Chapter 9 VIP Access Lane

Selene's P.O.V

I frowned and looked up.

The man before me was a hotel butler, dressed neatly and carrying himself with a respectful air. When I met his gaze, he inclined his head politely. His posture was respectful, his voice kept low enough that only the two of us could hear.

"Ms. Kingsley, Mr. Lancaster has given instructions. Your car is ready. It is waiting in the VIP access lane. Please follow me."

Blake even arranged a car?

Surprise flickered through me, but relief came just as quickly.

Perfect. It was a legitimate reason to walk away.

"Alright. Please lead the way." I nodded and followed the butler, turning toward the VIP corridor on the opposite side of the lounge.

I could sense someone watching me from behind, but I straightened my back and kept walking, refusing to look back as I quickly left that troublesome place.

-

Third Person P.O.V

As Selene turned and followed the butler down the side corridor, Christina seemed to sense something. Her gaze drifted across the lobby.

She frowned and tugged lightly on Malcolm's sleeve, then spoke in a hesitant whisper.

"Malcolm, look there. Doesn't that person look a little like Selene?"

Malcolm followed her line of sight. He saw a tall, slender woman being guided by a uniformed butler toward a restricted VIP area.

The silhouette and the way the person walked did look a lot like Selene.

But Malcolm only snorted and shook his head, the usual disdain coating his voice. "Impossible. You're imagining things. This is an exclusive club for Alphas that operates on a strict membership system. She's an Omega. How would she ever get in here?"

He narrowed his eyes at the butler escorting the woman. "And that's a personal attendant. Whoever she is, she's someone important. Selene? She wishes."

Christina relaxed a little, the logic soothing her doubts. She looked again, her gaze lingering on the clean lines and luxurious texture of Selene's outfit. That alone was enough to make her dismiss the idea entirely.

Her tone turned sweet, but it carried a barely noticeable edge of envy and disdain. "You're right. And that outfit is from the newest luxury release, which is insanely expensive. There's no way she could afford something like that, not with the mess she's in now."

Christina must have imagined it.

But as she spoke again, her tone shifted into its usual gentle sweetness, even laced with a hint of worry.

She leaned closer to Malcolm and said softly, "Still, ever since Selene stormed off last time, I've been worried. She's an Omega with no one to rely on out there. What if something happens to her? Maybe we should... try looking for her?"

She already knew Malcolm tended to stand on her side, but she couldn't resist testing him, just to see how he really felt about Selene.

Malcolm's face twisted with impatience. He cut her off with a dismissive wave, his voice cold and firm. "Find her? I have far more important things to do. She's only acting out because I treated her well before. Let her run around and suffer a bit. Once she hits a few walls and realizes how the real world treats someone like her, she'll come crawling back. No reason for me to waste time on this."

He hadn't brought Christina here for leisure.

The only reason he came today was to secure a meeting with Blake, the Alpha of the Nyctilux Pack, and push for a partnership.

That alliance meant everything to his standing within his family.

After waiting a little longer, Malcolm guessed the timing was right. He straightened his suit jacket and walked up to the front desk.

He gave the receptionist what he believed was a polished, respectable smile. "Hello. My name is Malcolm Sullivan. I have an appointment this morning to meet with Mr. Lancaster, Alpha of the Nyctilux Pack. Could you please inform him I'm here?"

The receptionist checked the records, then lifted her head, her expression polite but distant. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sullivan. Mr. Lancaster left the club not long ago."

"What? He left?" Malcolm's expression collapsed instantly. Frustration and regret washed across his face.

He muttered under his breath, "Damn it. Still missed him."

But he quickly pulled himself together, his gaze sharpening with determination.

He needed to secure the deal with the Nyctilux Pack. If he couldn't meet Blake this time, he'd find a way next time.

He wasn't about to let this chance slip through his fingers!