Se connecterFor a second, no one breathed. “Truth,” Alex said evenly. Romeo tilted his head. “Alright, Alex. Do you think the law system is biased?” The question landed like a stone Heads turned. The playful atmosphere thinned out, replaced by something heavier. “Excuse me?” Alex frowned, not sure where Romeo was going with it. “I said, do you think the law is biased?” Romeo repeated, his voice steadier now. “I mean, look at how the rich get away with things. Doesn’t that make the law partial?” Alex was quiet for a moment, something calculating flickering behind his eyes. When he spoke, his voice was calm, measured. “I believe everyone born into this world should strive to hold power for themselves. The law is only biased against the poor. So get rich, or die.” He paused, watching Romeo. “To answer you directly yes, the law is biased. But only against the people who refuse to fight for their rights.” “What!” Emma’s voice cut through the room, sharp and incredulous. “What do
The question hung in the air, and everyone tried to read Alex’s expression. His reaction would decide the answer to Maya’s question. Luther smirked. He set his glass down with a clink and stood up. Maya rolled her eyes. “Come on. Of course he’s the one who gets to make decisions without irritating Alex. The only person not scared of Alex in the whole of New York.” Luther just smiled. Obviously, that’s what he’d wanted all along. “Come on,” he said, looking around. “Suggestions, please. Emma, give a suggestion.” Romeo suddenly said Emma blinked. “Suggestion for what game? I don’t even know how to play.” “Come on, Emma, just say anything,” Romeo urged from his seat. She hesitated. “Um… I don’t know. But how about Color Name?” The room went silent. Then Luther burst out laughing, loud enough that the whole club could’ve heard it. “Color Name?” he repeated, shaking his head. “What kind of game is that? Come on, you guys, stop acting like you don’t know Maya’s stalling.” “
Thomas was Alex’s driver always where he was. But he wasn’t supposed to be a driver. He was a chef. Alex had sacked his former driver, so Thomas had to step in, and of all times, he had to bring Alex’s spare clothes now, just as he was trying to make fun of him. Damn. Thomas really need to go he jokingly thought . he sighed, stood up, and headed upstairs. That left Emma and Maya staring after them, uneasy. Romeo slid into the empty seat beside Emma. “Hey,” he said, leaning in just enough to make her notice. “Miss me?” Emma raised a brow. “I don’t miss you. Where have you been? You’ve been scarce.” “Job hunting,” Romeo laughed it off. “Gotta make money somehow in this economy. You know, unlike you guys I’m not a girl. I don’t have anything to give to get what I want.” His words hit Maya differently. Although Romeo kept talking easy and light, Maya watched him from the corner of her eye. Something about him unsettled her. She couldn’t say what it was, but she didn’t like it.
The table ran hot with half-drunk chatter voices tangling, laughter stitching over the things no one meant to say out loud. Benji stared into his glass like the answer was drowning at the bottom. Timothy had already slipped toward the bar, leaving easy kisses and practiced grins in his wake. David was gone, probably locked in a room somewhere, trying to impose order on few chicks Alex on the other hand sat slouched in his chair, drinking like time had already abandoned him. His face was bored, detached, like he didn’t belong here and didn’t want to. Emma and Maya huddled on their side, the guys too occupied with their drinks to notice. felling bored Maya leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper meant for two ears only. “You know what,” she murmured, glancing at Alex, “I used to crush on him.” Emma jerked back into the moment, eyes flicking to Alex. Nothing. His gaze stayed locked on the rim of his glass too absorbed, or too good at pretending. she let out a breath. Emma fe
At the door stood Maya and Emma. Maya looked like she owned the room already gown cut dangerously short, thighs bare, makeup sharp enough to cut glass, confidence rolling off her in waves. Emma was different. Her dress fell just below the knee, modest, but the slim straps left her shoulders bare. She kept tugging at the hem, adjusting, trying to make herself smaller, more covered. Uncomfortable. Out of place. Maya pulled her phone out to text Benji, but a voice cut through the moment. “Hey, girls. Over here.” They turned, plastered on polite smiles, and started toward the table. The smiles slipped the closer they got. Because Benji hadn’t been exaggerating. These weren’t just people. David the dancer who broke the internet last month. John the singer whose voice was on every playlist. Timothy Hollywood’s next big thing. Benji leading man, box office draw. Luther renowned surgeon, name on every elite patient list. And Alex businessman, doctor, and rumor said this peop
For half a second, nothing. Then Alex coughed, once, . And a sound escaped him not quite a laugh, but close. The corner of his mouth twitched. Luther grinned like he’d won the lottery. “There he is. That’s the face I missed. Stop staring at them like you’re about to sign their death warrants.” Luther leaned back, satisfied. “That’s better. Now, where are Benji’s friends? I’m thirsty, and I don’t mean for drinks.” Benji stood. The chair scraped against the floor. “We’ll just continue what we’re doing,” he said. He walked away from the table, phone already in hand.He stepped into the quieter corner by the bar and dialed a number. David wasn’t done. He leaned forward, “You know what,” David said, “I didn’t sleep all night. I was wondering the kind of chicks Benji was going to book for us. Benji promised us chicks.” “David,” one of the guys muttered, “he said they’re his friends. Not chicks.” David waved him off. “Look, it’s all the same. That’s what they say.” A few of th







