Chapter 6

Nicholas's demeanor softened upon seeing Maria. She approached him and embraced him warmly. "I happened to be passing by and thought I'd drop in. I hope I'm not intruding," she said, clinging to him.

Nicholas gently pulled away and shook his head.

" Have you had lunch yet? I’ve ordered some food; we can eat together," she said. Maria noticed his deliberate distance and felt a surge of irritation, but she maintained a gentle smile. Nicholas nodded slightly. "Alright"

"My grandfather's birthday is next Saturday. Will you be free to attend?" Maria asked, producing an invitation card and extending it toward him.

Nicholas frowned as he glanced at the card. "I have a business trip in the coming days and might not return by Saturday. I’ll try to make it."

"Understood," Maria replied. "By the way, have you heard from my sister recently? I've been trying to reach her, but all I get is a busy tone. Do you know where she might be?"

At the mention of Emily, Nicholas's expression grew colder. "What do you need from her?" he asked sharply.

Maria bit her lip, her concern evident. "The situation between my sister and the family isn't ideal. With Grandpa’s birthday coming up, I hoped she might return to help mend the rift."

Nicholas remained silent for a moment before responding with a frosty tone, "I’ll pass along the message."

Maria nodded, her gaze fixed intently on Nicholas. She noted his reaction when Emily’s name was mentioned and felt a sense of satisfaction, assured that things were not going well between them.

After finishing her work in the evening, Emily was about to leave the office when Lilly burst into the lobby, her face alight with enthusiasm. "What’s your plan for tonight, Emily?"

Emily raised an eyebrow, her gaze calm. "I’m heading home."

Lilly’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "That sounds so dull! To celebrate your fresh start and the end of that draining marriage, I've booked us a spot at Jinx Club tonight. I hear they’ve got some new male models on the roster. Let’s go have some fun!" Lilly’s excitement was palpable as she grinned and waggled her eyebrows.

Emily eyed Lilly with a knowing look. "Is this about having fun for yourself, or are you dragging me along for the ride?"

Unfazed by Emily’s probing question, Lilly slid her arm around Emily’s shoulders with a playful grin. "Come on, it's all about ‘us’ tonight! Besides, I’m sure the only reason you’re still hung up on Nicholas is because you haven’t seen what the world has to offer. Join me, and I guarantee you’ll be so engrossed you’ll forget all about him by morning."

Emily chuckled softly. "I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested."

Seeing Emily’s reluctance, Lilly seized her arm with renewed determination. "You’ve got nothing planned for tonight, right? Think of it as keeping me company. You’re getting a divorce soon anyway. Why stay faithful to Nicholas when you’re not even with him?"

Emily wasn’t particularly motivated to go, but Lilly’s persistence wore her down. Reluctantly, she sighed. "Fine, but only this once."

Lilly’s face lit up instantly. "Great! Let’s grab dinner first."

They enjoyed a quick meal before heading to the club. The moment they entered Jinx Club, they were bombarded with thumping bass and flashing lights. The dance floor below was alive with vibrant energy, with people writhing and shouting in the dazzling light show. Lilly led Emily up to the second floor, which featured private boxes with varying levels of seclusion. The transparent boxes, while offering a view of the crowd below, lacked privacy.

A waiter guided them to a transparent box where their drinks and two male models awaited. Lilly beamed at Emily as she took in the scene. "See? I told you. Who’s your pick? I’ll take the one who’s left."

The male models at Jinx Club were there to entertain guests with their skills, such as singing, dancing, and performing tricks, rather than providing intimate services. Emily surveyed the two men before her and then looked at Lilly with a teasing smile. "Why not take both? They seem like your type."

Lilly shook her head with mock seriousness. "No way! We’ll share. The one closer to you is yours, and the other one is mine."

The two men, well-versed in their roles, approached Lilly and Emily, taking their places beside them. The one named Aroan smiled warmly at Emily. "Hello, ma’am. I’m Aroan. What kind of entertainment are you in the mood for tonight?"

Aroan’s gaze lingered on Emily with genuine admiration. She was the most striking guest he had encountered, and he felt lucky to be assigned to her. Emily, feeling slightly out of her depth, met his gaze with a hint of detachment. "You don’t need to do anything special. Just sit here quietly."

Aroan was momentarily taken aback but quickly masked his surprise with a professional smile. "How about a song then? I’m quite good at it."

Emily nodded, grateful for a simple distraction. "Sure."

Aroan chose a soft, melodic tune, and soon the box was filled with gentle music. Meanwhile, Lilly and her model engaged in playful banter, feeding each other fruit. Emily watched them, feeling a blush creep across her cheeks. She quickly diverted her attention to Aroan’s singing, trying to lose herself in the music and forget her earlier reservations.

In the adjacent private box, Nicholas was immersed in conversation with his friends, each preoccupied with the club’s entertainment.

As he wandered out for a moment of solitude, his gaze idly scanned the surrounding area. His eyes were inadvertently drawn to a familiar face in a transparent box next door. His steps came to an abrupt halt as he recognized Emily, who was dancing with Aaron after losing a game of truth or dare with Lilly.

A surge of anger boiled within Nicholas as he observed Emily's slender form pressed closely against the male model, their faces nearly touching. His temper flared as he muttered under his breath, "Emily, how dare you?"

Inside the box, Emily was feeling increasingly uncomfortable. She subtly pushed Aroan away and was about to turn when the door was flung open with a loud bang. Nicholas’s icy, furious voice cut through the noise. "Emily!"