Laughter and conversation danced around the table, the clinking of silverware and the warm glow of the fireplace painting a picture of festive cheer. Daniel, his mind strategically maneuvering a few slivers of steak onto his plate, felt a flicker of movement in the corner of his eye. It was Greed, subtly gesturing for him to remain seated.
A moment later, the insistent ring of the doorbell echoed through the house. Daniel's gaze darted towards the direction of the front door past the living room. He was about to stand up to check on the door but a nudge stopped him.
"It's ok, Danny, leave it to me." Greed said, her voice laced with a hint of happiness as she rose from her seat. Her blue eyes sparkled with an understanding mixed with curiosity as she stood up from her seat and walked toward the door.
Ding dong...
The insistent jingle of the doorbell pierced the festive atmosphere. Greed, her brow furrowing slightly, excused herself from the table. Reaching for her phone, she swiftly accessed the custom app linked to the doorbell camera.
A face materialized on the screen, instantly twisting Greed's features into a grimace. It was none other than Garret Vance, the epitome of a charming yet utterly persistent pest.
Golden hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a smile that could melt glaciers - Garret possessed the undeniable allure of a successful businessman, a "husband material" as some might say. But beneath that facade lurked a hint of arrogance, a telltale sign of his upbringing in a privileged household.
Greed's mind raced. Garret Vance, the son of Alexander Vance, head of the Vance Holding Corporation - the second-largest company in the US, a mere notch below her own Golden Empire Group. Their business spanned from real estate and banking to hospitals, energy, and even weapon manufacturing.
A glint of steel flickered in her blue eyes. Alexander Vance's past ambitions – a merger fueled by a strategic marriage – were nothing new. The notion had been swiftly extinguished years ago upon the revelation of her true identity.
But now, with the recent Grand Alteration spell erasing all memories of magic, could the Vance family be harboring renewed aspirations? Was Garret's unexpected Christmas Eve visit a calculated attempt to rekindle their old ambitions?
A flicker of festive cheer dimmed in Greed's eyes as she stared at Garret Vance's face on the screen. A knot of irritation tightened in her gut. She had clearly stated to the man – no intrusions, especially not on a night of Christmas Eve reserved for her family and cherished friends.
The bigger concern, however, was the glaring security lapse. This secluded mansion was a closely guarded secret, accessible only to the highest echelons of the Golden Empire. The knowledge of its existence reaching an outsider, particularly someone like Vance, spoke volumes. A mole lurked within her ranks of trusted advisors and secretaries in her company.
A steely glint hardened Greed's gaze. The festive spirit took a backseat in her mind. The first order of business: a discreet yet thorough internal investigation. Whoever dared to peddle her private information to the Vances would face a consequence!
"Ding ding..."
The door swung open once more, revealing a flustered Garret. Before Daniel could react, the blond man lunged forward, attempting to force his way past. Daniel, however, stood firm, an immovable obstacle in a casual sweater and khakis.
A moment of struggle ensued, the air thick with tension. Finally, Garret met Daniel's steely gaze, his initial bluster replaced by simmering fury.
"Move aside, you mutt!" he snarled. "You're just a bodyguard, and you dare to block my path!? Don't you know who my father is?"
Daniel's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk. A single eyebrow rose in amusement. "Why?" he drawled. "Is your mother too carefree during her high school? How the f*ck would I know?"
With this retort, Greed felt elated and excited, experiencing a rush of exhilaration similar to that of her favorite soccer team scoring a goal in the final round of the championship world cup!
Garret was stunned for a few seconds before registering and processing Daniel's words. After a brief moment, Garret's face flushed with anger, and he swiftly drew a gun from under his long winter coat, pointing it at Daniel's head.
"You damn lowly mutt! Die!" Garret shouted in anger as his finger tightened on the trigger... but after a few futile attempts to fire the gun, nothing happened.
Garret's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized that Daniel's left hand had prevented the gun hammer from striking, rendering the weapon useless. How had he not even noticed Daniel's movements?
This sudden revelation struck fear deep into Garret's core, leading him to assume that Daniel was likely a former special forces or secret service operative accustomed to high-risk operations.
"Remember who started this," Daniel said calmly before effortlessly disarming Garret and delivering a punch into Garret's gut, sending him sprawling to the ground. Garret lay there, doubled over and retching whatever he ate before arriving here, overwhelmed by fear and humiliation.
Daniel didn't wait for Garret to respond and closed the door once again before continuing his festive feast with his family.
Garret gritted his teeth and slowly rose to his feet, feeling like a defeated dog as he staggered toward where he had parked his car. "You damn mut... just you wait!" he muttered through clenched teeth, nursing his wounded pride. This humiliation would not go unanswered. He swore to himself that he would make Daniel pay for this insult, tenfold—no, a hundredfold.
Fifteen minutes later, Daniel was enjoying the feast with his family. Mammon had finally tasted his long-awaited steak, thanks to Daniel sneaking him some.
But then, a familiar sound shattered the festive atmosphere: Ding Dong...
This time, Daniel's jovial smile turned upside down, his expression darkening with anger. He stood up from his seat, walking toward his trench coat to retrieve his trusty large-caliber handgun before heading to the door.