Chapter76Spice Things Up
"When?" Hayden asked, his tone laden with surprise. Christian, equally taken aback, inquired, "You had dinner?" Their reactions were significant, as if they had just discovered a new facet of Damian's character. The girls, utterly clueless, stared blankly, wondering if making pizza was truly such a monumental event. "Today," Damian replied nonchalantly. Hayden's mouth gaped open wide enough to accommodate an egg. He quickly regained his composure and forced a calm nod, "Ashley making pizza must have a unique flavor." Christian, wanting to throw a veiled insult at Ashley but mindful of the setting, added with a hint of sarcasm, "Certainly 'unique' indeed!" He was clearly alluding to Ashley. Deeper strategies than he had anticipated were at play, and the progress was faster, too!Stephen, sensing the tension, decided to shift the topic, "Still practicing law?" Grateful for the diversion, Ashley eagerly continued, "Yeah. All those years of law school can't go to waste. It's all I know, so I've got to stick with it to make a living.""Doing what you love is what matters, staying true to yourself," Stephen commented, a touch of melancholy in his voice. Not wanting to stir up any painful memories, Ashley quickly changed the subject again, "So, are you single? Where's your girlfriend?""One person's not enough?" Stephen mused. "I haven't quite figured out my own life yet, and I don't want to drag someone else into it."Ashley smiled with admiration and a hint of reverence in her eyes. She genuinely liked Stephen, and she'd never forget watching him at a concert, seated under the spotlight, effortlessly and gracefully playing the piano. She even thought to herself, "Goodness, there can't possibly be a woman out there deserving of Stephen!"Christian, somewhat irked, chimed in, "What's this now? We throw you a merry party, and you just leave us hanging—not cool, man."Stephen, water glass in hand, glanced over the familiar and unfamiliar faces, skipping over introductions. The women in their company rarely lasted more than three months; faces changed before he could even commit them to memory. "Is this little show to welcome me or just for your own pleasure?"Hayden pushed a glass into Christian's hand, urging, "Come on, a bet's a bet. It’s drinking time—less than three minutes to go."Christian didn't hesitate, tilting his head back and downing his drink in one go, "Happiness isn't real when you enjoy it alone. I need to get the whole gang in high spirits. Let's dig in. We've got a lot on our plates!"After making the rounds, Christian served up a slice of roasted lamb, making sure to offer the choicest piece from the head to Stephen. "Can't say I don't look out for you, buddy. The first bite's yours. How long have you been in town this time?"Stephen, armed with a knife and fork, trimmed the meat into even smaller bites, chewing thoughtfully. "Just wrapped up negotiations on an acquisition. It's all up to the legal department now. If all goes well, I won't have to travel."At the mention of the legal department, Ashley chimed in, "Is it your in-house legal team, or did you outsource?"With Ashley's profession in mind, Stephen elaborated, "We need our legal eagles sharp for the big fights. Due diligence is grunt work and perfect for outsourcing. You're probably familiar with Long Way Law Firm. They clinched the bid."Long Way? The firm where Sean worked was also the largest in Rochester City.Ashley nodded, "I know them, powerhouses with seasoned attorneys. They're up to the task."Christian, visibly unimpressed, interjected, "Here we are at dinner, and work still creeps in? Guess I didn't prepare effectively. I should have set up an office desk and a couple of computers and maybe thrown in some ethernet cables. How about I throw in a projector, too?"Stephen slid him a second glass of wine, "Keep drinking. No reason to stop now."Hayden, relishing the scene, joked, "Someone gets Christian some juice to cool off."Stephen chuckled lightly, "Does he strike you as the juice type?"One of the things Ashley appreciated about Stephen was his down-to-earth nature; he wasn't pretentious. He could make a lewd joke just as easily as he discussed art, moving freely between crude and cultured.The girl curled up in Christian's arms and licked her lips, "Can I take his drink for him?"Hayden playfully protested, "Miss, you shouldn't drink alcohol. If you really care for him, you should find another way to show it."Christian gently patted the girl's back, his hand gliding down her spine to her waist, "Gregory, why don't you sing a little tune for us? Wash out our ears after all this common chatter."Without any coyness, Gregory rose to her feet on the lawn and bowed with a smile, "Then allow me to humbly entertain you all with a piece from the musical 'Sabrina.'"Coming from a dance academy, she moved with supple grace, and her vocal skills were solid; every sway and turn appeared quite convincing.
Hayden nudged the girl at his side. "Why don't you join her for a dance? It's always more fun with more people," he suggested.Isabel hesitated for a moment before quickly joining in the merriment. A compliant smile graced her face as her dance movements fell into sync with Gregory's performance.Once Gregory finished her piece, she turned to Isabel. "With moves like that, I bet you have a good voice too, right?" she asked. Hayden chimed in, "Isabel, why don't you sing us a song? I'm not really into Christian's old-fashioned tunes. We're too young for that kind of stuff."Isabel began to rattle off a few song titles, but Christian interjected. "All right, that one. Sing it loud. The wind's carrying everything away up here."As she belted out "Endless Kisses" with infectious energy, both her singing and dancing were all-out efforts. Her smile never left her face, and she seemed to genuinely enjoy being the center of attention.Meanwhile, Hayden leaned back in his chair, feasting on food and liquor. He seemed oblivious to the fact that it was his date who was vigorously entertaining the group. Christian tapped his thigh in rhythm, paying no heed to Gregory. Damian appeared disinterested, while Ashley laughed inwardly, her face stern.She realized how wrong she'd been; these girls knew their place and played the game well. They did whatever was asked—sing, dance, drink—to please their benefactors. It was all about knowing their worth.Damian tilted his head toward her. "Take a lesson," he advised.Ashley kept her gaze forward. "Can't do it. They've got the flexibility of youth.""Can't bend like that? Then, polish up your skills. There are always more solutions than problems," Damian retorted.Playfully, Ashley speared a large piece of cantaloupe and dangled it before Damian's mouth. "Here, let me feed you."He glanced at the oversized bite. "If you were left on the streets, you wouldn't survive. Do you want to strike a deal with me? Recognize who you are. Do you think I'm here to satisfy you?"She took a juicy crunch of the cantaloupe. It was sweet, but it contrasted with the bitterness growing inside her. "You want me to be like them, to sing and smile for cash? Surely your taste isn't that low?""You got it. All men are the same. And what can you do, sing or dance? Don't get too full of yourself — you might not even match up to them."Ashley bit her tongue, a sour taste creeping up her throat.After Isabel finished singing, she nudged Gregory. "Why don't you give it a try, Miss?" Her suggestion was sweet and pure, with no hint of malice.Christian glanced at Stephen. "Why not ask our guest of honor what he'd like? What do you say, Stephen? Want to hear something else?"Stephen was sipping his drink. "Aren't there other activities planned?"Christian finished his second drink with a clap. "The girls seem worn out. Perhaps it's Ashley's turn to entertain us?"Already frustrated, Ashley was not pleased to be called out. "I can't sing or dance. What do you expect me to do, break rocks on my chest?"Ignoring Damian's reaction, Christian chimed in. "Ashley is too refined for such crude acts. But I've heard she's quite the darts player. How about a demonstration?"Ashley playfully jostled. "I'm so out of practice. I'm afraid I'll hit you all by mistake and cause a mishap."Christian kicked a chair aside and grabbed a box of darts. "Even if you do hit us, we'll catch them like a bouquet at a wedding. What's the big deal? I'm just afraid Ashley won't play along and I'll lose face."Their innocence was almost convincing.Seizing the opportunity, two girls started clapping and chanting in unison. "Come on, Ashley! Give it a shot!"Once there was a common enemy, even the deepest rivals could become friends.Ashley wiped her fingers and pinched a dart, glancing at the bullseye. "Wow, that's so far. I doubt I can make it."Christian caught her arm. "Hold on, Ashley. If we’re playing, let's make it interesting. How about a competition? Ten throws each, and the winner gets to ask the loser to do one thing, anything."Ashley quirked an eyebrow. "Anything?"Christian grinned at her mischievously. "Are you scared to play, Ashley?"
