“We’re launching the Toasting Ceremony in a few days.”
“The Toasting Ceremony?”
“That’s right.”
It was a clever marketing strategy. As the venue focused on dance, they planned to include dance battles as part of the festivities, aligning with Galant’s dance queen competition.
Guests would have the opportunity to vote and bet on their preferred dancers.
It was expected that multiple bets might be placed on the same dancer.
What was at stake? The top betting guest on the winning dancer, who would be crowned as the dance queen, would be honored by having her serve them a drink.
Hadley understood the concept but remained skeptical. “Do you think that will actually attract interest?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Lennon reassured her with a confident smirk. “People here love to spend money for entertainment. They’ll definitely enjoy this.”
He didn’t mince words. “You’re a guaranteed winner for dance queen. Just a heads-up, you’ll be pouring drinks, so prepare for that. Are you okay with this?”
“That’s fine,” Hadley responded, her smile easy and assured. She had understood such responsibilities were part of the job when she joined Galant.
Lennon, feeling confident in her response, said, “Great. Get ready, then. I have to go.”
Meanwhile, outside, the familiar group was back in their usual spot. The booth facing the stage held Eric, Barrie, Marshall, and Denver, just as before.
Tonight, Eric was more reserved than usual, his silence notable since their arrival.
“What’s going on?” Barrie inquired, noticing Eric’s sour mood.
“Something happened?”
“Yeah.” Eric acknowledged with a nod, not attempting to hide his feelings.
His mind was preoccupied, thoughts of Hadley and the earlier mishaps lingering.
Marshall, intrigued by his friend’s demeanor, asked further, “Who managed to ruffle the feathers of our Mr. Flynn? Share with us; it might lighten the mood.”
Eric responded with a sardonic laugh but then asked, “What do young women generally appreciate?”
This morning’s events had been largely his own doing. He had made promises to Hadley that he hadn’t kept.
The issue with the donuts seemed minor, but failing to keep his word was a bigger problem.
Hadley had left Grandma’s Kitchen visibly distressed, and merely bringing her back there didn’t seem sufficient.
Eric considered that a thoughtful gift might mend fences, yet he was clueless about her preferences.
All day, he pondered, coming to the realization that he knew nothing about her except for her feelings for him.
However, offering himself as a gift was out of the question.
Thus, Eric turned to his friends for suggestions.
“You mean it’s about a woman?”
Barrie and Marshall chimed in simultaneously.
Barrie scoffed, “Are you trying to figure out what Linda likes?”
“Really?” Marshall replied. “After all these years, you should be the expert on her preferences, given all the gifts you’ve given her.”
Eric’s irritation was apparent. “It’s not about Linda.”
“No way!”
Both Marshall and Barrie were stunned, speaking in unison again.
“You guys are exhausting,” Eric retorted, visibly annoyed.
He was clearly serious this time.
Barrie leaned in, intrigued. “Has Eric Flynn moved on to someone new?”
“It’s not like that.”
Eric immediately regretted bringing it up. “I shouldn’t have mentioned…”
However, Marshall became more thoughtful. “Generally, women appreciate similar things. Clothes, jewelry, designer bags-it’s hard to go wrong there.”
Was it really that simple?
It wasn’t a particularly innovative suggestion, yet Eric had considered it as well.
“Okay.” Eric decided to keep it simple and not complicate things further.
“Look over there, it’s S!” Denver interjected excitedly, pointing towards the stage.
“S? Who’s that?”
Everyone else was confused.
“The jazz dancer who performs under a mask, the one from last time!”
Following her electrifying jazz performance, Hadley quickly rose to fame.
Under Lennon’s astute marketing stunts, she had become Galant’s star attraction.
Guests were willing to pay big money just to see her. But Lennon understood the power of rarity and refused every offer.
He kept even Hadley’s identity under wraps.
To the patrons, she was only known as Miss S, which only heightened the intrigue.
Tonight, the buzz was that Miss S would perform, drawing an unprecedented crowd to the nightclub. The evening’s takings were through the roof, multiple times higher than normal.
“There she goes, on stage!”
Everyone’s attention shifted to the stage.
Abruptly, darkness enveloped the stage.
The murmurs halted as anticipation built.
Then, a single spotlight illuminated, revealing Hadley in a flowing red outfit at center stage. As the music swelled, she moved gracefully, captivating everyone.
Hadley executed a graceful twirl and leapt up, casting a playful look at the audience.
Yet her identity remained concealed, her face obscured by a delicate veil, adding to her allure.
“Bravo!”
“Amazing!”
The crowd was initially taken aback by her dramatic entrance, but then burst into applause that swelled like an ocean wave.
Hadley’s performance continued seamlessly.
Her movements were fluid, as if she were a breeze weaving through trees, mesmerizing and effortless.
Wires attached to her allowed her to move in sync with the melody, captivating everyone present.
“She’s incredible!” Barrie exclaimed, visibly impressed.
“Absolutely,” Marshall agreed. “This new dancer at Galant really stands out from the rest.”
The performance itself was a feast for the eyes.
Eric watched, his expression a mix of admiration and slight unease, but he remained silent.
Denver couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “She’s obviously skilled. A real professional, unlike those amateurs we often see here.”
“Is that so?” Marshall chuckled, glancing at his cousin. “Sounds like someone has a bit of a crush.”
Denver fumbled for words, his face turning red. “I just overheard some guests mentioning it. You all were too engrossed in your own conversations to notice.”
“Wow!”
The crowd suddenly erupted in cheers.
Hadley ascended gracefully, ribbons encircling her as if she were an angel descending from the heavens.
“Where’s she going?”
“Who knows!”
“Over here, please!”
Many in the audience stretched out their hands, eager to graze the fabric of her celestial costume.
Yet, Hadley was floating directly towards the booth by the stage, where Eric and his group were seated.
Eric remained in his seat, intently watching as the dancer approached his location.
As Hadley neared, she caught sight of Eric.
A slight surprise registered in her, though she masked it quickly and stuck with the choreography. With a deft movement, she swept her long, flowy sleeve towards Eric. Eric reflexively reached out to catch it.
However, Hadley swiftly withdrew her sleeve before his fingers could make contact.
All Eric grasped was the faint scent left behind in the air.
Behind her veil, Hadley was sure Eric wouldn’t recognize her. She flashed a brief smile and twirled back towards the center of the stage.
“Wow! Who’s the lucky guy?”
“It’s that booth over there!”
More Kickass Romance Reads
Dive into irresistible romance stories packed with possessive heroes, forbidden passion, billionaire obsession, mafia intrigue, and heart-stopping twists. One chapter is never enough—your next addiction starts here.