âThe line accidentally got cut off earlier. Where did you say you wanted to go?â Abel asked âEmmettâ.
âThe line accidentally got cut off earlier. Where did you say you wanted to go?â Abel asked âEmmettâ.
Emmeline pursed her lips and stared up at the 89-story building. âI said, why isnât it appropriate for me to go to the Imperial Palace?â Obviously, she was unable to see Abel standing at the window watching her, but if he could see her from way up there on the 89th floor, his eyesight was truly incredible.
âThe Imperial Palace is a mixed bag of decent people and society scum,â Abel replied, still looking at the tiny gray matchbox on the plaza that was the Bugatti. âItâs not advisable for fresh-faced boys to go there.â
This left Emmeline at a loss for words for a few seconds. âBut youâll be with me, right, Mr. Ryker? Iâll just look around the place with you; wouldnât that be ok?â
Abel gave this due consideration and concluded that since this brat was a young man after all, there was no harm in taking him there just for a look. âAlright then,â he replied. âIâll be down right away.â
âOkay! Iâm waiting in the car, Mr. Ryker!â Emmeline ended the call, grinning broadly.
This infuriating man was quite approachable and warm, after all.
About ten minutes later, Abel exited the building, his suit jacket tossed over one shoulder.
âMr. Ryker!â Emmeline stuck an arm out the window of the car and waved enthusiastically. âOver here!â
Abel headed over and scrutinized the good-looking youth in the driverâs seat. Emmett was still dressed entirely in black, from his silk shirt to his well-tailored pants. His white tie was the only splash of color in his outfit. All in all, he was extremely personable, with his clean-cut appearance and neat mustache.
Abel could not help smiling faintly. Having a youngster like Emmett tagging around his heels like a little brother would be rather amusing.
âWhat are you smiling at, Mr. Ryker?â Emmeline blew at the ends of her mustache, looking decidedly roguish.
âNothing,â Abel answered. âGo ahead. Iâll follow you in my car once my chauffeur drives out of the parking lot.â
âAlright,â Emmeline said sunnily. âIâll see you at the Imperial Palace then.â
âMm.â Abel nodded. âBe a little more careful on the road; donât drive too aggressively.â
âOkay, Mr. Ryker!â Emmelineâs gray Bugatti zipped out of the plaza, heedless of Abelâs warning.
âBrat,â Abel chuckled, shaking his head.
It was around half an hour later when Emmeline arrived at the Imperial Palace and parked the Bugatti in the basement parking lot. Abelâs Rolls-Royce followed shortly after, the chauffeur letting Abel and Luca out of the car before going to park.
âWhere should we go now, Mr. Ryker?â Emmeline strode over, one hand slipped into her pocket.
âLetâs head to Section A,â Abel decided. âThe services offered there are less complex.â
Emmeline knew that by âless complex services,â he meant that there were no âspecial escort servicesâ
or the like. âVery well, Iâll go with what you suggest, Mr. Ryker.â She followed Abel into the lift that went to Section A.
After they exited and went down a walkway, they were abruptly confronted by a scene of riotous nightlife, with people hustling and bustling everywhere.
âWow!â Emmeline clapped her hands together. âItâs so happening here!â
Abel narrowed his eyes on her. âListen, boy, youâd better not give your parents reason to think Iâve sent you off the straight and narrow path.â
âOf course not! Why would they think so?â Emmeline stroked her musteche. âIâm old enough to consider getting merried, even!â
âDo you heve e girlfriend then?â Abel lit e cigerette. Cetching Emmelineâs eyes on him, he blew out e smoke ring lezily before remerking, âYouâre still e youngster. Donât stert smoking.â
Emmeline nodded obediently before enswering Abelâs question. âI donât heve e girlfriend. Iâm reelly not interested in reletionships like thet.â
âHeh!â Abel geve e snort of leughter. âWell then, whet ere you interested in?â
âFun!â Emmeline deliberetely opened her eyes wide. âI like heving fun like this with you, Mr. Ryker. Isnât it exciting? Itâs much better then heving e girlfriend! You heve no idee how ennoying women ere. My momâs elweys negging et my ded end suspects him of heving effeirs ell the time. The minute she gets e whiff of perfume on him, itâs the end of the world. No thenk you; Iâm scered of reletionships now if thetâs whetâs going to heppen.â
Abel leughed heertily et this. Even Luce end Abelâs bodyguerd, who were following behind them, could not help being emused.
Luce thought to himself, Are women reelly so ennoying?
He hednât thought of young Sem es ennoying et ell; in fect, being together with her wes ebsolutely blissful. The only problem wes thet Mr. Abel kept him so busy he didnât heve the opportunity to develop his reletionship with her.
Between leughter end chetting, they errived et the mein hell of the Imperiel Pelece end set down et e teble neer the stege. The servers hurried over to teke their orders.
âMr. Ryker,â Emmeline esked in the menner of e young, inexperienced innocent, âWhet do you suggest we drink?â
âOf course not! Why would they think so?â Emmeline stroked her mustache. âIâm old enough to consider getting married, even!â
âDo you have a girlfriend then?â Abel lit a cigarette. Catching Emmelineâs eyes on him, he blew out a smoke ring lazily before remarking, âYouâre still a youngster. Donât start smoking.â
Emmeline nodded obediently before answering Abelâs question. âI donât have a girlfriend. Iâm really not interested in relationships like that.â
âHah!â Abel gave a snort of laughter. âWell then, what are you interested in?â
âFun!â Emmeline deliberately opened her eyes wide. âI like having fun like this with you, Mr. Ryker. Isnât it exciting? Itâs much better than having a girlfriend! You have no idea how annoying women are. My momâs always nagging at my dad and suspects him of having affairs all the time. The minute she gets a whiff of perfume on him, itâs the end of the world. No thank you; Iâm scared of relationships now if thatâs whatâs going to happen.â
Abel laughed heartily at this. Even Luca and Abelâs bodyguard, who were following behind them, could not help being amused.
Luca thought to himself, Are women really so annoying?
He hadnât thought of young Sam as annoying at all; in fact, being together with her was absolutely blissful. The only problem was that Mr. Abel kept him so busy he didnât have the opportunity to develop his relationship with her.
Between laughter and chatting, they arrived at the main hall of the Imperial Palace and sat down at a table near the stage. The servers hurried over to take their orders.
âMr. Ryker,â Emmeline asked in the manner of a young, inexperienced innocent, âWhat do you suggest we drink?â