren grabbed Dan's wrist pulling him in the dark corner.

"What the-" Dan looked up and his eyes wided. "W-what are you doing here?"

Warren's grip tightened. "I'm supposed to ask you that. Why are you here?" He asked, gravelly.

Dan winced at the tightness of Warren's grip on his wrist. He tried to pull his hand out, but Warren's hold was unyielding. Dan looked into Warren's anger-filled eyes, trying to steady his breathing.

He swallowed before speaking, his tone strained.

"I'm here because I'm the new CEO of Henderson Corporation."

Warren chuckled dryly, his grip still strong on Dan's wrist. "I know that already." He said, his voice laced with sarcasm. "From the day we had sex you went missing after that."

He tried to pull his wrist out of his grip again, to no avail.

"Let go of me," he said, his voice low and measured. "You have no right to grab me like this."

Dan winced as Warren's grip on his wrist tightened even more in response.

"No right?" Warren asked, a dry chuckle escaping his lips. "I think I have every right to do whatever I want to you."

Dan's eyes widened at Warren's words, a mixture of shock and trepidation flickering in his gaze. He could feel his heart racing in his chest, his mind racing with a hundred thoughts of what Warren might do next.

Warren chuckled, clearly amused by Dan's attempts to free himself, but his grip on his wrist remained firm. His eyes glinted with a mix of annoyance and something darker.

"You think I'll just let you go that easily, huh?" he said, his voice low and menacing. "You must think I'm an idiot, Dan. Do you really believe you can just walk away from me after what we did and just move on with your life?"

"You didn't know everything so let go of me." Dan responded, flatly.

Warren raised an eyebrow at Dan's response but didn't loosen his grip on his wrist. Instead, he pulled Dan even closer, his gaze narrowing.

"Oh, I think I know more than you think, Dan. You can't fool me that easily," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "You think you can just walk away from me without any consequences? You think you can just forget about everything that happened between us and move on to your new fancy corporate job?"

Dan could feel the heat of Warren's anger and possessiveness radiating off him in waves, intensifying by the second. He gritted his teeth, trying to maintain his composure.

"I don't owe you anything, Warren," he said, his voice still measured. "We had a one-night stand. That doesn't give you the right to dictate my life."

Warren's grip on Dan's wrist tightened even more, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and possession.

"You think it was just a one-night stand to me?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous. "You think I just forgot about you as soon as you left? You have no idea how I felt when I woke up and you were gone. I couldn't stop thinking about you for 5 years."

Dan is surprised at Warren's words, taken aback by the raw emotion in his voice. He hadn't expected Warren to be so possessive and consumed by their one-night stand after all this time. However, he refused to let himself be intimidated.

"And what do you expect me to do about it now?" he asked, looking into Warren's eyes defiantly. "You can't just come here and claim ownership over me just because you can't move on."