"That's some quality wine you got there, Dane."

Dane raised his cup briefly, admiring the content of his own glass and realising that it was indeed somewhat different from what most were having.

"It's the El Dorado, my man," Dane boasted jokingly as he took even more sips from the glass.

His friend laughed and they both clinked glasses in a toast.

These two men were drunk as shit, not caring about what they were saying or doing at this moment.

They laughed, joked and bantered.

After all, it was the company's end of year party for the staff and they were allowed just this night of respite from the stress of work.

Dane's friend leaned in and covered his mouth, whispering something to him.

"You realise that Cassie has been staring at you for like five minutes now, don't you."

Dane played it cool, sipping his drink and not breaking his gaze from looking forward as he nodded in affirmation.

He had probably noticed Cassie's incessant stare long before Jerry did, but he still had to play it cool regardless.

She was the niece of their boss, and even though she was stunning tonight, he was walking on eggshells, considering how tough their boss could get.

It was not surprising, however, that Dane had caught Cassie's eyes.

After all, Dane had an athletic build and seemed to be loved by the staff of his department.

A people's person who comes highly recommended.

"Come on, go talk to her," Jerry urged him, nudging his shoulder in a light push.

Dane would only laugh as he looked at his friend and shook his head.

"In due time, Jerry..." Dane replied to him.

Jerry would never understand why a man like Dane was not already standing beside Cassie.

She had only just arrived with her escorts to the venue and it made sense to Jerry that Dane be the first one to approach her and win her over to his side.

It would be easier for him since everyone in marketing could see that she admired Dane so much.

Jerry turned to look at Cassie, without regard that he was now making it obvious that she was the topic of their discussion.

He could only but sigh and hope that he was in Dane's situation.

He certainly wouldn't waste any time getting with Cassie.

If he succeeded, his life and career were certainly going to change for the better.

Maybe he might even get a whooping promotion after so long sweating and toiling for one.

Jerry gaped at the boss's niece as he examined her features.

Deep brown eyes and long curly brown hair, whose tail sat at the top of her cleavage.

A long V-neck gown that sensually exhibited her soft, firm boobs to capture the attention of many.

Cassie took off her furry coat, handing it to one of her escorts, her slender shoulders showing her.

Her skin certainly spoke volumes of the quality of the skincare products she used.

All these and Jerry wondered why Dane was still wasting time to run at her.

For a moment, she had stolen the spotlight in the room as she walked into the crowd.

She looked around at random but one factor was consistent — she stared at Dane longer than anyone else.

Dane, on the other hand, did not fail to return her gaze.

Smiling at her and slightly raising her glass casually as she walked by.

Cassie smiled back, her face flushing slightly before she headed over to where her uncle was.

Dane didn't realise it, but he, too, seemed to have stared longer than usual, and Jerry had caught him red-handed as he did.

A light smack on his shoulder and Dane recalled himself.

"Aha! I knew it!"

"Shut up, man. You are loud," Dane chided him immediately as he looked around, hoping that no one else heard him.

CLINK! CLINK! CLINK!

The sound of glass clinked resonated in the venue, drawing everyone's attention to the person responsible for this.

"Good evening, ladies and gents..." a middle-aged man greeted, eliciting subtle responses and head nods from the crowd.

He was the master of the ceremony tonight.

"You are all looking very dashing, I must say."

Chuckles flew into the air as the MC himself also laughed in response.

"I trust we are having a great evening!"

"Yes!"

"Then let's give it up for our own Chief Executive Officer of Grey Corps...!"

The crowd went wild, clapping endlessly as the spotlight shifted to the VIP section of the hall, shining upon the one who was called.

"...Dr. Leon Grey."

The CEO smiled and stood from his chair, waving to the crowd as cheers went up in the air.

Dane looked in that direction, staring at Cassie, who was seated beside Leon, and as his gaze shifted, his eyes also lost the lustful stare in them as he caught sight of someone else.

....Layla Grey, the daughter of Leon Grey.

Layla was the one person who had been a thorn in his flesh up until this moment, and he couldn't understand why she disliked him so much.

Dane had an agreement with the Greys and until he completed it, he couldn't resign from Grey Corps as much as he wanted to.

Even he wanted his freedom but at the top of that list, he wanted what he once had.

The very things that they took from him because he couldn't fight back.

Maybe Layla hated him because she felt threatened by him.

Maybe she didn't even hate but was simply mean because there was no love in her life.

Dane didn't care what the reason was and why she was acting up but he decided to let peace reign tonight.

However, seeing Layla again tonight, his mood was depressed.

Even his appetite had gone and the classic El Dorado wine tasted sour in his belly now.

He had only taken it from her out of courtesy and to avoid unnecessary troubles.

Layla presented it as a truce tonight between her and him, considering that Dane had kept silent on her wrong.

He had helped her hide her secret from her father for some months now.

Maybe she recalled that and decided to turn a new leaf where it concerns Dane since a new year was coming.

"Tch!" Dane grunted.

"Are you okay, man?" Jerry asked.

Dane looked at him, blinking as if to clear his blurring vision.

"I'm alright."

Jerry looked at him even more concerned with the effects of alcohol clearing from his eyes.

"No, man. You are bleeding."

Dane had not realised it but the wine did not turn sour inside his mouth and belly because he saw Layla.

It was the taste of iron, from his own blood, on his tongue.

With Jerry drawing his attention to it, Dane rubbed his thumb against his lips and he was indeed bleeding.

"What the hell...?"

At this point, Dane was practically a leaking bag of blood.