[17]

"Is Damian not coming to the banquet tonight?" the man asked, his eyes cold, but his hands skillfully slicing the Wagyu beef to the degree of doneness he wanted. He was chewing with gusto, as if he was really enjoying tonight's banquet.

"He's definitely coming," the woman sitting in front of him said. She was enjoying the dinner spread out in front of her, just like the man. To be more precise, she was trying to enjoy the meal because she often caught sight of Hudson, her assistant, out of the corner of her eye. Just to make sure Damian keeps his word.

The elegant dark-haired woman, who was calmly enjoying her meal, was sitting at her side. She wasn't bothered by anything, including the chatter that seemed to put pressure on each other. After all, the woman was at the banquet as part of the family, not the main attraction who was waiting for her in the room.

She was hoping he'd come and sit with her for a moment. All Rebecca needed was to see his face.

"Do you know where your husband is, Rebecca?" the man asked, seeming a bit dismissive in his tone and the way he looked at everyone in the room. That includes the woman sitting in front of him, whom he should have respected as a sister.

"I know, Uncle Leonard." Rebecca gave a little smile. She used the tip of a handkerchief to wipe away the food stuck to the corner of her lips. "I don't need to tell you where it is, do I?"

Leonard Sawyer shot a quick look at the woman who had just spoken. He let out a snort of sarcasm and decided to enjoy the wine that had been provided. "I just don't like waiting too long."

This time, it was Hera who spoke up. She started with the cutlery, placing it on the edge of the serving plate a little louder than usual. "Isn't it standard practice to wait for someone more senior and important for our business?" She raised her glass of wine. "Anyway, you seem to be in a hurry. Is there something important for Damian to know?"

Leonard looked at Hera and gave a little smile. Just as he was about to speak, the servants standing not far from the banquet area bowed with great respect. At the sight of the man who had been expected since earlier.

The man in the black suit had curly hair that fell just short of covering his left eye, and he wore an eye patch as black as night. He looked around with a flat, unperturbed gaze. The only thing that stood out about Damian's appearance tonight was the mask that partially covered his face. His eyes were sharp and ready to slash at the interlocutor if he didn't comply with Damian's wishes.

The man also ignored the greetings directed at him. Instead, Damian started to unbutton his blazer, easily removing his outfit without paying attention to whether anyone noticed. One of the waiters nearby quickly picked up the blazer to keep it from touching the floor.

Damian Sawyer is not a man who likes anything dirty, dusty, or messy. He also had to make sure that what he wore was perfectly clean and tidy.

Hera was surprised to see her son acting out of character. On top of that, he had rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt. Damian's gaze was still as impassive as when he arrived, unreadable.

Rebecca was overjoyed to see her husband again. However, seeing Damian with that look made her heart give a stern warning: Don't talk to that man if you don't want to get into trouble. Rebecca decided to stay silent for that reason too. She kept her eyes on Damian to see what he would do next.

"You're here," Leonard said with a big smile and a laugh. "But, um, I thought you were going to be late."

Damian easily got out of the way of whatever was in his way—he sat on the table. He didn't care about the sound of plates or glasses hitting the floor. He stood up and positioned himself higher than the man who had said hello earlier. Right in front of Leonard, who was now staring in astonishment. Then,

"Wow! You really intend to kill me here?"

Leonard replied with a lighthearted laugh. Damian had quickly pulled a gun from his pocket and was already pressing the tip against the temple of the man he should respect as an uncle.

"Do I have to?" Damian asked quietly, his voice carrying a sinister tone. He removed the black mask that was partially covering his face. "I'd like to test a new weapon. You know," Damian took a moment to think before continuing.

But he applied more pressure to the gun, which was still firmly pressed against Leonard's temple.

"Put that away, Damian," Hera said, looking shocked at what had happened. Damian didn't usually act without thinking. Particularly when it's a dangerous weapon.

Damian just looked at his mother with a flat stare. Once he removed the mask, he was able to speak freely. Then he looked back at the middle-aged man in front of him. He didn't need to get to know the man. In the Sawyer Group, Damian's role was more senior than anyone else's, even though...

This is the latest Glock Seven series. You won't find it anywhere but in my main safe, Uncle." Damian gave a brief, almost imperceptible smile. His eyes were fixed on Leonard, who didn't look away. He was challenging Damian.

"If I pull this trigger and release it just like that..." Damian lowered his head slightly, applying more pressure to Leonard. "Then, suddenly, it'll be like, 'Boom!'  You're there, helpless, Uncle. And the only people who know what the murder weapon looks like are the witnesses here."

Leonard let out a short laugh. "Are you planning to use it to silence me?"

Damian reached for his gun, but he was still sitting down. "Would I do this to my best partner? Uncle Leonard?"

Damian couldn't help but smile slightly at the thought. "Only a fool would take up arms to break someone's trust." Damian touched his temple with his fingertips. As if that were enough, he gave the person he was talking to a heads-up to think before acting.

"You're right." Leonard gave a little smile. He blinked a few times, trying not to challenge Damian with a stare. "I've been waiting for you to show up. No interest in trying the dinner your wife made?"

Damian knew Leonard was trying to change the subject. "My wife doesn't run the kitchen. She doesn't need to do things like that just to fill my stomach, Uncle." Damian crossed his legs. It was a clear sign that he wasn't ready to leave just yet. "One thing I do know is that my wife knows when to use her skills. That includes being my supporter, no matter what I decide." He turned his head and looked at Rebecca. "She does, doesn't she, Darling?"

Rebecca was taken aback. Her smile was a welcome surprise. She agreed with her husband without hesitation. "I've always been there for you, Damian. I'm your most loyal and faithful wife."

Damian gave a little grin. "So, tell me, does the head chef at this mansion keep you well-fed?"

Leonard grumbled under his breath. Since Damian touched the tip of his gun to the man's temple, he knew Damian was giving him a warning. For what he did, even though it was done very neatly. He was also involved in a case of embezzlement in one of the sectors, where he was shipping raw materials for production purposes. So, the process was a bit disrupted, and it made Damian pretty angry. Even so, no one had any idea what Leonard was up to until now.

The moment Damian gave him a heads-up. But it wouldn't be Leonard if he was afraid of his nephew, who could sometimes be more sinister than Russel Sawyer. That impression was first made when Damian chaired a big meeting after Russel died a few years ago.

"At least I can be understanding about your emotions, Damian. You know, emotions can be pretty destructive."

Damian gave a little smile. "Take it easy. I think emotions are afraid to face me, Uncle." Damian crossed his arms over his chest. "You didn't just come to this mansion for the banquet, did you?"

Leonard let out a chuckle. "Can't you take a moment to relax? You just got back from London, right? Marcus said you had business with the Birmingham family?"

He gave a nod in reply. "In two days, my big shipment will be at the port. You've got this, right? I don't want to hear about failure or cheating, even a little. Don't get too carried away with your own success, Uncle Leonard. I'm not going to be lavishing you with unnecessary luxuries too often."

Leonard's hands were clenched tightly. His eyes were fixed on Damian, who seemed totally unfazed by his actions.

"Just a heads-up: Before your status is officially legal, you're still my boss, Damian. But you can't stop me from doing anything I want."

Damian let out a chuckle. "I'll have a successor, Uncle Leonard. A successor who'll be even better than I am. Take it easy. I'll let you know how handsome... or," Damian said, rubbing the tip of his chin. "Beauty isn't a factor here. As long as he's my flesh and blood, he's Sawyer's true successor." He gave Leonard's shoulder a little pat and got up from the table. "Prepare my room, Hudson. I'm tired."

Damian's words made Hera and Rebecca exchange glances. They couldn't possibly not listen to Damian's shocking words, right? Including when Leonard gave Rebecca a hateful look.

“Are you pregnant, Rebecca?”