"I just received a report from the CFO," Hanna informed Miren while the new CEO sifted through documents at her desk. Receiving a nod from Miren to continue, Hanna said, "A third party has been actively buying out committee members' shares. They have bought roughly fifteen percent thus far."

Miren's head snapped up at the news. "Fifteen percent?!"

"Yes, ma'am," Hanna confirmed. "They are currently in talks with committee member Jon Wilcox to buy his shares."

"Have they been identified?" Miren inquired as she accepted the tablet with the information from Hanna.

"Yes, they are known as Etta Downey."

"Etta Downey," Miren muttered to herself as she looked at the woman's profile. The buyer had luscious, pitch-black hair and vibrant green eyes. Her skin was pale, and her lips were cherry red. 

"Her name is fairly new in the corporate world. Most assume she is a new inheritor, but no one has been able to identify where exactly she came from."

"And why is she buying into my company?" Miren's brows furrowed as she studied Ms. Downey's statistics. "Send me everything known about her," Miren stated as she returned the tablet to her secretary.

"Of course," Hanna returned with a bow.

"Thank you, Hanna." Miren smiled at her secretary sweetly as she shifted from CEO to friend and asked, "Are you excited for the banquet tonight?"

Hanna's face lit up, and she nodded her head. "Very. It's been a while since we were able to celebrate something in peace." Hanna's words reminded Miren of the troubled years they had been through and how they could now relax in peace. "It has, hasn't it?" Miren voiced lowly in agreement.

"Speaking of the banquet, have you tried your dress on yet?" Hanna inquired to change the subject once she saw Miren's face fall slightly. Hanna's attempt at cheering the CEO appeared to have worked as Miren's smile returned and she shook her head. "Not yet, but I am eager to see how it looks."

"You are going to look ravishing; I'm certain of it," Hanna stated confidently with an encouraging smile.

"Thanks, Hanna. I appreciate the flattery," Miren replied with a light laugh and a shake of her head.

"I wasn't joking, though."

"Oh, hush."

The two females looked at each other as smiles tugged at the corners of their lips, and they were soon giggling together. "Oh, look at us," Miren said with a sigh after a moment. "We're way too old to be giggling like this."

"No woman is ever too old for a harmless laugh," Hanna replied, causing Miren to smile once more. "Oh, Hanna, what would I do without you?"

"Miss me intensely," the secretary teased, withdrawing a shake of the head from Miren.

"I daresay you are right, but I think it is time to put this silly talk aside and start getting ready for the banquet," Miren said as she regained her composure. "It is going to be a big night."

While the two women exited Miren's office to prepare for the banquet, Devyn tried his best to convince a certain demon that it was time to get ready for the party. "Denzyl!" Devyn exclaimed as the demon kept him captive in his strong arms. "Just one more kiss," Denzyl told his love as he feathered Devyn's neck with sweet pecks.

"We need to get ready!" Devyn protested as his love continued to plant kisses on his neck and face. "We haven't even gotten out of bed yet, and the sun is about to set!"

"I rather enjoyed staying in bed all day," Denzyl returned in a very seductive voice. "Yeah, I know you have," Devyn replied as he rolled around to face the demon. "I lost count at noon!"

"That early?" Denzyl teased with a raise of his brow. "Aoosh," Devyn released in exasperation while he reached behind him, pulled the pillow out from under him, and plumped it across Denzyl's back. "You horny little devil."

"Demon, mind you. I'd hate to be associated with that bastard."

"Oh, forgive me. You horny little demon."

Denzyl looked at Devyn with a smug expression when he challenged, "You can't say you didn't like it."

"No, I can't. I did like it very much," Devyn agreed, holding up a finger in front of the demon's lips when Denzyl leaned in for a kiss. "But! It is now time to get ready for the banquet."

"Okay," Denzyl agreed with the human, pulling away from Devyn and rising to his knees to hover above his love. "Shower or bath?"

"Shower," Devyn answered quickly. "We don't have time for a bath." Denzyl cocked his brow as he scooped Devyn into his arms and began carrying the human to the bathroom. "We probably don't have time for this shower either."

Devyn's eyes widened at Denzyl's warning. "What? No. No, no, no. We don't have time for more." A smirk was Devyn's only answer as Denzyl set him in the shower and activated the water.

"Denzyl!"

<<<<<<<>>>>>>>

Denzyl smirked at the grumpy man beside him. "You almost made us late," Devyn pouted as they sat in the transport to VIANT's headquarters. "But I didn't," Denzyl replied proudly. "We'll be just on time."

"I can't believe this. I don't know how you even accomplished it," Devyn commented with a shake of his head. He was baffled at the demon's impeccable timing.

"Did I impress you with my abilities?"

"You did, in fact," Devyn answered the demon. "But I wouldn't recommend doing it again. What if we are actually late next time?"

"No promises," Denzyl said smugly. "I'm just going to see that as a new challenge." Devyn chuckled lightly at the demon's response before interlacing his fingers with Denzyl as the transport pulled up to the giant skyreacher where the banquet was to be held. Denzyl exited the vehicle once it came to a stop and went around to the left side of the car to open the door for the CEO. Taking Denzyl's hand the moment he stepped out of the vehicle, Devyn looked at his love and smiled before confidently walking up the red carpet toward the entrance to the tower. 

Cameras flashed as news reporters and bystanders captured the two men's beautiful moment. Denzyl was dressed in an elegant dark grey suit while Devyn wore a silver blouse with white pants paired. The two's outfits complimented each other and only added to their splendor as a couple. Devyn did not care what scandals would come out of this as this was the first time he would be publicly displaying affection toward Denzyl. Articles of him moving on too quickly or cheating on Wil during the engagement would surely surface, but they did not matter to Devyn. He was freed from Wil and was not going to allow anyone's opinion or perspective dictate how he lived his life. He loved Denzyl and thought it only right that the world should know.  

Keeping his head high, Devyn walked with Denzyl up the stairs and into the lobby where they were greeted by Hanna. The sounds of the reporters and observers dimmed down to quiet background noise as the doors closed. "Good evening, Mr. Vaumyr," Hanna welcomed the CEO with a small bow of her head.

"Good evening, Hana," Devyn returned with a nod. "Allow me to escort you to the ballroom," Hanna offered as she gestured to the hallway behind her. "Please," Devyn thanked the secretary kindly. The two men then followed Hanna down a corridor at the back of the lobby to an elevator designated specifically to bring guests to the entrance of the ballroom. 

Coming out of the elevator onto the second floor, the three stepped onto a balcony that surrounded the entirety of the ballroom to create an elevated, fully enclosed gallery where guests could chat and look down on the dancers below. The ballroom itself resided on the first level where guests were also entering through side doors, but the grand entrance was from the balcony down a set of wide steps that led from the second floor down onto the ground level. The room was three stories tall with a brilliant chandelier hanging from the center of the ceiling.

The center of the floor was filled with dancers while the perimeter areas were staffed with standing tables where people could enjoy drinks and the pleasure of conversing with others. Tables of delicate treats and light foods were stationed behind the standing tables, behind which were the lounges and sitting tables. The plan was laid out according to the guests' levels of interaction and extroversion. Those who wished to relax while exerting the least effort could reside in the lounge area where they had quick access to food while those who liked to partake in light conversation without dancing could remain at the standing tables and watch others dance. And, of course, the dancers could use the standing tables surrounding the center as stations at which they could rest between dances.

"Mr. Devyn Vaumyr and Mr. Denzyl Zanik!" The man positioned at the top of the stairs announced as the two men approached the grand steps.

"I shall leave you here," Hanna said in a bow to Devyn. "I will return with Ms. Miren."

Devyn returned Hanna's bow. "Thank you. We'll see you soon."

After giving the two men a professional smile in goodbye, Hanna entered the elevator and returned to the front lobby to await the esteemed attendee of the night. Still holding hands, Devyn and Denzyl descended the luxury steps and arrived at the edge of the dance floor to be greeted by many a foreign face.

Shifting into business mode, Devyn immediately began courting several prospective customers who had been invited to the party with the intention of entering into contracts with both VIANT and Vaumyr and Co. Denzyl remained by his love's side the entirety of Devyn's business transactions until everyone's attention was called to the top of the steps with the arrival of a new guest. 

"Introducing Ms. Etta Downey!"

Denzyl's head whipped up at the guest's name, his eyes narrowing when he saw the woman who was standing at the top of the stairs. The demon immediately placed his hand on Devyn's waist protectively as the woman began descending the steps slowly. All eyes were captivated by her immaculate figure and strong but elegant movements. The way she descended the steps was seductive yet professional. Everyone was dying to know who she was. As a shareholder of fifteen percent of VIANT's stocks, she was automatically invited to the company's celebration of obtaining a new CEO after over fifty years. 

The woman's vibrant green eyes pierced through the guests gathered about on the first floor as she scanned the audience for her first victim of interaction. All present were eager to talk to the exotic woman, well...all but one. Denzyl glared at the woman with flames in his eyes, and he moved to be in front of Devyn, much to the human's confusion, but Devyn did not protest and let Denzyl protect him from the unseen danger. Denzyl was thankful the woman had not noticed him yet, but he knew she would eventually. It was only a matter of time.

After all...

How could she not recognize her avex?