Fene’s POV


    Jemima Hors also stood up from her seat and hugged me tightly. “Thank goodness you came. Thank you, Fene,” Jemima smiled at me.


    “Yes, of course I woulde,” I replied with the same enthusiasm.


    I was invited to sit next to Mallory on the sofa. Never before had I sat this close to an international pop diva. Oh my, I must be dreaming. Lord, even her body smelled so good with vani and floral perfume.


    Damn, I really didn’t anticipate this. If only Laird had joined us, I wouldn’t feel guilty like this. At least my worry about leaving him alone to have fun with myself would be lost.


    No, wait. I can’t entirely me myself, but I regret all of this. I should have followed Laird’s advice and not forced our schedule. Now I feel even more guilty towards him.


    There was a sense of awkwardness creeping in, but Mallory’s bodynguage seemed open and weing. n sat next to me, trapping me between him and Mallory. I looked around and realized there were many celebrities and famous models nearby. My eyes nearly popped out when I saw all these famous people up close.


    I didn’t see Jessy nearby, but I assumed maybe he wasn’t invited to the VIP area. So, now I’m alone with n.


    Alright, Fene. This is all business as usual. After everyone’s done chatting and assessing my pleasant and easy-to-work-with personality, I can go straight back to the hotel with Laird.


    “So, you’re the main model at Gene now?” Mallory asked me.


    “Yes,” I replied enthusiastically.


    “How does it feel? n must really spoil you, huh?” she chuckled.


    “Oh, hush hush! That’s a secret,” n waved his hand quickly.


    “Oh,e on, you said we could talk and open that incredibly expensive gold champagne bottle.” Mallory pouted and nudged n’s shoulder softly.


    “I said you could talk to her, but you still can’t pry into our rtionship details,” n said loudly around us, and the people on the sofaughed hearing it.


    “It’s kind of hard to meet the demands of a CEO, huh?” Mallory again invited me to chat with a cheerful tone.


    “Yeah, he insists I be greedy and take all the job projects avable,” Iughed.


    “I suspected! He did that to me too,” Mallory said dramatically.


    “Have you known each other for long?” I asked with my mouth agape in disbelief.


    I mean, n is indeed a pretty sessful CEO at his young age. His name soared after he opened many fashion and fitness branches in just a few years. However, I didn’t expect n to be so great that he had celebrity friends.


    “Oh, don’t tell anyone, but we had a thing. Well, like a summer fling,” Malloryughed again.


    “What? Wow, that’s really surprising and new to me!” I eximed, wide-eyed.N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    n and Mallory had a summer fling. Did I hear that wrong? So, he’s not gay after all?!


    “Nothing serious, really. Don’t be jealous, okay?” Mallory giggled again.


    “Oh, yeah,” Iughed along with her.


    I still didn’t quite understand the meaning behind her words. My surprise still revolved around the fact that n could have a rtionship with an international pop diva! Does this mean he really isn’t gay? Where’s Jessy when I need him to talk about this?


    “So, where’s my gold champagne?” n asked Mallory with a shout.


    “Oh, alright. Bring out the gold champagne!” Mallory called a waiter standing in the back corner of the VIP area.


    “Gold champagne!” the waiter shouted, which was immediately followed by simr shouts of the same words.


    “Whoops, do they do that for all customers ordering gold champagne?” I asked in amazement. What is gold champagne anyway?


    “Yeah! Watch, it’ll get even more lively after this,” Mallory said enthusiastically.


    Shortly afterward, several people came out in procession from behind the VIP area. About three uniformed waiters came dancing and singing, apanied by small, loud bells. They sang Mallory’s song acape while carrying arge champagne bottle wrapped in gold paper. Apparently, this was meant to be the most expensive champagne bottle in the club.


    “Oh my,” I said, still in disbelief.


    “Their service is unique.” Mallory winked at me.


    The people around us started cheering with joy and stood up, pping to encourage the performers. ss cups were distributed to everyone in this VIP circle seating. Mallory’s friends, Jemima, and the members of ‘Mallory’s friends’, who were famous from various walks of life, circted sses around the sofa.


    After the dance and song, the waiters opened the champagne, and its bubbles popped for a moment. Then they poured the golden liquid into every ss, including mine.


    “To Jemima Hors’s sess. I pray our careers will soar with her this year and next year,” Mallory said, raising her ss.


    “And also to our new friends, n and Fene. Congrattions to you two, cute, sweet couple! I wish your rtionship was smooth and full of excitement and happiness,” she said this time.


    What?! Once again, I was shocked to hear Mallory’s words. My eyes widened in horror, but everything happened quickly.


    “But…” my voice drowned in the midst of the crowd.


    “Cheers!” everyone shouted enthusiastically. Even n didn’t say anything; he joined in with heartyughter.


    Oh my! What is this? This is really messed up!


    My hands were shaking as I raised my ss. n didn’t give me any guidance on this at all. Even Jessy didn’t tell me anything. I could only toast along, caught up in confusion.


    I couldn’t do anything in front of all these people. They’re all celebrities, and it would be ridiculous if I refused to toast. I could argue this misunderstanding, but it would just make me the butt of their jokes.


    Caught up in this confusing flow, I finally sipped champagne from my ss. It tasted sweet and refreshing on my tongue, clearly upholding its name, but I couldn’t enjoy it at all. As I lowered my ss again, my eyes fell on a figure with blonde hair.


    “Laird?” I whispered softly.


    A few meters away from me, I saw Laird standing frozen. His face looked angry, with hardened jaws and clenched fists at his sides. Illuminated by moving lights, I could clearly see veins pulsating on Laird’s arms, or was it all just my imagination?


    Oh no! As I was about to run to him, n immediately caught my arm.


    “Just wait a little longer. Trust me, just follow along for now. I’ll exinter,” he whispered in my ear.


    Right after n whispered to me, Laird turned and walked away with a grim face. I could see his back starting to move away and being covered by people. My chest felt tight, and I felt like I had messed everything up.


    My eyes felt hot, with tears threatening to flow from the corners of my eyes. n still held me with his arm tightly around my waist.