Chapter 346: SS3 03: The Last Days of Freedom

"Cheers!"

Eve raised her glass along with the others. She, Andie, Rose and Avery clinked their drinks together. The blaring music from the karaoke machine echoed inside the private room. Lights of purple, pink and blue colored the walls and the floor. 

They had filled the table with orders of food and cocktail beverages.

Tonight was a night to remember—a time to forget about all worries.

With that in mind, Eve drank every last drop of her martini. Then, she slammed the glass on the table and reached for the bottle of regular beer. Wedding preparations are almost done. They only needed some last minute check-ins but it would all be handled by Mishta and Alecia.

It was an accomplishment worth celebrating to say the least.

"Ohhh, look at you go, Ms. Bride-To-Be." Andie smirked. She enjoyed her soda water while the rest drank alcohol. Due in 3 months, she relaxed in her spot on the couch. "I know your wedding is in two days but you can't drink too much. You might not fit into your dress on the big day."

Eve brushed her best friend's concern with a wave of her hand. She swallowed a mouthful of beer. "This is probably the only night Ambryan would let me drink. I'm not about to waste it."

"Then, drink on my behalf."

Avery chuckled from across the table. She picked up a nacho chip from a plate. "You girls should plan night outs like this. I imagine you'll need some once babies are popping out. Every woman needs a night out to herself. It would be your each other's jobs to make sure you all get to relax at least once a month."

Rose snorted beside the madam. "More like taking turns babysitting while the parents go out."

"That could also work."

Eve suppressed her laugh. If not, she'd choke on her drink. "Why don't we pick songs?"

"Permission to have a duet with the bride?" Rose asked, raising her hand like they were in class. Then, she grabbed the song book and searched for a song they both knew. She hopped up the moment she found it, punching in the numbers.

There were two microphones available. Rose handed one to Eve while the music began to play. Piano notes filled the room, softer than the default songs that had been played so far.

The former caught her cue, serenading the bride while she was at it. 

"Living in my own world~"

"Didn't understand~"

"That anything could happen~"

"When you take a chance~"

Eve burst out laughing. She snatched the second microphone and stood up. Rose headed for the small raised platform inside the KTV room. There were two mic stands waiting for them. She picked the left one while Eve slipped her microphone on the right one.

The cue for the second singer was almost there. 

Eve cleared her throat, crossing her arms over her chest. Her brown eyes darted up to the ceiling like she'd rather be anywhere but here.

"I never believed in~"

"What I couldn't see~"

"I never opened my heart~"

Rose leaned into her microphone, "Oh~~"

"To all the possibilities~" Brown eyes stared at her. She stared right back. 

Their voices blended together, hesitant at first but gradually growing stronger. A magical moment sparked between them—as if they were the only two people in the room. Maybe it was the booze… or maybe it was destiny but…

… right here tonight,

Could be the start of something new.

"GIIIRRLLSS!! I'm here!" Cale announced when he opened the door. He had brought a faux fur purple scarf and wrapped it around his neck. A round of applause greeted him as he bowed to the waist several times. "Thank you! Thank you! Tonight was a success beyond measure. I couldn't have done it without your moral support."

Eve shook her head. She hadn't stopped smiling since they got there. "So you were able to take Ambryan out of the penthouse? That's some magic I would like to learn."

Cale sat on Rose's seat. He reached for an empty glass and poured his own drink. It almost seemed like he had been there from the beginning. "Oh, please, Eve. You'll have stronger powers soon enough." 

"Like what?"

"The power of a wife," Avery answered Eve, adding a wink. She and Cale clinked their glasses together before she took a sip. "You'll see its strength soon enough."

About a few miles away from the KTV bar, Ambryan found himself in another bachelor pad. His violet eyes glowered every step of the way. The second he knew something was wrong, he had tried to escape and head back to his penthouse.

Unfortunately, Cale had accomplices that blocked his path.

Now, here he was, on an elevator that led to Richard's apartment.

"Heeyy…" Richard attempted at an energetic greeting. "Yan! Good to see you. Good to see you. Come on in. There's plenty of room. I know you love your work but this should be a time for you to relax. Maybe even have some wine."

Ambryan invited himself in, undoing his tie. "Wine is the only thing that could make this worth it."

Richard turned back to the hallway and mumbled a few things. Then, he closed the door. He and Ambryan headed for the kitchen. Richard stayed a step behind, humming to himself. Things should become fun soon enough.

He kept his mischievous laugh in his head.

'Oh, this should be good.'

When they turned the corner, Ambryan nearly jumped when he spotted the fake giant cake. He stepped back but bumped into Richard instead. The latter gripped his shoulders and trapped him in place. 

"You think only the girls would have fun tonight?" Richard taunted in his ear. "I doubt you'd get married a second time so this will be the only chance you'd ever get to have a bachelor party. You bet that me and a few people have pitched in for this."

"Richard…" Ambryan warned. He had attended bachelor parties before out of courtesy. In one of those times, he had seen this very cake. Its implication had been embedded in his mind. 

His best friend blinked innocently. "Aw, come on now. This is from me, Madison, Mikael, Jordan and your new business partner, Mr. Calvin Knoc. I know you'd turn me down but what about everyone else? They might be disappointed if you don't accept this gift."

Ambryan clenched his jaw. Richard had him there. Maybe if they hadn't pulled Calvin into it, he would have found a way to refute. Alas, their business relationship wasn't solid yet. It hung on a balance and it was important to be able to please each other.

"..." Ambryan took a long deep breath. "No touching please."

"That's the spirit." Richard beamed. He glanced over his shoulder and started clapping. "He agreed, guys. Come out and let's enjoy this show!"

All the men Richard listed came out of hiding. They clapped along with him, congratulating Ambryan on his upcoming wedding. The latter ignored almost everyone except Calvin who he greeted back with a nod of his head. 

Gulping, Ambryan sat on one of the stools. He braced himself as sultry music played from the surround sound speakers from the home theater system. 'Here goes nothing.'

A hand popped out from the top of the cake. It held a small bouquet of roses. The hand tossed it in a random direction. By sheer luck, the bouquet landed in front of Ambryan. His companions cheered and brought out their drinks of wine and beer. 

Another hand slipped out of the hole. Then, a head of long black hair emerged, facing away from the audience. Shoulders rolled to the beat of the music. The dancer slowly turned around. Each inch of movement teased the onlookers. 

The closer they got to the face reveal, the louder they cheered. 

Ambryan's violet eyes bulged out. 

"RIFFLE?!" He yelled. There was no mistake. Under the black wig was Riffle, Madison's secretary. He wore red lipstick and eye makeup to go with the look. Fake eyelashes outlined his eyelids.

"Please don't fire me, boss," Riffle begged, flinching at how ridiculous his position was. He opened the cake and stepped out. The heels he wore clacked on the hardwood floor. Fishnet stockings covered his legs.

Flabbergasted by what he was seeing, Ambryan snapped his head towards the culprit. He glared in accusation. "Madison, did you put him up to this?"

"Hey!" Madison protested. He and Ambryan had a stare down but the latter refused to give in. Riffle still continued to dance, mimicking a shaman more than a stipper with his fans. The strips of cloth they glued onto them fluttered like the ribbons used for ribbon dancing.

Madison averted his gaze, muttering, "It was a fair game of rock, paper and scissors."

Richard propped his elbow on his best friend's shoulder. A knowing spread across his face. "Of course, I know you wouldn't want a real stripper. It's still a bachelor party so we thought of an alternative."

"By forcing Riffle to do this?" 

Riffle paused from dancing. "Can I stop now?"

Madison shook his head, setting his bottle of beer down on the counter. He sat beside Ambryan but never took his eyes off his secretary. "Not good enough yet. Tell you what. If you give us a good show, I will raise your salary on top of your yearly increase."

Spinning on his heels, Riffle pointed a fan at Eros's company president. "How much are we talking about here?"

"King, that's against company rules," Ambryan pointed out.

"As long as no one tells." 

"I won't tell. I definitely will not tell. Anyone else promises not to tell? Please?"

Calvin patted Ambryan on the back. "I have to hand it to you, Ambryan. This is the most unique bachelor party I've ever attended. I'll remember it for years to come."

"I'll say." Mikael snorted, drinking a mouthful of his beverage. "I lost years of my life playing rock, paper and scissors. I'd never be able to show my face in front of anyone here again."

"Gee, thanks, everyone. You better give me tips!"