“Enough!” Mrs. Laurent slammed her hand on the table, rattling the silverware. “Both of you! This is completely unacceptable behavior…”
A commotion outside the private dining room cut her off.
The sound of raised voices echoed from the main restaurant area…one clearly belonging to a server, the other slurred and belligerent.
“Sir, I’ve already explained. You cannot enter this establishment. Your name is on our restricted list…”
“Restricted list? RESTRICTED LIST? Do you have any idea who I am?”
Mrs. Laurent’s face tightened with irritation. “What on earth is going on out there?”
The argument grew louder, and closer. Other diners in the main area had gone quiet, clearly interested in watching the spectacle unfold.
“Sir, please lower your voice. If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll have to call security…”
“Call them! CALL THEM! I don’t care! I just want a meal! One meal! Is that too much to ask?”
Derek leaned back in his chair, craning his neck toward the doorway with obvious curiosity. “Sounds like someone’s having a worse night than us.”
Richard frowned. “The staff at Celestia is usually very discreet. Whoever that is must be making quite a scene.”
The voices were right outside their door now.
“Sir, you’re clearly intoxicated. You need to leave before…”
“I’M NOT LEAVING!”
The door to their private room burst open.
Alexander Chen stumbled inside, his expensive suit wrinkled and stained with what looked like spilled liquor. His tie hung loose around his neck, his shirt was partially untucked, and his eyes were bloodshot and wild. He reeked of alcohol…the sharp, sour smell of someone who’d been drinking for hours.
A horrified server appeared behind him, followed quickly by two security guards in dark uniforms.
“I am so sorry,” the server said, addressing the room with genuine distress. “He forced his way past the host station…”
Alexander wasn’t listening. His unfocused gaze swept across the private dining room, taking in the elegant table setting, the expensive wine bottles, the well–dressed occupants.
Then his eyes landed on Sophia. And Adrian sitting beside her.
Alexander’s face transformed. The drunken confusion gave way to something ugly…raw hatred mixed with desperate, humiliated rage.
“YOU,” he snarled, pointing at their table with a shaking hand. “Of course. Of COURSE you’re here. You are everywhere draining money from the rich, you worthless piece of shit, while L…” His voice cracked, “While I have NOTHING!”
Sophia pressed herself back in her chair, her face going pal Adrian’s expression didn’t change, but his hand moved to rest protectively on Sophia’s arm.
Mrs. Laurent stood abruptly. “Security, remove this man immediately. He’s clearly disturbed…”
1/3
The Public Degrare
+25 Bonus
“Disturbed?” Alexander lurched forward, nearly tripping over his own feet. “I’ll tell you what’s disturbing! Ever since HE showed up…” he jabbed a finger toward Adrian “..ny entire life has fallen apart! My job, my reputation, everything! Gone!”
The security guards moved closer, but Alexander was on a roll now, his words tumbling out in a drunken, bitter
torrent.
“You think you’re so special, don’t you?” Alexander’s eyes were fixed on Adrian like a manic. “Walking around like some nobody, but somehow everywhere you go, people lose everything! It’s like you’re cursed! Like you bring bad luck to anyone who crosses your path!”
Michael exchanged uncomfortable glances with James. Derek had gone very still, his earlier amusement replaced by growing alarm.
His voice rose to a shout. “What did you do? What kind of dark magic are you using?”
“Sir,” one of the security guards said firmly, reaching for Alexander’s arm. “You need to leave now.”
Alexander jerked away violently. “Don’t touch me! Don’t you DARE touch me!” He turned back to Adrian, tears streaming down his face now. “I know it was you! I don’t know how, but I KNOW! You destroyed me! You ruined everything!”
Adrian took a sip of his water, completely unbothered. The casual dismissal only inflamed Alexander further.
“SAY SOMETHING!” Alexander screamed. “Defend yourself! Deny it! Do SOMETHING other than sit there like you’re better than me!”
“You’re drunk,” Adrian said calmly. “And you’re embarrassing yourself.”
The simple observation, delivered in that infuriatingly even tone, was the final straw.
Alexander lunged forward with a roar of incoherent rage, his hands reaching for Adrian’s throat.
He didn’t make it two steps.
Both security guards tackled him simultaneously, their arms locking around his torso and pulling him backward. Alexander thrashed wildly, his feet kicking out and catching the edge of a serving cart.
Crystal glasses crashed to the floor. Wine spilled across the expensive carpet in a spreading red stain.
“Get off me! GET OFF ME!” Alexander’s voice had gone hoarse, desperate. “I’ll kill him! I’ll kill all of you! You can’t treat me like this! I’m a VICE PRESIDENT!”
“You’re nothing,” one of the guards grunted, wrestling Alexander’s arms behind his back. “You’re a drunk making a scene in a five–star establishment.”
Several other diners had emerged from the main restaurant area, phones out, recording the spectacle. The flash of camera phones lit up the doorway like paparazzi at a red carpet event.
Alexander seemed to realize he was being filmed. His struggles intensified, his face contorting with humiliation and rage.
“You’re all against me!” he shrieked at the cameras. “All of you! But I’ll remember! I’ll remember every face, every insult!” His wild eyes found Sophia. “Especially you! You and your worthless boy toy! You think you’re so much better than me, but you’re just a bankrupt nobody who got lucky!”
“That’s enough,” the head of security said coldly. He nodded to his team, and they began physically dragging Alexander toward the exit.
Alexander fought every step, his expensive shoes scraping against the floor, his voice rising to a fever pitch.
2/3
The Base Dec
+25 Bonus
“I’LL GET MY REVENGE!” he screamed as they hauled him through the doorway. “YOU HEAR ME? ALL OF YOU! I’LL DESTROY YOU JUST LIKE YOU DESTROYED ME! ADRIAN COLE, I’LL MAKE YOU PAY! SOPHIA LAURENT, I’LL RUIN YOU! I’LL…”
The main restaurant doors slammed shut, cutting off his threats.
The sudden silence was deafening.
For a long moment, nobody in the private dining room moved. They just sat there, frozen, tryinn to process what had just happened.
Then Derek slowly, deliberately, turned his face away from the doorway, his expression carefully blank. He picked up his wine glass, as if he hadn’t spent half his life singing Alexander’s praises.
“Well,” he said lightly, not meeting anyone’s eyes. “That was… unfortunate.”
Mrs. Laurent had gone pale, one hand pressed to her chest. I… I had no idea that man was so unstable.”
The restaurant manager appeared in the doorway…a distinguished woman in her fifties with an air of absolute authority. “I apologize profusely for that disruption. The individual has been removed from the premises and will be banned permanently.”
She turned to Adrian, and her slight bow seemed more deferential than necessary. “Sir, I hope this incident hasn’t ruined your evening.”
Adrian nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
After the manager left, Richard frowned thoughtfully. “Did she seem to… know him?” He gestured vaguely toward Adrian.
James shrugged. “Probably just professional courtesy. Celestia is known for treating all their guests with respect, regardless of status.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Laurent said slowly, though her eyes remained fixed on Adrian with newfound suspicion. “Very professional indeed.”
Derek forced a laugh. “Well, at least we know they have excellent security. Can’t have just anyone causing problems.”
But the lingering looks directed at Adrian suggested that several people at the table were wondering why, exactly, the staff had shown him such particular attention.
They just couldn’t bring themselves to believe someone so unremarkable could warrant it.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
