Chapter 9: Summer Associate Dinner [End]

Victor stepped up to the podium, the murmur of the crowd fading instantly. His confident posture and sharp suit made him look every bit the man in charge. He cleared his throat, giving a slow, deliberate scan of the room, only pausing at Damian’s table filled with senior partners and executives trying to make small talk with Hazel, who seemed completely disinterested.

A light scoff escaped his lips, but he quickly composed himself and began his speech.

“Good evening, everyone. I want to start by welcoming all of you, our associates, senior associates, interns, and esteemed guests. It’s not often that we gather like this outside of the office, but tonight is a chance to step back from the grind, network, and recognize the talent we have within this firm.”

He paused, letting his eyes linger briefly on Damian and Hazel again before returning to the room. His expression twitched upon seeing Hazel whisper into Damian’s ear, but he maintained professionalism and continued.

“The past year has been challenging. Cases came fast, clients demanded more, and the market never slowed down. But what makes Blacksheep Firm the success it is… is you. Every one of you contributes to the reputation we have built. And let me remind you, reputation is not inherited, it’s earned.”

Victor’s tone softened slightly, almost like he was sharing a secret.

“Some of you are new. Some of you have been here for years. But tonight, I want you to remember this. Talent, dedication, and integrity matter here more than anything else. The next generation of leaders in this firm isn’t defined by your title or the hours on your badge, it’s defined by the work you do and the people you lift along the way.”

Hmph!

Damian rolled his eyes and scoffed. Victor’s words did not match the treatment he received after being deceived by a speech atrociously similar to this one, narrated by this same man. Showing his talent brought him nothing but pain until he finally ended it all last night. If the system had not given him a second chance, he was not even sure these people would have noticed his death by now.

The firm he once jumped with excitement to become a part of now irritated him. Just knowing he was part of such an ugly establishment made him feel nauseous.

“Enjoy tonight. Meet someone you wouldn’t normally speak to. Share ideas. Build connections. And remember, we are Blacksheep. We don’t follow the rules set by others. We make the rules. That spirit is what will take you, and this firm, further than anyone else ever imagined.” Victor smiled, flashing a brief, controlled grin.

“Now, let’s eat, drink, and celebrate what we’ve built together. Here’s to talent, ambition, and the future of Blacksheep Firm.”

The crowd burst into polite applause, whispers buzzing from all corners of the room about the excellent speech of the managing partner.

Occasionally throwing a glance here and there, Damian could see new faces glowing with admiration while looking at the scoundrel standing on the podium, and he let out a defeated sigh.

’The cycle of pain continues.’ He shrugged with a sigh.

Hazel playfully bumped his shoulder and asked, “If you hate this place that much, why do you still work here?”

“Because it’s one of the three biggest firms in the country. It’s nearly impossible to find a place as good as this. Even if I try to join White Crown or Patriot Firm, I most likely won’t be given an associate position. I’ll just be starting all over again.”

Damian watched Hazel’s face shift through several emotions, as if she was struggling to process what he was saying.

“I’m not a king here or some big shot. Before you came, I was just a powerless human,” he explained in a language she would understand.

Honestly, saying those words felt deeply embarrassing, but what else could he do? He did not want to start his new life on lies by pretending he was some amazing guy or a peerless genius before gaining power like in web novels. He was average at best talent wise.

She tightened her grip on his hand and gave him a sweet smile before saying,

“Well, now you have the power to change that. What you do now defines who you are, not your past.” Hazel was strangely serious while saying those words.

Once again, Damian was dazed by her words and did not know how to react except to look at her with a smile. Hazel’s consistency in showing her care and support for him was what he needed at this time when he had just been dumped.

The two publicly displayed affection, further strengthening his claim while infuriating almost every man in the room.

’How can someone so exquisite want someone like…’

They always froze at that point whenever their gaze fell on Damian. While they all envied him, they could not help but admit there was something about his appearance that made him unusually appealing. He was the type of person who would stand out even in a crowd of a hundred thousand men.

After the opening remarks, the alcohol began flowing and people started mingling aggressively. During this time, Damian and Hazel chose to remain seated and just talk. There was still a lot he did not know about his wife, so he wanted to dedicate every bit of time he had to understand her more.

During this time, several people approached, including senior officers, exchanging short greetings and pleasantries with him just to get a chance to make a move at Hazel and get rejected instantly.

While every other person was busy working hard to network, someone was seated in a chair and everyone was taking the initiative to meet him. Many people rubbed their eyes repeatedly, hoping to dispel the illusion, but the scene never changed. In fact, some people were shameless enough to try twice.

Meanwhile, Candice was nowhere to be seen, and Adrian was left walking around the hall while constantly calling a number that seemed to be going through but was never picked up. Damian had hoped to torment the duo a bit further by even introducing Hazel to them, but now he saw that none of that was possible anymore.

His final thirty minutes were spent talking with Hazel. Halfway through, Candice walked out of the bathroom with her makeup smudged like she had been crying. She walked quickly and spared no one a glance while Adrian chased after her with a clear red handprint on his face.

When the set time was up, he quickly left the building with Hazel and did not bother looking back.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep