Chapter 4
1971 Words
His voice was soft, almost lost in the booming rain, fragmented. Just a four-word question, barely audible. I felt like I was dreaming. No, this wasn't a dream. I never heard of Lucas Reed.
Lucas and I had nothing left to say to each other. We hadn't seen each other since our ugly breakup. So much time had passed that the memories were a blur. Back then, he'd said cruel things to me, and I'd said equally cruel things back. Love was strange; sometimes, by the end, it was just a weapon, used to wound each other fatally. I slowly regained my composure. No, this wasn’t Lucas. Lucas wouldn’t smoke in a stairwell, nor would he sit on the steps like that. He was probably just staring at me. I wasn’t sure how I would react to seeing Lucas again; I hadn’t planned on it. Hadn't we cut all ties precisely so we'd never meet again?
As I stood there, bewildered, the stairwell door suddenly swung open. Someone asked, "Mr. Reed? Are you in here?"
By the time Lucas turned to answer, I had already bolted past him, a surge of adrenaline propelling me forward.
I reached the seventh floor in one breath, pushed open the heavy emergency door, and tripped over the few inches of height difference between the concrete floor and the anti-static flooring. My four-inch heels made me tumble, almost landing face-first. A passing nurse saw me and quickly helped me up. It was then I realized my back was drenched in cold sweat. Those few minutes had been a nightmare, leaving me disoriented. Was it Lucas? Good thing he hadn’t followed me. What would he have thought if he'd seen me fall?
My legs felt shaky to the operating room waiting area. I still felt a little unsteady, probably from the fall. But even if it was Lucas, he wouldn’t have followed. What was there to gain from meeting now?
I found Mike. He introduced me to the attending physician. Serena had been hit and taken to the university's affiliated hospital. She initially thought it was just scrapes, but Mike was worried and transferred her. At the new hospital, they discovered internal bleeding and a ruptured spleen. She'd just had surgery to remove it, thankfully, very timely and successful.
I chatted with the attending physician for a while, then checked the time. It wasn't even dawn on the East Coast yet. I decided not to call Alex; he was still asleep.
Serena hadn’t woken from the anesthesia yet. I settled her into her room, then called a familiar domestic services agency, requesting an experienced cook and caregiver. For nursing attendants, I just asked the head nurse for recommendations. By the time everything was sorted, it was past nine in the evening. Only then did I call Alex and briefly explain what happened.
Alex sounded busy, perhaps about to leave. After hearing me out, he simply said, "Got it."
Just like a king.
It was then that I realized I’d twisted my ankle. It was already swollen. Mike, surprised, asked what happened. "I tripped coming out of the elevator," I lied.
Mike insisted on having an orthopedic surgeon examine it. They confirmed it was just a soft tissue contusion. The doctor prescribed some ointment and advised me to apply ice. Mike drove me back to The Lotus Club. On the way, he suddenly asked, "Zoey, what’s wrong tonight?"
"Huh?"
"You seem… agitated all evening," Mike said. "Mr. Thorne can't blame you for this. You took excellent care of Ms. Davis. The accident was unforeseen."
I thought all my years in this business had perfected my masks, that they’d become one with my skin. Yet, people close to me could still see through them. I gave a dry laugh. "I'm not scared. Alex isn't some tiger."
Mike probably thought I was protesting too much. I could hear the nervousness in my voice, so I simply shut up.
The Lotus Club was as bustling as ever, though its vibrancy was a hidden, inner fire. In the grand lobby, rows of impeccably dressed hosts and hostesses stood beneath sparkling crystal chandeliers, each one stunning. Most guests didn't pass through the main lobby; familiar clients would reserve private suites in advance, some even booking entire private villas, and would take discreet driveways directly to their secluded entrances, their cars unseen.
Business was booming tonight. The sudden downpour had stopped, but traffic was still bad, so guests arrived later, but by now, even the main building's private suites were fully booked.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't proud. This was my empire. The endless stream of beautiful, flamboyant women who worked here was a delight to behold every night.
I returned to my office. Felix, my general manager, had already received Mike’s call and hurried out to meet me. Seeing me hobble in, he rushed to support me, complaining all the while. Felix’s complaints were always affectionate. He was used to catering to clients, so he spoke with a certain playful flirtatiousness, and it had become second nature with me, too. He playfully poked my forehead with a manicured finger, almost making me stumble again. He chided me angrily, "You're this injured, and you're still here? Can't you just take a couple of days off? Good thing you're the boss, otherwise,e what would people think of The Lotus Club? They'd think we were so cruel we wouldn't even let an injured person take sick leave!"
"Lead by example, Felix. The boss can't be lazy," I replied.
Felix pursed his lips and chuckled. "Oh, lucky for you I’m not lazy, otherwise I’d think you were trying to subtly warn me!"
I playfully pinched his cheek. "Darling, how could I ever scold you?"
Felix rolled his eyes, pushing my hand away. "You think I'm a mouse? I'm a lion!"
I burst out laughing, leaning against the wall as I limped into my office.
Days of absence had left a mountain of work. Even though we were in a 'grey area' industry, our business was legitimate and run with the most modern management systems. My OA system was overflowing with emails needing my approval.
Head throbbing, I finished all the emails, then planned to doze off on my office sofa. But Felix sauntered back in, plopped onto my desk chair, propped his chin on his hand, and stared at me for a long moment before letting out a profound sigh.
I glanced at him. "What now?"
Felix twisted in his seat. "Zoey, have you ever loved someone?"
My heart skipped a beat. Felix continued, "When you can't see him, your heart aches as if a cat is scratching it. When you do see him, it aches even more. You know he doesn't belong to you, yet you still cry for him, laugh for him. So many times you swear to forget him, but then you see him, and you're instantly overjoyed again. It's truly a karmic entanglement."
I shivered, feeling goosebumps. "Who've you fallen for now?" I retorted.
Felix rolled his eyes. "What do you mean by 'now'? Like I’m constantly changing affections! Who else have I loved all these years besides him?"
I told Felix earnestly, "Felix, we've known each other for over ten years. Since I started this business, you and Mike have been like my right and left hands. I wouldn't know what to do without you two. I care deeply about your emotional life and want you to be happy. But this particular relationship of yours, I honestly don't have high hopes for. Just let it go."
Felix’s beloved was a man named Quentin Black. While his name sounded odd, Quentin was a handsome, charming man, a scion of one of the city's wealthiest families. Mr. Black, however, only dated beautiful women. So Felix's love was destined to be unrequited. Still, the Black family gave Alex Thorne a lot of face, so Quentin often frequented The Lotus Club. Tonight, without even asking, I knew Quentin was here again. Every time Felix saw Quentin, he'd sigh dramatically for a long time afterward. Luckily, it was just a one-sided crush; he never harassed Quentin. I doubted Quentin even knew there was a man so desperately in love with him. I changed the subject. "Who is Quentin here with tonight?"
"He's hosting a welcome party for a good friend. A lot of people are here, and the ladies working tonight are all mingling. It's a lively party."
"My ankle's sprained, so it's not convenient for me to go up," I said. "If you're willing, could you take a bottle of red wine over for me?"
Felix sighed. "Everyone's drunk and rowdy. I don't want to see them." Despite his words, he called someone to retrieve a bottle of red wine from the cellar and personally delivered it.
That was Felix’s strength: professional where it counted. Though he had his romantic leanings, he was never melodramatic. He and Mike were a perfect team: Mike, straightforward and meticulous, handled operations and finance, while Felix, sharp-witted and sociable, managed people and clientele. They were my indispensable lieutenants.
I dozed off in my office for a while, only to be startled awake by a knock at the door. A timid floor manager named Sarah nervously told me Felix had gotten drunk, and the clients were still insisting on him. They were even demanding I come up for a drink. She sensed something was wrong and came to warn me.
Felix had a high alcohol tolerance, but whenever he saw Quentin, he lost all composure. He must have been pressured into drinking too much, which was why he couldn't stop them from coming after me. I had just woken up and knew I looked a mess. So I went to the washroom to splash water on my face, restyle my hair, and put on some makeup before heading to The Riverview Suite to rescue Felix.
The Riverview Suite was a standalone villa, situated closest to the river, with the mountains at its back and five balconies offering unbeatable river views. It was The Lotus Club’s most picturesque property. As I entered, I saw four or five people sprawled on the sofas in the ground-floor lounge, clearly in a drunken stupor.
Being drunk wasn't an issue; these gentlemen usually knew their limits and didn't get too out of hand. The second floor was buzzing with activity. Someone was singing, and others were dancing. Felix sat on a sofa, looking flushed—his face never turned red when he drank, only his eyes, which were now bloodshot. He was plastered.
My gaze immediately fell on Lucas Reed. He, too, had drunk too much; his demeanor was different from usual. The moment he saw me, he grinned. "The owner’s here... Zoey's singing is legendary. Come on over, sing a song for everyone!"
I was holding onto one of the escort’s shoulders, using her as support, and smiled sweetly. "Mr. Black, please spare me. Look at my ankle, swollen like a balloon. I only came here out of respect for you, not just any guest. You see my sincerity, please have mercy on this injured woman."
Quentin swayed his head. "No way! I'm not asking you to dance. We have a famous baritone here. Come on, Lucas! Lucas, where is he?"
Someone replied that Lucas was in the restroom. My gums ached from smiling. "Mr. Black, your singing is great! How about we sing a duet?"
"No!" Quentin shook his head like a rattle. "I need to introduce you to a new friend, Lucas Reed! Lucas! Are you having kidney trouble? You’ve been in the restroom forever!"
Someone answered from afar, and Quentin excitedly waved him over. "Come on, come on! Let me introduce you to the owner, Zoey Vance, Ms. Vance!"
- Writer
