The man halted in his track as he scanned the area. With a confounded pause, his gaze drifts towards the man seated in the middle left corner of the bar. His lips moved for a bit, he then smirk as he walked his way through towards the man he saw. 
A puff of air leaves through Gregory’s nose. His eyes were reading the passage. He scrunched his nose when he smelled a familiar whiff of perfume nearby. He tore his eyes off the book that hooked him. Gregory lifted his head, eyes became bored when he saw the man who just can’t seem to brush off the smirk plastered all over his face. 
The man has sharp features. From the bone structure of his well-sculpted jaw, up towards his eyes shaped like one of the birds that prey. He looked at Gregory before his eyes went towards the book he just placed down. 
“Don’t tell me that you’ve invited me just to see you read one of Fitzgerald’s books.” His lips protruded before his eyes danced in delight. His expression suddenly became lighter. The man went to take a seat on the empty chair across Gregory. 
He was careful as he sat. “You were reading his books for a dozenth of time.” The man’s gaze cast an unimpressed look towards what Gregory was reading. “Aren’t you tired of it?” He asked. 
Gregory stayed in his calm demeanour. His composure still intact, unbothered by the comment he heard. He managed to smile at the man. In his eyes something passed, but it was immediately covered by another calm look. “You have never seen me read Fitzgerald, Niccolo.” He said maintaining a goof eye-contact. “Only tonight.” Gregory answered. 
The man slowly moved his head. He lazily let his eyes wandered around the bar. Then his gaze seemed to settle on someone. His gaze lingered before his gaze went back to the person in front of him. 
“She was literally moving from one customer then to another.” The guy talked. His eyes went back to looked at the woman he’s been eyeing for a while. 
Gregory stared too. Before he stared at his own pal. “What do you want to drink? I’ll call her.” He answered. Gregory saw the woman leave the gin on another table. 
The man, Niccolo he slowly detached his gaze towards the woman and stared at Gregory drawing another tight look. “Don’t even try…” He said firmly. 
Gregory suddenly had an expression of enjoyment in his face. He was smirking before his gaze went back to the woman they were referring to. 
Jasmine already brought her the drink he wanted for the night. His eyes went to his glass. The strawberries were still floating in his drink. Gregory typically avoids sweet drinks. He wanted more of those ones were can burn one’s tongue. Just like the subdued flavor of scotch was more of his taste. But he suddenly holds a soft spot for this particular flavor. 
-- 
“I like how the bubble’s fizzle.” Samantha was staring happily at her drink. She tipped the bottle and handed Gregory the glass. She stared at him. “I like the burst of flavor bursting in my mouth.” She grinned happily. 
--
Gregory smiled before his gaze back towards his companion. The man also had his mind off somewhere. Just like his. But Samantha was far out of his reach for tonight. Different from Niccolo were his woman was just around the corner, prancing from one table delivering drinks. 
Niccolo ticked his jaw before his hands went to his pocket. He flicked his lighter on and off, drawing his attention to the flame. It caught Gregory’s attention too as he waited for the smoke to scattered. Niccolo wasn’t a smoker, yet he was carrying the thing around as if it’s a superstitious belief of a person clinging into a thing as if it’s a lucky charm. 
Gregory didn’t utter a word, nor demanded something to stop him from what he is doing. Instead, he tucked the pen and his small notebook back in his coat pocket as he prepared himself to cut straight to the point. “I got a call from him today.” He started. 
Niccolo’s suddenly stopped himself from moving the lighter in his hand. His bored eyes and his face of impatience suddenly fell away. It changed. It revealed the spark of intrigue that he felt. He raised his eyebrows. “This early?” He questioned. 
Gregory leaned, resting his back on the chair. He still has the air of calmness surrounding him. “Yes. There were six candidates, including myself. The meeting for the voting session, it’s in three months.” He replied. 
Niccolo suddenly propped his fingers down his jaw. He was thinking. His eyes then went back towards Gregory. “You always knew that it’s not something that will be that easy for you. He’s not someone who will suddenly proceeds to hand down his crown to you in that instant.” 
Dominic’s fingers were touching the lighter again. He tapped the lighter’s spark wheel, still having the look of accessing something. “But the vote, it’s for formality. He just wanted to exercise that it’ll be a game of fairness but of course you will win.” He said with certainty. 
Gregory offered a noncommittal noise in response. 
He was a child that was born before his parents had their wedding ceremony. A truth that captured the people’s attention that he was a baby born out of wedlock. There were speculations that his father wouldn’t marry his mother, but he somehow did. He was their first child. He already has the right to be the presumptive heir of the Diamond Holdings Corporation.
He had lived his life with the expectation of becoming the CEO. All of his life it’s a thought that was instilled by his mother. A thought that suddenly became a dream for Gregory to reach. He was supposed to take over In five to ten years, not in three months. 
He stilled in his seat. Gregory held his breath before he suddenly welcomed the wave of apprehension that brushed over his chest after he thought of it.