As the party goes on, many big pyer, rich investor, and powerful politician came and greet me, as if trying so hard to get some of my riches.

  One man stood out, John Dunham from the Dunham company.

  “A pleasure to meet you Mr. Bckwood, a really nice gathering you hosted tonight”, which I replied “yes, but I believe I haven’t had the pleasure to know you, Mr. . .”

  John Dunham extended a hand, offering his handshake. "Forgive my ck of introduction, Mr. Bckwood. I am John Dunham, CEO of the Dunham Company."

  He gestured around the extravagant room filled with influential guests. "It seems you've really made a name for yourself in a short amount of time." His eyes lingered on my midnight bck tuxedo and the crimson pin adorning my pel.

  My grip was firm yet cold as I shook John's hand, his smile never wavering. "Please, John, I prefer Leon. And yes, I suppose I've been fortunate," I said modestly.

  I knew exactly who John was and the role he pyed in the downfall of my love interest, Li Saunders. my heart ached with restraint, desperate to unleash the fury and pain I have been harboring for so long.

  "Leon it is then," John replied, seemingly oblivious to the fury brewing beneath my composed exterior. "I must say, your rise to power is quite... impressive." “Well, I have some assist from dy luck that’s all, but you Mr. Dunham, your company has been standing for over 30 years and counting, am I right?” I replied.

  “It is standing, but tely our company seems to had a little set back, which is why I am here I guess” before John can continue his conversation his wife came and cuts in the conversation

  "John darling, do you mind introducing me to your new friend?" The woman who intervened was none other than Sabrina Greensky, the object of my vengeance and the cause of Li's demise.

  Every fiber of my being screamed for retribution, but I schooled my features into a mask of polite indifference.

  "Mr. Bckwood, allow me to introduce my wife, Sabrina Greensky," John said through his gritted teeth.

  "Mrs. Greensky, an honor," I said, taking her extended hand and kissing it galntly.

  "The pleasure is mine... Mr. Bckwood?" she replied, narrowing her eyes in feigned recognition.

  I smirked inwardly, knowing that my transformation had been a success.

  "Pardon my manners," John interjected, "Sabrina, this is our tonight's host, Leon Bckwood.

  Sabrina here is my dy luck and the backbone of my success; she is the driven one from the two of us. she will do anything to keep my company afloat” John wink at me.

  “Is that so? well you must be really happy to have her as your wife then, an elegant beauty and a genius hard working business woman” I replied to john but my gaze never leave Sabrina’s eyes.

  “Tell me John, earlier you said that your company is at a dangerous position?” I asked. John Dunham shifted uncomfortably under my intense gaze, his grip on his champagne gss tightening.

  "Yes, Leon... I apologize for bringing up work at such a splendid event," he said with a forced chuckle. "We've been experiencing some... setbacks tely. Nothing that can't be overcome, of course."

  I arched an eyebrow, feigning mild interest. "I see."

  I turned to Sebastian, who materialized at my side like a well-dressed apparition. "Sebastian, please make sure Mr. and Mrs. Dunham's gsses are always full tonight. I insist."

  Sebastian bowed his head in acknowledgment before disappearing into the crowd, leaving the trio alone once more.

  I then seized the opportunity and leaned in conspiratorially towards John and Sabrina.

  "Tell me more about these... setbacks of yours," I hummed. "Perhaps I can be of assistance."

  "Really?" John perked up, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "Leon, you're a lifesaver." The irony of his words was not lost on me, who felt the weight of Li's death heavy on his shoulders.

  Sabrina, on the other hand, was less than thrilled by her husband's eagerness. It was evident in the subtle downturn of her lips that she did not fully trust me just yet.

  Sabrina's eyes narrowed, her instincts buzzing with arm bells. "John, perhaps we should discuss this matter in private," she interjected, shooting him a warning gnce.

  But I made myself seems like an irresistible carrot in front of her husband, and she wasn't about to let him charge headfirst into a situation she knew nothing about.

  "Of course, Sab—" John started to say before I interrupted him off with a cool smile.

  "Nonsense, John," I said, with my voice dripping with honeyed politeness.

  "If we are to be doing business together, transparency is key." My gaze met Sabrina's and held it hostage, her eyes as cold as ice. "Don't you agree, Mrs. Greensky?"

  For a moment, the room seemed to freeze around us and Sabrina could swear she saw a flicker of recognition in my eyes. But it was gone just as quickly, repced by the same unnerving calm that had been there since their first interaction.

  Shaking off the feeling, she locked her own gaze with mine and decided to call my bluff. "I do," she said, her voice even and unwavering. "If we're to be discussing business, then by all means, let's have it all out in the open."

  She took a sip of her champagne, feigning nonchance as she assessed her newfound ally-turned-nemesis.

  John fidgeted under the weight of their stares, clearly unsure of how to proceed.

  His desperation to save his company was palpable, but even he knew better than to cross his cunning wife. "Very well," he said with forced bravado. "The gist of it is, our company has been struggling with some... unsavory characters tely. It's nothing we can't handle—"

  "John," Sabrina interjected, cutting him off with a look.

  She knew better than to underestimate the power Leon Bckwood wielded in this city.

  "The truth is, our company is on the brink of colpse if we don't find a way out of this mess."

  I then cut him “that’s too bad, but I’ve got to go, but I will make time to visit your company John, we will be making some deals and get you out of that hell hole” I shook John hand firmly and then take Sabrina’s hand and kissed it gently

  “I will be seeing you in two or three days”

  Sabrina keeps watching me as I slip by, then I overheard John saying something to Sabrina “the way he kissed your hand, do you think he fancy you? maybe you could, you know, just like the other clients.”

  Sabrina Greensky's eyes fshed with barely concealed fury as she whirled on her husband, her grip tightening around her champagne flute.

  "You think I'd debase myself for your mistakes?" she hissed between clenched teeth.

  "I married you for better or for worse, John, but I draw the line at whoring myself out to save your pathetic hide!".

  “Oh, come on, you’ve done this before for our other clients, do not go saint on me all of the sudden. you know you enjoyed it; you enjoy the thrill and the attention” John replied to Sabrina while grabbing her wrist with enough force.

  Sabrina's dam of restraint broke. With a swift motion, she brought her heel down on John's instep, eliciting a howl of pain. “I did what I had to for us, you bastard!” she spat, wrenching her arm free from his grip.

  “That doesn't mean I enjoyed it! I will not let you tarnish my reputation any further with your petty excuses and selfish desires!”

  The crowd around them was starting to take notice, and Sabrina didn't care one bit. Years of pent-up anger and resentment boiled over in that moment.

  Feigning disinterest, I observed the entire exchange from across the room. A smirk tugged at my lips as I sipped my drink.

  Sebastian, ever perceptive, shot him a sideways gnce but said nothing.

  John stumbled away from his enraged wife, nursing his injured foot and wounded pride as he disappeared into the crowd. Sabrina noticed me watching them the entire time, but she refused to dignify me with a reaction. Instead, she downed the rest of her champagne and excused herself from the party early.

  “Sebastian, I will be coming home early, I got everything I needed from this party. oh, and please find out about Sabrina and John Retionship for the fourteen years, and find out everything about Dunham’s company”

  Sebastian nods as I make my way back to the exit of the building. “What about the rest of the guest sir?” asked Sebastian, “you can tell them your jokes Sebastian” as I disappeared out of the building

  ??

  T.S.Noir