C18 His Mind Was Filled with Him

"Let me see what I can do," Nancy offered, taking out her phone and stepping aside to call her friends, hoping to help Katie find a job.

Out of the blue, Nancy's phone lit up with a flood of messages from an unfamiliar, yet somehow known number. It was Waverly, begging to meet, declaring his love for her hadn't wavered. He insisted his involvement with Caroline was only to secure a better future for Nancy.

"So, playing the gigolo was all for me?" Katie sneered, quickly scanning the messages before deleting them, determined not to get caught up with those people again.

The phone rang again. Recognizing Waverly's number, Katie decisively ended the call, flung the phone aside, and lay back on the bed.

As soon as she closed her eyes, the night's events haunted her: his kiss, cold yet surprisingly gentle, left a unique, electrifying sensation.

She pulled the blanket over her head, trying to block out any further thoughts.

But his handsome profile and those deep, inscrutable eyes continued to dominate her thoughts, refusing to fade away.

The nightclub was a lavish multi-level establishment, complete with bars, dance floors, and private rooms. The general crowd mingled in the main hall, while the higher the private rooms, the more prestigious the guests.

Katie watched as the hall lights shifted into neon flickers, and the stage came alive with seductive dancers twisting their waists, captivating the audience with their moves and playful kisses.

Under the dim lights and the seductive music, the crowd was slowly losing themselves.

Fortunately, Katie wasn't assigned to these common areas but to a VIP room, a comparatively quiet haven.

"Katie, what are you doing still standing around? It's too busy for that. Be careful, or my sister will see you slacking and cut your wages," Lil' Ai chided, catching Katie staring at the dance floor. She gave her a gentle push, bringing her back to reality.

Listening to the music, Katie shook her head. She might occasionally enjoy a drink, but she was not fond of the disorder of these places. It was just too overwhelming.

"Okay, I'm on it," she replied, smiling faintly. Despite the grueling past few days, she had managed to get into the rhythm.

Inside the VIP room.

"Jabe, you've been out of the dating game for a while. How about we introduce you to a couple of lovely ladies?" Thos reclined on the red sofa, leisurely sipping his wine, his rich voice resonating softly.

Sammie, sitting beside him, sported a fleeting, sly smile before quickly composing himself. It seemed better to let Thos steer the conversation.

He took a bite of an apple, chewing leisurely, content to watch the show unfold.

"So, you've finally learned to share?" Jabe, with a single hand resting on his knee, flashed a wicked grin. His eyes, slightly squinted, gently shook the stem of his wine glass, his gaze locked on the red liquid inside, yet he refrained from drinking.

Tonight, Thos and Sammie had urgently called him to this get-together, a sense of urgency he'd never seen from them before.

What were they plotting? He knew all too well.

"Jabe, you've gotten funny," Thos said, disbelief coloring his tone as he looked at Jabe. The man was actually joking? In all their years of knowing each other, that was a first.

His face showed unease as he glanced at Sammie, who seemed more focused on his apple than the conversation.

Thos kicked out, catching Sammie squarely, who returned the look with a blend of surprise and innocence. It seemed he couldn't dodge whatever was coming.

"Uh, it's like this—his kidneys haven't been great lately, so he's letting you have the girls," Sammie said with mock seriousness, as if Thos really had a problem.

"Who's talking about my kidneys..." Thos started to protest but was cut off when a grape was tossed into his mouth, nearly choking him. He pointed at Sammie, then obediently closed his mouth.

"It seems you two have too much time on your hands. There's been a hiccup with the project in Europe—maybe you should go sort it out?" Jabe suggested, taking a delicate sip of his wine, his captivating black eyes on his friends.

His voice was low and magnetic, his presence enigmatic and enticing under the dim lights.

Thos and Sammie exchanged looks. They'd come to seek the truth, not to be sent on a business trip.

"Business aside, we're really concerned about your personal life. You've been in quite the... fiery situation with that one person recently," Thos said seriously, moving closer to Jabe and putting an arm around his shoulder in a well-meaning gesture.

Chu Yixuan also came over and sat down, one on each side.

"Oh, my personal doctor just got back into town. How about I make an appointment for you?" Jabe suggested, arching an eyebrow as he seriously reached for his phone, ready to dial.

"Damn, who's sick here? I'm not sick," Thos exclaimed, his complexion turning ashen. He could meet anyone but that perverse doctor.

That doctor treated them like they weren't even human, using them as lab rats was bad enough, but his daily fixation on turning them into women... That was beyond the pale. A meeting with that doctor could ruin their lives.

It was best to steer clear.

"What's the problem tonight?"

"Hey, your woman flat-out said she doesn't like men. What's the deal with that?" Thos let out a deep sigh, resigned to saying whatever came to mind, as long as it kept him away from that twisted doctor.

"Which woman doesn't like men?" Jabe asked, clearly puzzled. His eyes narrowed, his voice turning cold as a midwinter breeze, sending a chill through their hearts.

"The one who spied on you showering," Sammie helpfully explained, and Jabe's expression instantly darkened.

"Cough, to put it plainly, she's the one who snapped nude photos of you," Thos added, fearing his friend might not fully understand.

"Seems like you two have been idling away lately," Jabe remarked coolly, finishing his glass of red wine in one gulp. His face was an icy mask, his piercing black eyes flashing a warning.

Sammie and Thos jumped up, grabbing their coats, ready to bolt at any moment.

"Boss, we're just speaking the truth," they insisted.

The two young men stood there like misbehaving students relegated to the corner, while Jabe sat on the sofa, leisurely sipping his wine, silent and visibly upset. His eyes were fixed on the wine in his glass, and the silence lingered heavily.

"I've got some things to handle, so I'll take off first. Assign me to the European project—I've already agreed to it," Thos blurted out, trying to sound confident as he volunteered for the assignment, hoping to escape an uncertain fate.

Feeling betrayed, Sammie quickly retorted, "How can the European project go on without me? It was my idea to begin with."

Unbeknownst to the others, a fleeting smile graced the corners of Jabe's lips, disappearing as swiftly as it had come.

Outside, Katie had wrapped up her drink deliveries and was giving her numb feet a much-needed break. While taking a moment to unwind, she spotted a door slightly open. Drawn by a voice she knew all too well, she quietly pivoted and caught sight of that unmistakable silhouette.