Chapter 92

\Waylon stood in the doorway, the crisp white shirt outlining the firm definition of his arms.

His mouth was set in a hard line, and his attention locked onto thne man beside Alexia with a fierce intensity.

The man stiffened under the pressure,clearly rattled.He took a nervous step back, trying to avoid Waylon's focus.

Alexia's eyes widened at the sight of him. "Why are you here?" she asked, caught off guard.

Waylon gave a dry laugh. "Why do you think?" His eyes flicked over to Ada.

Feeling the tension fill the room, Ada immediately shrank behind Sylvia.

Sylvia gave her a reassuring squeeze, doing her best to appear unfazed, though the tension in her posture betrayed her unease.

When it became clear Alexia didn't grasp what was going on, Waylon's jaw tightened. He marched forward without pause, shoving the man away and pulling Alexia close without asking.

His hands came up to her face, giving ita brief shake as his voice dripped with contempt. "Alexia, is this really your idea of fun? You've got awful taste if this is what you're into."

The insult landed like a punch. The men around them looked crushed, pride visibly dented.

Even Sylvia flinched, stung by the implication. Taking a breath, she forced a smile through clenched teeth."These are the finest in the city. You can't even book them for less than a million per night."

Waylon tilted his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "If that's your definition of premium, no wonder real quality's hard to find."

Sylvia's expression twitched in annoyance. Ada gently rubbed her back, whispering, "Don't let him get to you."

Waylon had always known how to hit a nerve. That much hadn't changed.

Alexia pushed his hand away, baffled. "Waylon, what are you doing right now?"

He gave a faint snort, the corner of his mouth lifting."What am I doing? Isn't it clear? My jealousy is practically gleaming."

The bluntness of his reply left her momentarily speechless. Her heart skipped, and a warm flush crept up her ears.

"It was just a game," she mumbled.

Waylon raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with mockery. "A kissing game? With strangers? That's your idea of fun?"

Embarrassment flared in her chest, mingling with irritation. "That's none of your business. Who do you think yyou are to me?"

The air shifted between them, the tension rising. Off to the side, Sylvia and Ada exchanged looks, silently enjoying the show as if watching a scene unfold in one of their favorite romance dramas.

Waylon didn't take offense. He studied her face carefully. "That depends. Who do you want me to be?"

His forwardness caught her off guard. She quickly looked away, avoiding the question. Her tone turned brisk as she faced the others. "Actually, I just remembered I've got plans tonight. I'm heading out,bye!" She snatched her bag from the couch and walked off without giving them time to respond.

Sylvia let out a long sigh, raising her hand in a half-hearted wave. "Alright, bye."

Before leaving, Waylon sent a cold stare in Sylvia's direction. "This shouldn't repeat itself."

Sylvia huffed, smacking her thigh. "What a drama queen!"

Ada nudged her and whispered, "Can you not say that so loudly? He's still close by."

The truth was, Waylon wasn't someone they wanted to cross.

Meanwhile, Alexia stood in the elevator, her thoughts spinning out of control, thelingering alcohol only making everything worse.

She couldn't think straight, everything kept circling back to Waylon. The way he'd looked at her, steady and sincere.

She felt her heart race. Maybe she really was falling for him.

But even admitting that to herself felt too risky.

She had just gotten out of a terrible marriage. How could she be swayed again so soon? And by Waylon,of all people?

Sure, he was confident, good-looking, and seemed to have everything together, but was she truly that fragile? Did a single moment of affection fromn him really throw her off balance?

They had spent most of their lives as rivals, not lovers.

"I can't afford to lose. Not now. Not ever," she muttered under her breath, as if the words could shield her. "It's probably just hormones... or maybe the alcohol talking."

Her thoughts ran so wild, she didn't see the person in front of her until it was too late. She walked straight into him.

Clutching her forehead, she winced. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

The man she bumped into, Tripp, looked surprised.But the moment he recognized her features, he seemed thrown off. "It's alright," he replied, sounding flustered.

Alexia offered a faint, polite smile. Her head still felt light from the impact, and she reached for her phone, planning to book a ride.

Tripp hesitated, then took a breath and spoke up."Excuse me, could I get your contact number?"