Chapter 8: Summer Associate Dinner [2]

The room was silent like a graveyard, several eyes fixated on the duo. Be it Damian or Hazel, both were stunning to their respective opposite genders, and even a few others who did not consider gender a barrier.

Even Candice was not spared. The Damian she abandoned last night was not the type to dress properly for events. He was not the type who could stand boldly enough for a woman to lean into him. He was not the man who could stand beneath the gaze of many and look unfazed, and he definitely was not this handsome.

Adrian quickly broke free of her hold and began approaching Damian with an almost zombie-like expression, like a lost puppy. Candice was left watching his back grow distant, a stunned expression on her face and one question ringing through her mind.

’Did I just get abandoned by the man I abandoned someone for?’

Meanwhile, some associates snapped out of their daze upon seeing the managing partner take the lead toward Damian, and their hearts froze.

He was a young man in his early thirties, standing about 5’8″, dressed elegantly in one of the finest suits, wearing the brand-new Dilex watch decorated with several well-carved diamonds that complemented his confident smile. Adrian had to halt his advance upon seeing him make a move.

Simply judging by his age alone, it was obvious he did not attain this position through merit, but no one dared whisper the rumors they had heard about him.

Amid everyone’s gaze, the man walked up to the duo. He briefly glanced at Damian and then outright ignored him. He had already deduced Damian was one of his employees, so he had no reason to be polite. Instead, he headed straight for his target and extended his hand to Hazel with a smug smile that screamed, ’I own the place.’

“Forgive me. I didn’t expect we would have such a stunning guest tonight. If I had known, I would have made the decorations grander, befitting your beauty.”

The shameless managing partner gave a slow gentleman’s bow before introducing himself.

“Victor Hale, managing partner of Blacksheep Firm’s Chicago branch.”

The entire crowd drew in a cold breath. Not only had the managing partner publicly courted a woman, he was doing it in front of the man who brought her.

Ruthless.

Those who knew about Damian’s past relationship were even more confused. Who dumped who? And how was Damian about to get his girl stolen twice in one night?

Many felt a hint of pity for him. However, Hazel’s response caused the room to fall silent almost instantly.

“You ignore my husband and address me directly? Were you not taught basic courtesy?”

Her voice was filled with venom.

The fact that she did not even try to hide her disgust caught everyone off guard. But what shocked them even more was the word she used to describe Damian.

Husband?

As far as everyone knew, Damian was a single man who had been dating Candice Orlando, a paralegal at the firm. At least, that was what they thought. But seeing this woman claim to be his wife, both of them wearing matching rings, and the way she clung to him and looked at him, they had to admit that even he and Candice had never appeared this close.

Did that mean Candice had been the one who got dumped?

All eyes automatically turned to her, each carrying the same question.

At first, she did not notice them. She stared at Damian and his wife with an expression that mixed pain, betrayal, and confusion. How could she not feel a stab to the heart?

’I know I’m the one who betrayed him, right?’

’There’s no way he was with me that entire time while having a stunning wife like this. No, this must be a joke!’

Frantically, she reached into her purse, pulled out her phone, and opened her chat log with Damian. Her breakup message had been read, but there was still no response. While she had been riding Adrian all night long, the question had constantly popped up in her head. She concluded that Damian might be too broken to reply.

Clearly, that was not the case.

The man she had dumped was standing here, looking twice as handsome as he did yesterday, with a woman too gorgeous and too well dressed to come from an ordinary background, claiming he was her husband.

Candice’s knees began to lose strength and wobble, forcing her to grab the counter for support. When she raised her head, she realized several eyes were pinned on her. Her recent actions had confirmed whatever they had been suspecting.

People turned away and began whispering among themselves. Meanwhile, her date was somewhere in the small crowd of men seeking another woman’s attention.

This was complete embarrassment.

Unable to endure their judgmental eyes any longer, Candice ran toward the restroom.

Meanwhile, Victor’s face twitched from Hazel’s scolding, his eyes revealing a cold gleam. The fact that she left his hand hanging while tightening her grip around Damian’s arm made it worse.

The managing partner was rejected for a mere associate?

These were the kinds of things you saw in K-dramas, not real life.

“Aah, my apologies, my lady. I meant no disrespect.”

Victor quickly recovered, turning his attention to Damian and patting his shoulder.

“Hahaha, you really have a good wife! Congratulations, Mr….”

“Damian.”

While responding, Damian allowed Hazel to slide her fingers between his before sealing it with a mutual hold. It was all done within Victor’s line of sight.

Bold.

Victor’s eyes narrowed for a moment, hostility flashing in them. But it was quickly replaced with a warm smile before anyone could notice.

“Good kid!”

Victor smiled, a cold gleam in his eyes, but Damian was too focused on Hazel. He patted Damian’s shoulder a few more times before walking away, plunging the entire room into a quiet uproar.

The name Damian had once been insignificant in the firm, but not entirely unknown. He had been the rising young star whose light was snuffed out by office politics. No one had any reason to help him. He had been an insignificant nobody.

But now, they felt an overwhelming urge to sit down with him for one uninterrupted hour and find out who he really was.

As they continued staring at him, they began to notice the changes, especially his eye color. It was already established that he was handsome, but his lack of confidence had always killed any attraction people might have felt.

’Was he always this handsome, or is it just the confidence?’

’Is this really Damian?’

While everyone allowed their thoughts to run wild, Damian wore a bitter smile. He had come here to show off and hurt Candice, but he ended up attracting unwanted attention. Now he was on the bad side of the managing partner of the entire Chicago branch.

Clink! Clink!

Clink! Clink!

The sound of a spoon tapping against a glass caught everyone’s attention.

A middle-aged woman in her early forties stood on the stage with a displeased expression. She wore a deep emerald silk dress that fell just below her knees. The cut was clean and structured, sleeveless yet modest, tailored to fit her frame without being flashy. She paired it with simple diamond studs and a thin gold bracelet. No necklace.

It was Eleanor Price, senior partner and head of the Corporate Litigation Department, known for her strict nature and cold demeanor. It was no surprise that the misconduct of the managing partner had deeply annoyed her.

“Everyone, take your seats. It’s time for the managing partner to give the opening speech.”

Her voice was completely void of warmth.

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