8.Chapter 8 Meeting In The Bar
Phoebe gave Cora a cool look and simply replied, “Going home.”
Cora said, “Home? That’s a drag. To celebrate you coming back to Miracle Youth and ditching the marital chains, I booked us a VIP table at Eclipse Lounge. Heard they’ve got a fresh batch of male hosts. I’m taking you out to see the sights.”
Cora’s eyebrows danced with uncontainable excitement and thrill, and Phoebe wondered if she might just throw herself at the hosts.
With a half-smile, Phoebe teased, “So is this for my benefit, or are you just looking for an excuse to enjoy a good time yourself?”
Not feeling embarrassed after being exposed, Cora stepped closer and slung an arm around Phoebe’s neck. “Babe, for you or for me doesn’t matter.
“You’ve been all about Declan because you haven’t seen what you can get without him. Hang with me tonight, and I guarantee you’ll forget Declan’s name by tomorrow morning.”
Phoebe couldn’t help but laugh. “Pass. That sounds more like your cup of tea. I’m not interested.”
As Phoebe turned to leave, Cora grabbed her arm and insisted, “C’mon, you’ve got no plans, don’t you? Plus, you’re about to get divorced. You still wanna stay loyal to Declan?”
Phoebe didn’t have that thought in mind, but seeing Cora’s insistence, she nodded. “Fine, just this once.”
Cora flashed a bright beam and replied, “Got it. Let’s go. We’ll grab dinner first.”
After dinner, they hit the club. The moment they stepped in, booming beats filled their ears, and the dance floor was a riot of colors and screams.
Cora led Phoebe to the second floor. The club had two levels: the first with the dance floor and booths, and the second boasting more private lounges and see-through boxes.
Those see-through boxes could give a clear view of the revelry below, but the privacy wasn’t guaranteed. From the outside, people could see clearly what happened inside.
They settled into a glass-fronted box, and soon, their drinks and the male hosts arrived.
Catching a glimpse of the two good-looking hosts, Cora gloated to Phoebe. “Not bad, huh? Which one do you fancy? Pick first, and I’ll take the other guy.”
The hosts at Eclipse Lounge were pros, and they didn’t offer service that was out of the line. They were skilled in more than just small talk; they could sing, dance, or pull off a magic trick.
Sweeping a glance over the two men, Phoebe turned to Cora with a playful offer. “Why don’t you take both? You seem to equally like them.”
Cora shook her head and said, “No, we gotta share the joy together. How about this? The one closer to you stays with you; I’ll keep the one near me.”
Right on cue, each host settled next to them. The man next to Phoebe introduced himself with a smile, “Hi, I’m Johnny. Need me to do anything special for you?”
His eyes sparkled with excitement. He had never served such a naturally beautiful guest before. He thought, ‘Tonight is going to be a good night. If every guest is as stunning as her, I’ll be more than happy to go the extra mile.’
Phoebe glanced at him and said indifferently, “No need. Just sit quietly, that’s all.”
Feeling slightly out of her element, Phoebe regretted agreeing to come.
Johnny looked surprised but quickly regained his composure. He said, “How about I sing you a song? I’m actually a pretty decent singer.”
Phoebe nodded. “Sure.”
Johnny picked a tune, and melodious music soon filled the lounge.
Across from her, Cora was already feeding fruit to her host. That scene heated Phoebe’s cheeks. She quickly turned away, focusing intently on Johnny’s singing.
Ian happened to pass by their box and glanced inside, his eyes widening in shock at the scene.
Apart from the Greene and Richardson families, only a few of Declan’s close pals knew about his secret marriage to Phoebe.
Ian couldn’t help but smirk when he saw Phoebe at the bar, thinking, ‘This is gonna be exciting.’ He never pegged the by-the-book Phoebe for the clubbing type.
After sneaking a peek, Ian quickly slipped into a nearby lounge where he was greeted by Scott’s laughing voice. “Ian, you’re more than half an hour late. This round is on you.”
Inside the lounge, apart from Scott Wright and Marcus Baker, there was Declan, who was chilling with a drink and a frosty look on his face.
Scott and Marcus each had a scantily clad lady by their side, yet Declan didn’t.
Ian closed the door, shutting the booming music outside. He sat down, cast a glance at Declan, and said, “Guess who I just saw next door.”
“Who?” asked Scott, clearly intrigued. “Your ex who faked a pregnancy test to try to snag you?”
Ian was a renowned playboy, yet had recently been trapped by a scheming celebrity. After this, his mother had been pushing him to blind dates for someone who could match his background. To avoid his mother’s matchmaking, he had been living in the company for days.
Ian shot back, annoyed, “Pal, nobody would think you’re dead if you kept your mouth shut.”
Scott’s grin grew wider, and he asked, “Come on, spit it out. You’re late, and you’re lucky we’re not making you down three shots for it. Quit beating around the bush.”
Ian finally said, “You won’t believe it. I saw Declan’s wife.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Declan paused sipping his wine, and his icy gaze snapped to Ian. “Are you sure?”
Ian nodded, all too pleased to stir the pot. “Yeah, she was with her friend, and each of them had a male host with them. When I walked by, she was staring at her singing host. Looks like your sweet wife is stepping out on you, bro.”
Before Ian could finish, Declan slammed his glass down and stormed out. He cursed in his mind, ‘Well, Phoebe, you dare to ask for a divorce, block my calls, and now spend time with some guy at a bar. You’re growing bolder.’
Watching Declan’s retreating figure, Ian turned to Scott and Marcus in confusion. “I thought he was into Jennifer. Why’s he so rattled about knowing Phoebe to be here?”
Scott shrugged. “Even if he’s not into Phoebe, they’re still married. How would you feel if your wife openly flirted with another guy?”
To Scott, Declan’s reaction was less about affection and more about not tolerating his wife’s blatant betrayal.
Marcus’s gaze flickered, and his hand tightened around his drink before he downed it in one go.
“By the way, do you know who Phoebe’s friend is? You’ll be shocked to hear her name,” Ian said again.
“Who?” Scott asked, somewhat less enthusiastically.
“Cora.” Ian revealed.
Scott’s face instantly clouded, and he said through gritted teeth, “What? Who?”
“Cora, you know, the one whose family went broke a few years back. We used to hang out with her at parties. What’s the big deal?” Ian asked.
Scott let out a cold laugh and said word by word, “Nothing, just asking.”
He then snapped a selfie with the escort next to him and posted it on his IG Story.
The lady looked at him with hopeful eyes. “Mr. Wright, are you…”
Scott cut her off and said in a cold tone, “Don’t get it wrong. I just want someone to see this.”
The woman’s face fell, realizing she had misunderstood his intentions.
Outside, Declan scanned the area and saw Phoebe in a see-through box feeding her male host fruit, and her delicate fingers almost touched the man’s lips. Rage flared within him.
Earlier, Cora noticed Phoebe’s lack of enthusiasm, so she suggested they play Truth or Dare. Phoebe lost the round, and Cora asked her to feed the man some fruit.
Just as Phoebe placed the fruit in the man’s mouth, the door burst open, and a chilling, furious voice cut through the noise. “Phoebe Richardson!”
