Dane had gone through a perfect recovery, one that even his doctors couldn't explain.
However, they were happy that he did but Dane, right now, was not really feeling whole anymore.
His debt still lingered and was constantly staring back at his face whenever he wanted to find out something from the system.
By the top corner of every floating window, the debt bar was squeezed in there for him to see.
It was as if he was now cursed with it.
Some days had passed since he returned from the hospital.
He was back to 100% functionality but still had a little over a week before he would get back to work.
While people would lie and say that they couldn't wait, Dane honestly wanted to wait.
He really could.
Nothing was better than this short holiday he was enjoying.
He felt very refreshed and sound, capable of achieving a lot more of his personal goals than he did whenever he had to work.
Dane sighed as saw the date on his phone.
"In a week now, I will be going back. Tsk!"
Regardless of his lack of interest, it was a given and an inevitable event that would happen unless he found an alternative to that.
Dane went over to the table in his room, picked up a short book that sat there and then proceeded to his bed.
As he flipped the book open, he could see everything he had written out so far from what he knew about this strange ability.
From the name to the capabilities he knew as at this moment and the conditions that he was given.
It all sounded like fairytales until he tested it out himself.
Maybe if he did and it worked, he would believe in the Casanova System a hundred percent, but for now, Dane still had his doubts.
Ding~
His phone chimed, brightening up as a message notification dropped.
Dane glanced at the phone and saw the message.
It was Cassie Grey, his boss's niece.
[Cassie: Hey, Dane. How are you?]
[Cassie: Checked in yesterday but you weren't home. Hope you are good tho]
For some reason, these messages brought a brief smile to his face before Dane regained his composure.
He recollected himself, remembering the incident that happened some time ago and why he needed to be careful around everyone associated with Grey Corps.
...And quite unfortunately, even Jerry as well was not exempted.
Everyone was a suspect in Dane's list and until he found out who the real mastermind behind it was, he wouldn't rest.
Dane recalled his composure and applied more logic as he read the message.
He knew when Cassie had come around to see him and knocked.
He just did not feel like entertaining any visitors at that time and did not respond.
Even his line was unreachable and he made sure of that.
Dane was not really open to building anything with Cassie or anybody right now in his life but following what happened and after much consideration, it was the perfect way to go.
His system required that he interacted with women as well and he, on his part, needed to know what role the Greys had to play in what happened to him, if any.
Who was a better candidate than Cassie Grey?
She was a woman and also a Grey.
It was like killing two birds with one stone.
Dane then picked up his phone and unlocked it to reply to the message.
[Dane: Sorry abt that. I was out then but I'm home now]
It was almost as if immediately he hit send, Cassie read the message and started to reply.
That was fast!
Too fast that it had Dane raising his eyebrows.
He knew Cassie was shy and all, but was this her own way of showing her interest in him?
While some people may excuse it because of Cassie's status, for Dane it was coming off as desperate.
[...]
[Cassie: That's fine. Umm... I wanted to know if you wanted lunch. I'm passing by your area to do something for Uncle Leon, so I could just get you something]
Dane chuckled.
He could see through the lie already.
There was really no such errand for Leon Grey.
Rather it was an excuse that Cassie came up with so she could visit and not come off as desperate at the same time.
Dane already expected this and hatched the perfect reply for such a situation.
He was no extraordinary charmer of women but he was not a novice in that regard either.
His thumbs clicked against his phone screen as he cooked his reply.
[Dane: I was thinking I'd cook for you tho. Let's also call it an apology for yesterday as well]
[Dane: Just give me an idea of the time you're coming]
This was a perfect opportunity to test out a few things he had learned about these past days.
———
Cassie leaned back on her cosy, office chair, swaying left and right as she smiled sheepishly behind her phone screen.
She was all giggles like a high school student talking to her crush.
Then suddenly, her face flushed red as soon as Dane replied with the idea of cooking for her.
She was flustered and her heart started to beat a little faster.
Cassie didn't know why, but she always gaslighted herself into believing she didn't have a thing for Dane.
However, her actions spoke differently from what she believed and volumes at that.
Ever since he was assigned to be her guide when she returned to the country some months ago, their relationship grew faster than she had with anyone else in the company.
Dane was friendly, funny and down-to-earth and these easily checked her boxes.
She didn't see him treating her any differently than he did others because she was a Grey.
He didn't fall before her and worship her because of her status.
Perhaps that's why she felt this way.
Cassie couldn't say for sure but it had to be one of the reasons why.
As she was blushing and wondering how to reply to Dane, Cassie didn't realise that she had an observer.
"You are quite happy. Tell me who are you texting?"
Cassie jolted in shock, losing grip on her phone as she struggled to catch it.
She held her chest and gasped.
"You scared me, Layla!"