The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Even if the waiter knew, he wouldn’t spill the beans to them. But one thing was clear—the girl standing before them had some deep connection with Mr. Kane.

“Enjoy yourselves, folks. If you need anything, just holler.”

“Sure thing!”

As Angie began to relax, her nervousness faded, replaced by a bubbling excitement. “I wonder what kind of entertainment we’ve got lined up tonight?” You could tell she was really looking forward to it.

The kind of show Kane sets up was unlikely to disappoint.

However, choosing this kind of venue for a mixer was a bit out of the ordinary, and while the girls were quite thrilled, the guys felt somewhat restrained. After all, the goal was to find a serious romance, and showing too much interest in a place like this—acting like it was their regular haunt—might just nip any budding romance in the bud. They looked at each other, all a little stiff and formal in their seats.d2

Angie’s sparkling eyes had swept across the whole floor when the waiter finally brought their drinks. She reined in her curiosity and settled back into the booth, casting a glance at the men opposite her.

The two girls beside her had already struck up a conversation, and Angie could tell their attention was mainly on the guy sitting across from Phoebe. He was the same guy who had just asked them to move aside, dressed in crisp, clean clothes, with handsome, refined features that gave off an impression of modest warmth, like a spring breeze—soothing and amicable. In this noisy, chaotic setting, he managed to stand out without seeming out of place.

Angie, spotting something intriguing, nudged Phoebe’s arm with her elbow and handed her a glass, whispering as she did so.

“Babe, that guy across from you, Oakley, is the finance department’s golden boy, got in on a scholarship, topped the freshers’ list of honors with a headshot that claimed the ‘Campus Heartthrob’ title.”

Phoebe took a sip from her glass, relieved to find the alcohol content low. “How come you’re always clued up on the gossip but still single, huh?”

Angie pouted, “I just felt bad about making a move on a younger guy…”

“And now?”

“Well… if I’m looking at school, younger guys are all that’s left, right? Can’t fight the march of time…”

Phoebe couldn’t help but laugh, “You’re not even old…”

“Hehe, let me tell you, Oakley has no shortage of girls after him. If he wanted, he could have his pick of the bunch, but he’s been single for two years. He’s never been to one of these mixers before. Tonight’s his first time.”

“Good luck to you then.”

Angie shook her head and gave Phoebe a meaningful look, winking and nudging her again.

Phoebe gave Angie a puzzled look, “What’s up with you now?”

“When I asked someone to invite him, guess whose name I used?”

Phoebe shook her head, “No idea.”

Angie shrugged, “Never mind then. Just know it wasn’t under my name.”

The conversation among the group eventually turned towards Angie and Phoebe.

Phoebe had this selective introversion thing going on. Sometimes she was quiet, almost never initiating conversations, responding only when spoken to. Other times she was quirky and lively, a natural at lifting spirits. It all depended on her mood, and who she was with.

lightened up, and with a few drinks mixing

she was mixing herself another drink, a pair of clean, white hands reached over

His expression was neutral as he poured some soft drink into her glass. “This place is a bit wild. You should take it

Angie glanced at a group of girls nearby

girls had definitely had more to drink than

came to a sudden halt,

They were minor celebrities from the entertainment industry, wearing glittering silver fringe dresses that barely covered anything, confidently putting on a

remarked, “Typical of Kane to go all out. Not your

on, it started to feel off-kilter, veering into the realm of risqué numbers. The dancers switched from airline attendant getups to nurse garb, and even schoolgirl outfits. The cheers grew louder, the crowd more excited, and the performers on stage

up,

Another girl, eyes alight with mischief, chimed in and Angie waved her

possibly be more outrageous than what the stars on stage were

a shot, straight

“Deal!”

*

in diverse outfits stood

held a cigarette between his fingers, the white smoke slightly obscuring his handsome features. His narrow eyes glanced at the man sitting by the window, his mood darkening, and let out a chuckle. Leaning forward to snub out

of his wrist, he motioned to the women, “Bring in the next

a walk in the park. You’re going

for their big break, flinging themselves headfirst into the cutthroat world of dreams. Here they were,

back into his chair, idly toying with a platinum lighter in his hand. “Having the honor to

be bothered to spar with

teasing mirth. “Should you fancy someone someday,

glanced casually at the raucous scene below, his

a good fifteen seconds before Damon glanced out the window, his lips almost imperceptibly twitching before his face set

*

at Phoebe’s table was drawing quite a crowd. People were cheering them on, turning them into

was a game of Telephone, but with a twist—passing a slip of paper mouth

drawn numbers to decide the order, and two girls ended up side by side, taking the loss and downing their

by girls, she confidently took the paper, passing it to Phoebe with a bit too much cheek-to-cheek

knew she was in a pickle. If she didn’t pass the paper to Oakley, she’d

through various stages of horror, his gaze drifting to the white

hands involuntarily shrinking back, only to be caught by Oakley’s firm, reassuring grip. The subtle action, unnoticed by the others, sent

Oakley spoke, “Alright,

yanking the paper from Phoebe’s mouth, tossing it to the floor. Everyone paused,

upon seeing Azriel’s icy glare. “What…

tone was icy, his face frightening, and that slight smile of his lips seemed like a barbed hook ready to tear flesh. Phoebe was at a

of her protectively, a move that narrowed Azriel’s eyes with a glint of coldness. They