10 The night out

Silas was not serious about any woman. Flustered and at a loss, Silas stared at Ewan, his mind reeling as he tried to comprehend how to maneuver this unexpected turn of events.

Ewan's smile faltered for a moment as he saw the incredulity etched on Victoria's face. He cleared his throat, attempting to salvage the situation. "Well, uh, I suppose it's only natural for a parent to want to meet the person their child is interested in. Especially when it comes to matters of the heart."

Ewan's voice grew more measured, his tone conciliatory. "Now, Victoria, you should consider it. Silas says he's serious this time. Don't you want to hear more about the woman who has captured his heart?"

Victoria's lips pursed, her skepticism plain. She reflected on Ewan's words deeply.

Silas shifted uncomfortably in his seat, feeling the weight of his parents' scrutiny. He had hoped to deflect their attention away from his personal life, but now it seemed he was trapped in a web of his own making. His mind raced, searching for a way to extricate himself from this awkward situation.

After considering something, Victoria nodded and said, "You are right, Ewan. We should meet her." She turned her attention to Silas, who seemed lost in his thoughts. "Bring her home. Let me see who this girl is and what qualities she has."

Silas tried to muster a smile, but his expression betrayed his inner turmoil. He had no idea what he should do. If he said he couldn't bring that girl, his parents would doubt that he was lying. But the problem was that he couldn't bring any random girl home. He was trapped.

His eyes fell upon the photo of himself and Esme in the tabloid, and a sly idea sparked within him.

"Alright then, I'll bring her," Silas declared abruptly, swiftly standing up and grabbing a tissue. "I got to go now. Bye, Dad. Bye, Mom." He bid a brief goodbye to his parents, hugging his mother despite her cold reception.

Silas walked out of the mansion, wiping his hands. A sly smile tugged at his lips, his mind already formulating a plan. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he muttered under his breath, "We'll meet again soon, Miss Esme Shaw."

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Silas stood beside the floor-to-ceiling window of his cabin, gazing out at the bustling city below. His hands were thrust deep into his pockets, his back was straight, and his shoulders were squared, giving him an air of determination. However, his expression was pensive, reflective of the inner turmoil he felt.

He had been replaying the conversation with his parents in his mind, specifically the part where he had casually mentioned introducing his girlfriend to them. It seemed like such a simple statement at the time, but now that he thought about it, he realized just how difficult it would be to follow through.

First, he had to find Esme. And even if he did manage to find her, there was no guarantee she would agree to help him out. The task ahead seemed daunting. The more he thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.

Silas let out a frustrated sigh. His hands clenched into fists inside his pockets. His jaw set in determination, and he tried to will himself to come up with a solution.

Knock-Knock…

"May I come in?" The door knocked, followed by Caleb's voice.

"Come in," Silas replied, glancing briefly over his shoulder as Caleb peeked into the room and handed over a file. Silas resumed his composed demeanor, settling into his chair.

Caleb stepped inside, closing the door behind him, and approached Silas's desk, his footsteps light against the plush carpet.

"Miss Esme Shaw's background report," Caleb said, extending a folder toward Silas.

Silas took the folder and opened it, scanning the contents with interest. His brow furrowed briefly as he read, his lips pursing in thought.

Caleb cleared his throat nervously. "Her boyfriend, I mean ex-boyfriend, works for Sullivan Group of Industries," he added, his voice filled with apprehension.

"I see," Silas responded casually, absorbed in Esme's report.

Caleb, growing more anxious, added, "His name is Julian Ray, a hard-working and dedicated person. He got promoted recently."

"Come again!" Silas's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing as he met Caleb's anxious gaze. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice low and even.

"J-Julian Ray, Miss Shaw's ex-boyfriend, works here," Caleb stammered, nervousness creeping into his voice. He was afraid Silas would fire Julian.

Silas leaned back in his chair, a calculating smile spreading across his face. "Interesting," he mused, stunning Caleb further. A cunning plan began taking shape in his mind. He steepled his fingers together, his eyes gleaming with determination.

"I need to locate her as soon as possible. Contact the reporter from The Hotline tabloid who published my photo with Esme," Silas ordered, closing the file and setting it aside. "Spread the rumor that I am serious about this girl."

"Huh?" Caleb gulped, his heart racing at the dangerous glint in Silas's eye. "A-are you serious about Miss Shaw?" He asked hesitantly.

Silas's countenance darkened as he glanced up, his tone turning threatening. "Do as I instructed without questioning," he warned.

Caleb swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. "I understand. Is there anything else?"

Silas waved his hand dismissively. "You can leave now."

Caleb nodded hastily and spun on his heel, almost colliding with the door in his haste to exit the room. He stopped short, remembering something important, and turned back to Silas. "Your meeting with Jack Woods is fixed. He'll be meeting you at The Lucky Club."

"Noted," Silas acknowledged, his attention already focused on the folder in front of him.

With a final nod, Caleb left the office, the sound of the door clicking shut behind him echoing through the room. Silas remained seated, his thoughts centered on Esme Shaw. Silas had never lost a game and was determined to do so again. A sly smile spread across his face at the prospect of meeting Esme again.

Later that evening...

Esme prepared herself for the night ahead. She slipped into a short silver dress with spaghetti straps, the fabric hugging her curves tightly. The neckline plunged deep, showcasing her ample cleavage, and the hem ended mid-thigh, highlighting her toned legs.

As she inspected her reflection in the mirror, Esme appeared somewhat uneasy in the attire. Accustomed to tops, jeans, or skirts, she had never worn such a revealing dress before.

Esme had not brought her clothes with her, as she had boarded the flight in a hurry. So she had to borrow one from her friend. She tugged at the fabric, trying to adjust it to cover herself more adequately.

"This dress is too short. Can I try another one?" Esme asked, hoping for an alternative.

Adelynn paused in the midst of applying lipstick, casting an assessing glance at her from top to bottom. "You look hot," she remarked. "This dress suits you perfectly. It accentuates your curves so well. Why do you want to change?"

"I don't feel comfortable," Esme grumbled, her expression slightly displeased.

Setting the lipstick down, Adelynn reached out, holding Esme's shoulders gently. "Listen, Esme. You possess natural beauty, and sometimes it's essential to showcase it. If you hadn't kept yourself confined to pants and tops, Julian might have recognized how stunning you are. Perhaps his attention wouldn't have wandered to another woman."

Esme's head dropped, and her face was shrouded in sadness. Adelynn's words struck a chord, resonating with her own doubts about her appearance.

Adelynn instantly recognized her mistake and offered a quick apology.

"I'm sorry, Esme. I didn't mean to upset you. Now is the time to celebrate your freedom. Show him what he has lost. Let him regret it. Even if he comes back to you and begs for mercy, don't pay attention to him," she encouraged, aiming to uplift Esme's spirits.

A glint of determination lit up Esme's eyes, dispelling her earlier hesitation. She drew in a deep breath and declared resolutely, "Yes. I'll make him regret it."

"That's the spirit. Come on, let's celebrate."

With renewed zeal, they grabbed their coats and exited the house, their laughter ringing out, ready to take on the world.

Several minutes later...

Adelynn's sleek car came to a stop in front of The Lucky Club. The two friends, looking like a million bucks, exited the vehicle and made their way into the club with confident strides. Every man in the vicinity froze, their attention drawn to the captivating figures of Adelynn and Esme. Despite the lingering gazes, the two women ignored the attention and walked directly to the bar.

The bar itself was a cacophony of colors and sounds, with neon lights flickering rapidly and the beat of fast-paced music reverberating throughout the space. Youngsters danced energetically, while others engaged in conversations. Esme and Adelynn settled at the counter, ordering cocktails and immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere. In the midst of it all, Esme momentarily pushed aside her pain, allowing herself a moment of respite.

It wasn't long before their cocktails arrived, and the pair began sipping their drinks, engaging in light banter. Adelynn caught sight of Julian upstairs, accompanied by none other than Ruby.