Chapter Five: At the Nightclub

Bruno wondered if Tristan could handle meeting Layla every night. He cleared his throat and shifted his gaze to Tristan, who was comfortably settled in the chair behind the office table. To Bruno's surprise, Tristan nodded in agreement upon hearing her words. Caught off guard, Bruno responded, "Sure thing, I'll make the necessary arrangements without delay." Layla added, "And make sure he doesn't juggle other clients on the side because I want him to focus only on me." With that, she abruptly ended the call, leaving a trail of disconnected beeps. Bruno was amazed to see the content smile on Tristan's face as he sat calmly. Love sure has a way of clouding judgment. Sensing a headache approaching, Bruno advised, "Mr. Frucht, you've got a packed schedule with seven international meetings and 15 projects this week. Even working round the clock, it might be a challenge to tackle everything and meet her next week." Tristan flashed a reassuring smile and coolly replied, "Let her know I'll be there on the dot." ... Fast forward to a week later, at Layla's place. The moon hung serenely in the night sky, casting a soft glow through the window. Layla, dressing in a sleek black silk slip dress, elegantly lounged on the leather sofa, twirling a glass of red wine in her hand. She had been waiting patiently, but "Simon" was nowhere in sight. The wall clock struck half past eight, marking thirty minutes past the agreed-upon time. Layla grabbed her phone and dialed Bruno, asking, "Where is he?" Meanwhile, Bruno lowered his voice as he glanced at Tristan in the meeting room, engrossed in his team's updates. "He's caught up in something urgent and might be running a bit behind schedule," Bruno explained. Layla was baffled by what could possibly occupy a sex worker. "What on earth could he be so tied up with? Didn't I tell you to let him prioritize me over all else? Can he really handle this non-stop grind every single day?" Before Bruno could get a word in, Layla said, "Never mind. I'll find someone else on my own." She then abruptly ended the call. Observing Tristan immersed in work in the meeting room, Bruno grew anxious. Despite just returning from a business trip, working for more than ten straight hours, and attending meetings unwell, Tristan pushed himself to the limit just to meet Layla tonight. The idea of Layla seeking another companion left Bruno feeling scared. Thankfully, Tristan seemed to sense something and caught Bruno's worried glance. Bruno subtly gestured with his phone. After a brief exchange with his subordinates, Tristan rose from his seat and made his way towards Bruno, asking, "What's the matter?" "It's serious. Miss Hammond is about to look for someone else!" ... The soft glow of the moon mingled with the neon lights, casting a dreamy shimmer over the bustling street. A chic hot pink sports car pulled up outside a nightclub called Lunar Lounge, and Layla emerged. With a flick of her sunglasses, she surveyed the scene before her with nostalgia in her eyes. Despite her deep-rooted hatred of this place in the past few years, Layla found herself here for a different reason. She was not doing this out of spite towards Simon but genuinely hoping to find a suitable guy to spend the night with. The pressure from the shareholders loomed heavily over her, threatening to snatch away her business if she didn't get pregnant before her next birthday. With everything on the line, Layla started her unconventional search for a man who could help her complete her goals. She couldn't bear the thought of her parents' hard-earned company being ruined, nor could she risk it falling into unfamiliar hands. Layla gazed at the entrance of the Lunar Lounge, and her fists clenched in determination as if she had made a decision. The doorman hurried to retrieve her keys, stealing glances at the striking woman before him. She exuded an air of confidence with her silky hair, red lips, and black silk slip dress that commanded attention as she strolled in. The waitress by the door recognized Layla as the one who used to cause trouble here. Every time Ashton came to this nightclub, Layla would rage and create chaos, leaving the scene in a mess. Her reputation preceded her, and the waitress was ready to notify the manager of her presence. Before Layla even set foot inside, the manager approached with a smile, saying, "Hello, Mrs. Hayes. I'm sorry, but your husband isn't here tonight." Layla sensed the tension in his demeanor, knowing the impact of her past actions. With a reassuring pat on the manager's shoulder, she assured him, "Relax, I'm just here to have fun. I'm not interested in causing trouble. Send the hottest models here to my room." The manager realized there was no need to turn away business, especially from a well-known socialite who would undoubtedly spend generously. Filled with delight, the manager graciously led Layla to a private room and introduced her to four of the club's most dashing male models. Each of them possessed striking features and muscular physiques. In the dim ambiance, Layla's gaze held a sense of intrigue as she observed each man closely. While these models may not have compared to Simon, they possessed a certain allure that impressed her. Layla understood the appeal of such places, where excitement reigned, and monotony faded into the background. "These are our finest male models," the manager proudly remarked, inviting Layla to make her choice. "Great." Without haste, Layla rose from her seat, approaching a man with striking features and a shy grin. With a gentle touch on his chin, she guided his gaze to meet hers, a satisfied smile on her lips. "You can stay," Layla said. The other models tactfully exited the room at the manager's signal. Layla traced her fingers along the model's sculpted abs with a smile. Coincidentally, this scene was witnessed by Ashton, who had just emerged from another private room. Ashton had been feeling on edge recently. Since divorcing Layla, he had expected her to come back pleading for forgiveness, just like she had done in the past. However, this time around, Layla appeared resolute about the divorce. Stepping out for a break and a smoke, Ashton noticed the door of the adjacent room creak open. The club manager ushered out a group of handsome, shirtless models, catching Ashton's attention. He inadvertently peeked through the partially open door and caught a glimpse of Layla being with a young male model.