She smiled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “You’re just mad he’s forcing you to socialize.”
“No, I socialize for a living. It’s part of my job. I’m just mad he thinks this is a competition,” I replied, frustration lacing my words.
“You’re all worked up, Roman. Relax,” she said, reaching over to rub my arm, completely unaware of the effect that simple gesture had on me.
Fucking hell.
As we pulled up to a sleek, black-on-black building with gold-lettered signage that shimmered under the streetlights, my heart sank.
“A Gentleman’s Club,” I muttered, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
Savannah’s jaw dropped, her expression mirroring my shock. “This is the place?”
“She can’t be fucking serious,” I thought, the reality of the situation settling in like a heavy weight.
**Roman**
“When we made the decision to embark on this adventure with you, I honestly never imagined we would find ourselves in a place like this,” I remarked, trying to wrap my head around the extravagant surroundings.
Chloe took a leisurely sip from her drink, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, it was Dean’s idea, really. I just went along for the ride… but isn’t it simply marvelous? We get to indulge in such scandalous fun before the wedding!” Her laughter escaped her lips, light and airy, as she gestured animatedly at the lush environment around us.
This place was nothing like the sleazy joints back in Philly. No, this establishment radiated sophistication and luxury. It was clear that secrets were exchanged within these walls, and not a whisper of them would escape into the outside world.
Gone were the garish neon signs and sticky bar stools. Instead, the lighting was dim and inviting, casting warm, honeyed shadows across the velvet booths and polished floors. The air was thick with the scent of affluence-expensive perfumes mingled with the rich aroma of cigars and an air of tantalizing mystery. The dancers on stage glided like silk, twisting and curling their bodies in ways that defied the laws of physics, adorned only in towering heels and sparkling diamonds.
And yes, I had frequented my fair share of such establishments. Back home, I was a VIP at one of the most exclusive clubs.
All work and no play makes Roman a very dull man, after all.
We settled into a private lounge, the floor-to-ceiling curtains offering us a sense of seclusion. A bottle of Moët sat chilling in a silver bucket, already perspiring from the cold.
With a flourish, Dean popped the cork and poured the champagne as if he were performing a grand act, already tipsy from the night’s festivities. One stubborn corner of his shirt clung to his waistband, as if it hadn’t received the memo that he was unraveling. Chloe nestled beside him, curling up like a cat claiming its territory, her gaze fixed on me.
Savannah, ever the realist, muttered under her breath, “We could’ve just gone for tacos.”
Dean shrugged nonchalantly. “We thought we’d try something different. You only live once, right, Sav?”
“Well, it’s loud and a bit unsettling,” she replied, rubbing her arms as if she were chilled by the atmosphere.
Dean’s gaze dropped to Savannah’s chest, and in that moment, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to say something utterly crass.
Leaning in, his breath reeking of alcohol, he whispered, “Well, she used to moan louder than the music in here.”
Savannah gasped, her eyes wide with shock. Chloe was blissfully out of earshot, oblivious to the inappropriateness of his comment.
I seized Dean by the collar, my voice low and threatening. “If you want to find yourself at the bottom of a river by tomorrow, I dare you to repeat that.”
He didn’t take the bait.
Instead, he simply grinned, winked at Savannah, and crawled back to Chloe, who was blissfully unaware of the exchange.
What a disgusting pig.
Chloe turned around in the front seat, her enthusiasm unabated. “It’s fun! There’s music, dancing, and privacy. It’s not that serious.” She pointed a finger to her lip, a playful glint in her eye. “Besides, spontaneity is the spice of life!”
“Variety,” I corrected her abruptly, unable to let it slide.
Savannah couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling up like a joyful melody.
“Same thing,” she insisted, her tone teasing.
“Whatever floats your boat, blondie,” I replied, raising my drink in her direction.
She bit back a retort, her expression shifting as she turned to Savannah. “So, sis, you never told us the full story of how you two met.” She rested her chin on her clasped fingers, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Come on, we’ve got all night to listen. At least until the main show begins.”
I couldn’t help but wonder what this so-called “show” was that they kept referring to. I had a sinking feeling it was nothing good.
“Well, it’s a really funny story,” Savannah began, her tone light.
“You know how much I love a good laugh, Sav,” Dean interjected with a wink.
“Me too,” Chloe chimed in, her excitement palpable.
“I chewed on his very expensive Montblanc,” Savannah blurted out, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“What?” Chloe exclaimed, her surprise evident. “That’s it?”
Dean leaned back, his expression one of disbelief as he looked at us as if we had sprouted horns. “You’re kidding, right?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
“I’m not,” Savannah insisted, her tone earnest.
Chloe turned to me, her brows furrowing in confusion. “She’s not?”
I shook my head, my expression serious. “That’s the truth.”
I was afraid that was the only truth we had ever told any of them about this mysterious romance.
Savannah folded her arms and leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “That’s strange, Saw. I could swear I’ve never seen anyone have such a bizarre first encounter.”
“We all can’t be stealing our sister’s man, can we?” Chloe’s voice dripped with sarcasm, her words hanging in the air like a thick fog.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.