Chapter 201;Reconciliation
"Take off your clothes. we're here to have fun."
"I like how your muscles feel. Do you work out often?"
"Wow, you also know how to give massages too? It feels lovely feeling your hands knead my body"
The atmosphere in the private room was flirtatious and ambiguous. The music was turned down low, making my playful banter with the male hosts very obvious.
Roger had been reluctant at first, but now he was having more fun than anyone else.
He was singing and screaming at the top of his lungs. He kept demanding that the male hosts compliment him. I could see the awkward expression on the face of the man closest to him.
Roger wasn't drinking, but he made the male hosts play games where the losers had to drink. The air was thick with the strong scent of alcohol.
I leaned limply against the sofa. Adrian and Colin stood guard at my sides. The male hosts didn't dare get too close to me, their careful, ingratiating manner not affecting my mood at all—because from start to finish, I didn't care about them.
"Ms. Sorelli, Mr. Valeri has arrived," Adrian whispered in my ear.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"At the door of the private room."
I smiled carelessly, my eyes and brows full of deliberately indulgent meaning.
I knew clearly in my heart—someone was about to explode with anger.
The pressure outside the private room grew heavier and heavier.
The next second, the door was pushed open from outside, with such force it almost slammed against the wall.
Lucas stood in the doorway, white shirt and black pants, his collar open, one button fastened wrong, clearly having rushed over in a hurry.
The emotions usually hidden deep in his eyes were now brewing like the calm before a storm.
His intimidating gaze swept over the room full of men before finally landing carefully on me.
Lucas's jawline was taut, his knuckles bloodless, the hostility radiating from him almost enough to flip the entire room.
The music stopped.
All the playful noise came to an abrupt halt.
The air seemed to freeze, with only Roger fearlessly egging everyone on, "Keep singing! Keep playing!"
The male hosts were so frightened they all lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe too loudly. Hestia shrank into a corner, wishing she could hide herself completely.
I leisurely picked up my wine glass, took a light sip, raised my eyes to meet Lucas's gaze, and asked calmly, "Why are you here?"
"There's a lot of people here, I just came to join the fun." Lucas walked closer step by step, his leather shoes on the carpet, each step like stepping on everyone's heart.
Even I was almost too scared to hold my glass steady.
I looked away, trying hard to maintain my composure.
The men sitting near me quickly scattered, running to Roger's side like they were fleeing for their lives, instantly surrounding him.
"Having fun?" Lucas asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, I am." I said with a smile. "Before you came, everyone was laughing happily."
Adrian and Cole slowly moved a step to the side, as if afraid of being caught in Lucas's rage.
Lucas's Adam's apple moved up and down, letting out a very light, self-mocking laugh. "They can't entertain you. Come, let's have some fun."
He grabbed a bottle from the table, poured a full glass of whiskey, and was about to down it.
I suddenly felt angry, covered the glass with my hand, and pressed it hard back onto the table.
"Don't you have anything you want to say?" I asked him.
"Yes." Lucas dropped the glass, crossed his arms over his chest, his sharp gaze fixed on the thirty trembling men not far away. "I heard you're looking for a boyfriend? Are they handsome? Are they 6'2"?"
I almost laughed out loud. Sure enough, he had seen that post I made!
Lucas was still immersed in his own emotions, his low voice unable to contain his irritation. "You guys, come here!"
Hestia pretended not to exist, quietly signaling with her eyes to the thirty male hosts: Go over there!
The thirty men hunched their shoulders and shuffled over, but when they were still six feet away from Lucas, they didn't dare come any closer.
Roger stopped singing, put down the microphone, grabbed a fruit platter, and watched the show while eating.
"Anyone shorter than 6'2", get out." Lucas spoke, and immediately six men ran out as if pardoned.
Lucas continued, "Anyone with a worse temper than me?"
"Anyone who can quit smoking and drinking for Bella?"
"Anyone who can reflect after an argument?"
The remaining men looked at each other. Roger looked at Lucas in confusion, even his chewing slowed down.
"No one?" Lucas said expressionlessly. "Then get out!"
The door opened, and the male hosts filed out. They all left.
Roger put down the fruit platter, wiped his hands, called Hestia, and left too.
Adrian, Cole, and Alfred stood guard outside the door. Only Lucas and I remained in the private room.
Lucas very obviously "hinted" to me, "They don't seem to meet your standards."
I held back a laugh. "Really? But that post I made didn't say I was looking for a boyfriend for myself."
Lucas froze.
He stared at me, the hostility and jealousy churning in his eyes solidifying, slowly turning into confusion and helplessness.
After a long while, he gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse. "You played me?"
I laughed and fell back on the sofa, kicked off my heels, and unceremoniously put my feet on his lap.
"Wore heels all day. My feet hurt," I said.
Lucas frowned and grabbed my ankle. "Why didn't you wear flats? Don't you have slippers in the office?"
I wiggled my feet. "Don't touch. If you touch my feet now, you can't touch my face later!"
Lucas's somber expression softened. He grabbed both my arms and pulled me into his embrace with a bit of force.
"I reflected."
"What did you reflect on?" I asked, tugging at the button on his shirt.
"I shouldn't have lost my temper with you that day," Lucas said.
"Just that?"
"Also, I shouldn't have been jealous for no reason."
I nodded. Lucas held the back of my neck and pressed me into his arms. "I was just worried that people would find out you can't do surgeries anymore, but I shouldn't have been anxious or pushed you. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do."
I braced myself against his abs and sat up, asking softly, "But what if others find out I'm no longer living up to my reputation?"
"Even if the whole world finds out, I won't let anyone give you trouble." Lucas's breathing became slightly irregular.
He slowly lowered his head, his lips about to touch mine, then suddenly stopped, asking carefully, "May I?"
My answer was to raise my hand, hook it around his neck, and kiss his lips first.
Warm breath gently brushed against my face, carrying his familiar cool scent.
In the quiet air, only our heartbeats remained. Lucas's restraint crumbled. He held my waist tightly, with such force as if he wanted to embed me into his bones and blood.
This kiss was deep and intense, urgent desire hiding deep longing.
I closed my eyes and felt our tongues intertwining, the unpleasantness of our argument and cold war dissolving in this kiss.
After what seemed like forever, he pulled back slightly, forehead against mine, his gaze deep. "I can't promise I'll never be jealous again, because I care about you so much. But I can promise that I'll never fight with you again."
I gently touched the shadows under his eyes, finally seeing clearly the bloodshot eyes and the fatigue between his brows.
"Have you been sleeping well these past few days?"
"Barely slept at all." Lucas sighed, hugged me tight again, buried his head in my neck, and said resignedly, "I've been thinking about you the whole time."