The conversations in the banquet hall fell completely silent at that moment. Even the music had been lowered to a barely audible volume, as everyone waited for the host to speak.
"Everyone—" Allen Dicolik's steady, magnetic voice echoed through the quiet hall.
"Thank you all for honoring us with your presence tonight and spending this wonderful evening with the Dicolik Family."
His gaze slowly swept across the banquet hall, meeting familiar and unfamiliar faces alike. Everyone he looked at unconsciously nodded slightly in response.
"Some of you here are old friends of the Dicolik Family, some are partners we have only recently begun working with, and some are—"
He paused, his gaze settling on the young faces in the corner of the banquet hall. The smile on his lips deepened slightly.
"Some young friends who may have been brought here by their elders and are attending an occasion like this for the first time."
He raised his glass, the amber liquid within gently rippling beneath the lights.
"No matter why you came here, I must offer my thanks. There is no formal agenda tonight, no lengthy speeches—only fine wine, fine food, and—"
He tilted his head slightly and glanced at the two upright young men behind him. "The Dicolik Family's most sincere hospitality."
"So please, relax and enjoy the evening to the fullest."
He raised his glass and offered a slight gesture toward all the guests.
"Cheers."
"Cheers—"
The guests raised their glasses in response, their voices rising from every direction and blending into a warm tide of sound.
Seeing this, Allen Dicolik smiled, brought his glass to his lips, and took a small sip.
The champagne's Bubble burst softly on his tongue, carrying the fruity fragrance of Berries and a creamy, silky texture—the distinctive complexity of vintage champagne.
He