8. Old Flames and New Shadows. 

8. Old Flames and New Shadows. 

Lucien arrived at Loop Club that evening, hoping the whiskey would drown the storm still clawing at his chest. Inside their special VIP booth, Damien and Adrian were already waiting for him. 

"You're finally here" Damien said from the sofa where he was sprawled. 

"Yes" Lucien answered and sat down. The club wasn't busy today, so, there voices were at the normal volume.

Lucien's gaze flicked to Adrian who barely looked up as his thumbs flew across his screen, his jaw locked in irritation. Lucien looked at Damien.

Damien only shrugged. "Has been like that since this evening" 

Lucien nodded and settled down. He picked a bottle of whiskey that was lying in the ice bucket and open it. He poured himself a glass and began sipping from it. His eyes were deep. Damien came and sat next to him. 

"You good man?" He asked, giving him a slight nudge.

"I hope I am" Lucien replied and sipped from his glass again. 

Damien chuckled. "Family drama again? The marriage thing?" He reached for the bottle and poured himself a glass. He took in a mouthful.

"No...far from that" he said. He lowered his gaze to the honey-colored liquid in his glass, but all he saw was the image of her, black-clad and untouchable. He heaved a sigh and swagged the drink down his throat. 

"Okay" Damien said. He didn't probe again and just sat there, drinking silently. 

"You won't ask me?" Lucien asked after a while. 

"I already asked. I don't want to press too much" Damien replied. 

Lucien nodded. He lowered his glass to the table and poured himself another drink. "It's Dahlia" he said, his voice now hoarse.

Damien froze mid-drink. He collected himself after a millisecond passed. "You sure it's her?"

"What did I just hear?" Adrian finally tore his eyes from his phone, looking up at the two guys. "Dahlia?" 

"I thought you were busy?" Damien rolled his eyes. 

"Yes. But, I can't miss such sweet gossip" he grinned, flinging his phone to another couch. He scooted over, sitting on the table. 

Damien clicked his tongue. "What a gossip monger".

Adrian didn't mind and just shrugged. He looked at Lucien intently, eyes gleaming with the hunger of someone who lived for other people's secrets. 

"She's the one. You remember the competitor I mentioned yesterday?"

The duo nodded. 

"She's the one" Lucien murmured. 

"Shit!" Adrian shrieked, slapping his thigh.

"There's going to be drama" Damien murmured, amusement dripping from his tongue. 

"What about Sasha? Has she seen her?" Adrian asked, eyes wide. 

"Yes. It was a coincidence. They met in front of the meeting room" Lucien said. He replayed everything that had gone down today, from the moment she walked in, to the moment she left. 

"How's she?" Adrian asked. "Like, everything?"

Lucien looked at him. 

"Hot" Damien said before Lucien could say anything. The two men looked at him. 

While Adrian's eyes shone with glee, Lucien's own turned few shades darker. 

"You sly fox" Adrian giggled, "so you guys secretly met up?"

Damien didn't say anything and just sipped his drink. He could feel Lucien's gaze on him but he didn't care. 

"Why did you see her?" Lucien asked, voice low.

Damien looked at him. "I didn't see her, but, I guess that's how she should be now".

Lucien didn't say more. He picked his drink and gulped it down. 

"Then, does that mean, you were thinking about her?" Adrian probed. 

Lucien's hand tightened around the glass. But he remained calm. 

Damien noticed and smiled. "Maybe. Dahlia is a beautiful woman, inside out but some people fail to see that". His tone was both suggestive and provocative. 

"Will you pursue her?" Adrian asked.

Lucien looked at Damien. 

"She's single now. It's possible".

"Aren't you both quite the talkatives? I came here to have a drink. Why's she the only damn topic of tonight?" Lucien's voice was low and dangerous, the kind that silenced rooms. Adrian pouted and stood from the table, searching for the phone he abandoned. 

Damien smirked as he sipped from his drink slowly, relishing how his friend was squirming in his seat. 'At last, the quiet cage has been rattled'.