Chapter 249: A Performance
Revelry swirled around them, yet Derek remained motionless, an island of stillness amid the chaos. His attention periodically drifted to his phone's screen, anticipation evident in his demeanor.
"Derek, you haven't looked away from that device all evening," Caleb called out, his collar loosened, but his gaze astute and perceptive. "Join the festivities!"
Owen' curiosity piqued, he turned to Austin. "Is he awaiting someone's call?"
Austin's expression subtly shifted. "A gentleman's heart follows where a fair lady leads."
Owen pondered the woman who commanded such devoted attention from Independent Continent's formidable leader.
A thunderous round of applause erupted, drawing every eye in their private booth. "Mr. Vaughn, have you orchestrated this entertainment?" a voice inquired.
Caleb rose gracefully, approaching the second-floor railing. "Consider this merely the prelude."
The gathering surged forward, eager for a better view. From the bar's center, a platform ascended, bathed in spotlights that illuminated several impeccably suited men.
As seductive melodies filled the air, the performers began a calculated disrobing—first their jackets, then their ties slipped away. Vivienne observed the spectacle, her eyebrows arching with barely concealed incredulity. The bar owner's audacity surprised her, though she acknowledged the performers had masterfully enchanted their female audience.
As their choreographed routine progressed, revealing sculpted physiques and culminating in an impassioned dance, the atmosphere crackled with electric energy. Even passive observers felt their pulses quicken.
Female voices rose in appreciation, Sienna proving the most vocal beside Vivienne. "A lifetime of propriety deserves such reward," Sienna declared.
Vivienne stared, astonished. They had been friends for years, yet she'd never realized Sienna harbored such enthusiasm for male performers. Especially when the dancers launched into more suggestive movements—hips rolling, hands roaming—the sheer volume of the crowd's screams threatened to shake the bar's walls.
When the performers mingled with the audience, Sienna seized the moment, eagerly touching a firm, sculpted chest before yanking Vivienne aside, her expression utterly serious. "Sweetie, I've just had an epiphany."
Vivienne's confusion was evident. "Swift movement forward leaves no room for sorrow—only fresh romance," Sienna proclaimed.
"That's rather excessive," Vivienne remarked, smoothly declining a performer's advances.
Sienna regarded her with bewilderment. "How do you maintain such composure? Aren't you tempted to experience this for yourself?"
Vivienne's subtle headshake spoke volumes. Her standards had been irreversibly elevated by Derek's example; these performers, while charming, paled in comparison.
Lost in contemplation, she felt Sienna's insistent nudge. "Look there! That man hasn't taken his eyes off you."
Following Sienna's gesture, Vivienne's gaze found Derek in the crowd. His black shirt emphasized his commanding presence—a sovereign emerging from darkness. The sight sent her heart racing.