Chapter 2.9

A newcomer had arrived.

Tall and striking, the young man strolled in with an effortless confidence, exuding the kind of presence that demanded attention without trying. His dark auburn hair was tousled just enough to suggest he didn't care for strict formalities, and his crisp suit—tailored to perfection—hinted at a life of luxury he didn't feel the need to flaunt.

But what stood out the most was his gaze—sharp, playful, and locked directly onto Joey.

Joey arched a brow. Huh. Interesting.

The murmurs from the surrounding guests quickly provided an answer.

"That's Adrien Sinclair."

"The Sinclair family? They're just as powerful as the Laurents."

"What's he doing here? I thought he never attended these things."

Joey, now mildly intrigued, leaned back against his chair as Adrien made a direct beeline for him, ignoring the whispers entirely.

The moment he reached the table, he flashed an easy, lopsided grin. "Joey Laurent, right?" His voice was smooth, effortlessly charming. "I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever meet."

Joey tapped his fingers against the table, feigning boredom. "Funny. I don't recall signing autographs today."

Adrien chuckled, completely unfazed. "Pity. I was hoping to collect one before the night's over." He slid into the empty seat beside Joey, his movements fluid and relaxed, as if they were old friends catching up.

From across the table, Noah's easy-going smirk dimmed ever so slightly. "And what exactly is so interesting about Joey?"

Adrien didn't even bother acknowledging him. His attention remained solely on Joey. "Everything."

Ethan, who had been silent up until now, finally set his glass down. The quiet clink sounded louder than it should have. His expression remained unreadable, but Joey, who had been watching him carefully all evening, didn't miss the slight tension in his posture.

Adrien, seemingly oblivious—or perhaps perfectly aware—tilted his head at Joey. "So, tell me. Are these events always this dull, or am I just bad at picking the right ones?"

Joey smirked. "That depends. Are you the type who enjoys standing around while rich people pretend to like each other?"

Adrien laughed. "Not particularly. Which is why I prefer talking to people who actually know how to keep things entertaining." His gaze flickered with amusement. "You, for example."

Joey hummed, drumming his fingers against the table. Charming. Confident. Flirtatious. He wasn't sure if Adrien was actually interested in him or if he just enjoyed stirring things up, but either way, it was entertaining.

Noah, however, didn't seem nearly as amused. "That's funny," he said, leaning forward slightly, "because I don't remember Joey being particularly entertaining."

Adrien finally looked at Noah, his smirk deepening. "Really? Maybe you just haven't been paying close enough attention."

Noah's expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something dangerous beneath the surface.

Ethan, on the other hand, had yet to say a word. But Joey could feel his stare, steady and unwavering.

Adrien seemed to notice as well. His gaze shifted toward Ethan, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "And you must be Ethan Laurent."

Ethan didn't respond right away. He studied Adrien for a long moment before finally saying, "You're from the Sinclair family."

Adrien's grin widened. "Guilty as charged."

"The Sinclairs and Laurents have been rivals in business for years," Ivonne chimed in, her voice honeyed yet sharp. "How interesting that you'd come all the way here to introduce yourself."

Adrien shrugged lazily. "What can I say? I go where the interesting people are." He turned back to Joey, resting his chin on his hand. "And right now, that happens to be here."

Joey snorted. "You sure talk a lot for someone who's just making introductions."

Adrien laughed. "What can I say? I like making an impression."

Before Joey could respond, Adrien suddenly reached out—his fingers brushing lightly against Joey's wrist as he took his hand.

The moment froze.

Ethan's gaze darkened. Noah's grip on his fork tightened ever so slightly.

Adrien's smirk remained intact as he raised Joey's hand slightly. "Say, Joey. You wouldn't mind keeping me company tonight, would you?"

Joey blinked.

Oh. Now this was getting interesting.

Adrien didn't stop there. With a fluid motion, he stood, still holding Joey's hand. "Since we're both clearly suffering through this event, how about a dance?"

The boldness of the request sent another ripple through the surrounding guests. A few hushed gasps, murmured whispers—after all, asking someone to dance at an event like this wasn't just an invitation, it was a statement.

Joey tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You're pretty straightforward, huh?"

Adrien grinned. "Didn't you say that was your type?"

Ethan's expression tightened. "He's not interested." His voice was calm—too calm.

Adrien raised a brow. "Oh? And here I thought Joey could speak for himself."

Before Joey could decide how much he wanted to push this situation, Noah suddenly reached out, placing a firm hand over Adrien's grip on Joey's wrist.

"That's enough," Noah said smoothly, but there was an edge beneath his words.

Adrien, entirely unfazed, merely smirked at him before glancing at Ethan. "You too, huh? What a shame."

Joey couldn't hold back a laugh. This was just too entertaining.

"Well," Adrien said, stepping just a fraction closer, his grip still firm. "What do you say, Joey? Should we give them something to talk about?"

Joey opened his mouth to respond—

—when suddenly, a voice cut through the tense air.

"I think you've played enough."

A new presence had joined them. One that sent a sharp chill through the atmosphere.

Joey turned his head, only to freeze.

The host of the banquet—the true power behind this event—was watching them.

And from the look in their eyes, whatever came next wouldn't be simple.