Page 24 of Addicted To His Favorite
Her eyes widened in surprise, a question forming on her lips, but before she could speak, his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He pulled it out and scanned the screen.
Without hesitation, he offered her a brief, apologetic smile. “I need to take this,” he said, hurrying out of the crowded area.
Once he reached a quieter corner outside the party space, he answered quickly. “Dude, don’t disturb me right now! I’m busy,” he said briskly, then hung up without listening further.
Just as he was about to head back inside, someone caught his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
“Mr. Harold, what are you doing here?” Leon asked, brow furrowing.
His eyes scanned Harold from head to toe, pausing on the unbuttoned shirt that revealed far more than necessary. “And why are you dressed like that?”
Harold glanced down at his chest, then hurriedly pulled the shirt ends together to cover himself, a grin spreading across his face.
“I just met a girl I fell in love with at first sight,” he said proudly.
Leon blinked, shocked. “Really? Do I know her? What’s her name?”
Harold opened his mouth to answer when his gaze shifted toward the entrance. Sebastian entered through the doors, heading straight toward the VIP area.
“Holy shit,” Harold hissed, panic flashing across his face. “Why is my cousin here?!”
Without another second to spare, he spun around and disappeared in the opposite direction, desperate to avoid being seen.
Leon watched him go, then turned to Sebastian, who didn’t pause as he strode straight to the bar.
In a harsh, impatient tone, Sebastian demanded, “Where is she?”
Leon pointed sharply toward a secluded table in the corner of the VIP area. “I’ve been keeping an eye on them for you, sir. Mrs. Graves is right there. Don’t worry.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed as he followed Leon silently, muscles coiled like a predator stalking prey. But as they neared the table, Leon’s heart sank—the seat was empty, the glassware untouched. The entire group had vanished without a trace.
Sebastian turned sharply to Leon, his voice a low growl edged with barely controlled fury. “This is your idea of keeping an eye on them?!”
***
“This is nice,” Harold’s carefree laugh echoed in the plush, dimly lit private room. He scanned the surroundings with obvious relief, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Good to finally get out of the heat outside.”
Jeremy lounged opposite Emily on the velvet couch, sipping whiskey with a cocky grin, while four other men flanked Emily—two on either side. Harold stood nearby, his shirt once again undone, revealing sculpted abs gleaming under the soft lighting.
He leaned down smoothly, bending at the knees to bring the glass level with her eyes. His gaze locked on hers, the playful smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he extended the champagne toward her. “Miss Emily, since you’re the prettiest girl at Luxe tonight, you’ve been chosen as a special guest. Private room, free drinks,” he lied smoothly.
After slipping away from Sebastian’s eyes, Harold had guided them to the secluded private room—his usual spot reserved for him and his closest friends.
Emily stared at Harold in disbelief and silence, while Jeremy laughed joyfully, lifting his own glass of expensive whiskey before clapping in delight. “How’s that for luck? Sky’s been shining on you ever since you left Lucas.”
Emily’s gaze flicked nervously to Harold. “You should button your shirt. It’s cold in here—you’ll catch a fever.”
Harold pushed himself up, rising smoothly before settling down on the table right in front of her. With a casual shrug, he let his shirt gape open even wider, the daring smirk playing on his lips as his eyes locked onto hers.
“Worried about me already? Want me to unbutton more? Just say the word, and all this coldness will disappear.”
Jeremy chuckled loudly, clearly enjoying their banter. “This guy’s got game—never seen anyone flirt with you like that before.”
He glanced at Emily with a teasing sparkle. “Isn’t life better now? You left that asshole behind—now there’s an ocean full of beautiful fishes ready to devour you.”
Their laughter carried down the hallway, catching the attention of a man walking past—the sharp-eyed Taylor. His glance slid sideways toward the VIP room, curiosity piqued by the noise.
Though he kept walking, something tugged at him, and he quickly backtracked, peaking quietly inside. His eyes immediately widened in shock as they landed on Emily, seated calmly, surrounded by a cluster of handsome men, their gazes lingering on her with varying degrees of interest.
