Chapter 22 A Slap
Mia stepped into Celeste Dining, and her breath caught at the sight before her.
The space was luxurious yet intimate, with European-inspired décor, soft golden lighting, and elegant tables spread generously across the room. The atmosphere hummed with quiet sophistication. Mia’s eyes swept over the room, searching for the woman in the photograph Camila had sent.
“Mia?”
A cheerful voice broke her thoughts. Mia turned to see a young woman, seated only a few tables away, waving at her. Mia waved back at Emily and hurried toward her.
As Mia reached her, she extended her hand for a polite handshake Emily stepped forward and wrapped Mia in a hug. Mia stiffened briefly, startled, before instinctively hugging back. Mia felt a moment of surprise at the unexpected closeness.
Pulling back, the woman smiled brightly. “Mia,” she said, eyes sparkling. “You’re even prettier in person than your photograph.”
Mia’s heart skipped a beat, a memory jolting her as Alexander’s words from yesterday flashed through her mind.
‘I clicked it this morning while you were sleeping in my bed.’
Her chest tightened as a wave of nervousness passed through her. Hesitantly, she asked, “Which photograph?”
Emily grinned and quickly swiped through her phone before turning the screen toward Mia. Mia’s eyes widened as she leaned closer.
Her heart thumped nervously, bracing for the worst, but relief flooded her when she saw it. The photo wasn’t the one she feared. It was a candid shot of her smiling at Alexander’s house, taken without her noticing — completely innocent and lovely.
Emily chuckled softly, reading Mia’s reaction. “Which one did you think it was?” she teased.
Mia flushed, unable to answer, and quickly changed the subject. “What would you like to have? It’s my treat.”
Emily wrinkled her nose playfully. “I know I suggested this place, but don’t you think it’s a bit… dull for our first meeting? After all, we’re going to be sisters for life.” Her eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. “Wait, I know the perfect place. Something far more exciting than this.”
Before Mia could protest, Emily grabbed her hand and practically dragged her out of the restaurant.
They moved quickly, laughter spilling between them, and Emily led her toward a sleek black sports car parked outside.
The driver who had brought Mia to the restaurant stepped forward, probably to escort her back, but Emily waved him off.
“It’s fine, Nate. I’ve got her,” she said, and he nodded, retreating to his car.
Mia climbed into the passenger seat, still catching her breath from Emily’s enthusiastic pace. Emily slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The drive was short — only ten minutes — before Emily turned sharply into an underground parking garage.
Mia’s eyes widened as they entered. Expensive sports cars gleamed under the overhead lights, polished to perfection. Emily parked swiftly in an empty spot and practically yanked Mia out of the car. “It’s been ages since I came to a place like this!” Emily grinned.
“A place like this?” Mia asked, frowning. “Bars are bars… aren’t they just for drinking?”
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Mia’s mouth fell open.
Shirtless men moved gracefully around the tables, serving drinks with a mix of charm and athletic poise. Tall, handsome, perfectly sculpted. It was overwhelming.
Mia leaned closer to Emily, whispering in disbelief. “Where… are we?”
Emily’s eyes sparkled with delight. “A shirtless bar! Have you never been to one?”
“No,” Mia admitted quietly, almost breathless.
“Perfect!” Emily exclaimed. “Then we’re going to make your first time unforgettable.”
She grabbed Mia’s hand and led her past the main area. Instead of stopping at the crowded tables, Emily steered her toward a VIP section. A large sign blinked above the entrance, glowing in neon colors. They entered, and Mia’s eyes widened again.
The private room was decadently furnished, with leather couches arranged around the perimeter. Colorful lights flickered softly across the walls. On the far wall, a projector flashed a stream of images and videos of shirtless men, each more charming than the last.
Mia’s heart raced, and she felt both nervous and thrilled.
Emily leaned close, her eyes glittering with mischief. “Welcome to your first real adventure as my sister-in-law, Mia.”
Mia gasped, still trying to process the surprise. Before she could react, Emily grabbed her hand and pulled her onto one of the couches. Moments later, two incredibly handsome, shirtless men entered, placing several colorful cocktails on the table.
The drinks looked dangerously pretty—each one sparkling under the shifting lights.
Emily handed Mia a glass, her eyes dancing. “Drink. You’ll need it for the night I have planned.”
Mia hesitated but took a sip. The sweetness burned down her throat, making her cough softly.
“So,” Emily said, tucking one leg under herself and facing Mia fully. “Tell me what that photograph drama was about. You looked ready to faint earlier.”
Mia hesitated, biting her lip. “Alexander told me he sent my photo to his mom,” she said nervously. “He said it was one he took of me… that morning… in bed. So I was scared he sent her something—”
For a moment, Emily blinked—and then burst into laughter so loud it echoed off the walls. Mia covered her face in embarrassment.
“God, you’re adorable,” Emily wheezed, still laughing.
An hour later, the two were comfortably drunk — giggling, sharing stories, and forgetting all boundaries. Mia, without realizing, had told Emily almost everything. How she came to live with Alexander, how they got married, and even about James.
By the end of it, Emily was fuming. “I don’t know what’s wrong with some men,” she said angrily, slamming her drink down. “You and I both wasted five years on men who didn’t deserve a single day!”
Mia blinked, startled. “You too?”
Emily sighed. “Not married, but engaged. Almost married. Then everything went downhill.”
Then she began to talk—about how she met Sebastian, her ex-fiancé, and the marriage that followed. By the time she finished, Mia was three drinks in and staring in disbelief.
“How could he leave you to die and then ask to get back together?” Mia asked, horrified.
Emily shrugged. “Because men like him think they can get away with it.” She sipped her drink again before asking casually, “So… you’re living at Mom’s house now?”
Mia nodded. “We stayed there last night. I’m not sure when we’ll go home. I haven’t asked Alexander yet.”
Emily leaned closer, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “Do you like him?”
Mia flushed and nodded shyly. “Yes. He’s… the best. I’ve been happy ever since I came to live with him.”
Emily smiled knowingly. “And after all this—are you planning to stay married?”
Mia hesitated, looking down at her glass. “I’m… not sure.”
Seeing her hesitation, Emily reached out and pulled her into a side hug. “Don’t worry about it. Everything will be fine. And if it’s not, we’ll make it fine. But no matter what happens,” she said with a confident grin, “fun shouldn’t stop.”
She snapped her fingers. The door opened—and suddenly the room filled with half a dozen shirtless men, each one flashing an easy smile.
Within moments, several shirtless men entered the room, each one flashing an easy smile.
Mia’s jaw dropped.
Emily raised her glass with a wink. “Relax! We’re just playing.” She waved the men closer. “Alright, gentlemen—rock, paper, scissors. Lose, and I get to touch your abs.”
Mia could only laugh, giving her a sheepish look as she accepted another cocktail.
Just then, her phone vibrated on the table. The name flashing on the screen made her blood run cold.
Alexander.
“It’s Alexander,” she whispered in panic, showing Emily. “Shh!”
Emily covered her mouth to keep from laughing, giving Mia a thumbs-up.
Mia slipped out of the room and hurried toward the room across the hall that looked empty, her heart pounding. Once inside, she answered the call.
“Mia, where are you?” Alexander’s deep voice came through.
“I… came to meet Emily,” Mia said quickly. “I told you, right? I’m trying really hard to be a good friend to her.”
His voice softened into something darkly amused. “My Mia is very hardworking, huh?”
She nodded instinctively, even though he couldn’t see her. Her heart pounded. “Yes! I… I like to work all the time,” she replied nervously.
There was a pause. Then came his quiet reply, “I see.” And the line went dead.
Mia stared at her phone, exhaling shakily. “Why am I so scared of him?” she muttered to herself.
Before she could move, a low male voice came from the shadows. “So you like to work really hard?”
She jumped, turning fast. She saw a man standing near the projector, hidden in the shadows.
“Yes?” she said quickly, flustered. “I was just talking to someone. Sorry to disturb you.”
The man chuckled. “Do you come here often?”
“Yes,” Mia lifted her chin, pretending confidence, though her voice trembled slightly. “I go to lots of places like this. It just got boring… so I came here tonight to see if there were any new men around.”
“So you’ve seen all the shirtless men in all the bars in the city already?” the man questioned, voice filled with disbelief.
“None of your business!” she snapped and rushed to the door, fleeing the room.
When she left, the man turned toward the mirror—and Harold’s reflection appeared. He stared at himself, lifted his shirt to reveal his stomach, and frowned. “I really need to get my abs back,” he muttered seriously.
Just then, his phone rang.
“Dude, where the hell are you? We’re leaving!” his friend shouted.
“Yeah, I’m coming!” Harold yelped, quickly running out of the room and the club.
Meanwhile, Mia burst back into the VIP room where Emily sat, surrounded by laughter and empty glasses. “Let’s go home,” Mia urged.
“Why?” Emily frowned. “I already paid for a few hours! Let’s enjoy it a bit more.”