Chapter 141
“Lennon!” He stormed through the backstage area, his finger stabbing the air as he singled out Lennon. “I have spent a fortune on her, and I expect answers! Besides…”
He swept his arm toward the onlookers trailing behind him like moths drawn to the scent of scandal. “Ask them if my request is unreasonable!”
“Unreasonable? Hardly!”
“Of course, it’s fair!”
They were here for the drama, nothing more.
“Mr. Blake, I swear I’m telling the truth. Mr. Flynn—I—”
“Stop throwing Mr. Flynn’s name around like a shield!”
Cody, marinated in liquor, felt the burn of alcohol intensifying his temper. With a forceful shove, he sent Lennon stumbling.
“Does Mr. Flynn even know you use his name like this? Step aside!”
“Ouch!”
Lennon stumbled, barely managing to stay on his feet before he hit the ground. Shaking off the misstep, he raced after Cody, who had already bulldozed his way into the dressing room.
Inside, several dancers were in the middle of wiping off their makeup and changing into their regular clothes. The moment Cody stormed in, a chorus of startled shrieks filled the room.
Cody paid them no mind, cutting straight to the chase. “Where is S?”
“Tell her to come out and share a drink with me!”
“Her?”
A heavy silence fell over the room as every gaze instinctively landed on Hadley.
She had already wiped away her makeup and was no longer wearing her mask. However, she reacted swiftly, slipping it back on the instant Cody barged in.
Ironically, that only served to make her stand out even more. Cody’s eyes gleamed with recognition.
Your imagination starts at g Ɐ ln σ ν𝒆 𝓁s․conn
A loud, amused laugh burst from his throat.
Striding forward, he zeroed in on her.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding!”
Hadley straightened, keeping her voice as composed as a still lake.
“Good evening. May I ask what this is about?”
For a brief moment, Cody faltered. He couldn’t see her face, but something about her voice caught his attention. Up close, her poised stance and graceful figure were impossible to ignore.
“Miss S, you gave your word that you would toast with the top patron after the performance. Surely, you’re not thinking of going back on it now?”
Hadley had no issue with the request.
However, the choice was not hers to make.
She cast a glance at Lennon, who immediately stepped forward to shield her.
“Mr. Blake, this is a private space full of young women. Can we take this conversation somewhere else?”
Just when he was inches away from getting what he wanted, another roadblock appeared. Cody’s patience, already hanging by a thread, snapped.