You More Than Anything In The World

Ethen and Jack went to their usual haunt. They had invited their friends too, including Kingsley and Shaun.

At the hospital, Shaun had finished his ward round and dropped by Arissa's room. There, he told Benjamin, “Ethen and the gang are getting drinks right now. Would you like to go?”

“No,” Benjamin replied. He wanted to stay with Arissa. “You can go without me.”

Shaun gave him a knowing smile. “Arissa's fine for now. Are you sure you don't want to go?”

“Yes, I'm sure!” Benjamin gave Shaun a sharp look, then closed the door and headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

Shaun quirked his brows and turned to address the bodyguards stationed by the door, “I'll grab you guys supper on the way back.”

These bodyguards had to stay here and protect Benjamin and Arissa at all times, so they couldn't attend the gathering.

They said gratefully in unison, “Thanks, Mr. Bailey!”

After that, Shaun put on a change of clothes and headed to the club. When he reached the door of the lounge, he heard Jack ask Kingsley, “Mr. Watts, how come you didn't bring the kids over?”

“Are you stupid? Look around you! Benjamin would kill me if he found out I brought the kids to a place like this,” Kingsley said, smacking Jack in the head. He wondered where Jack's common sense had gone. Why would anyone in their right mind bring children to a club?

Jack rubbed the back of his head dejectedly and grumbled, “Use your words, man. You don't have to go around hitting people to make a point!”

Ethen looked at them in amusement. When he noticed Shaun's arrival, he quickly beckoned him over for a drink.

“Jack, long time no see! Looks like you've gotten tanner,” Shaun greeted cheerily as he appraised Jack. Under the lowlights, the man's skin had an olive hue to it.

Jack laughed, his muscles coiling under smooth, tanned skin. “The assessment is coming up, so I've been kicking the training into high gear.”

Shaun and Kingsley exchanged a brief glance. They would have forgotten all about the assessment and training had Jack not brought it up. “Thanks for holding down the fort, Jack!” they said.

They only went back to the base every once in a blue moon, so it fell to Jack to take charge of matters there.

“Just doing my job,” Jack replied insouciantly as he took a big gulp of beer.

It was rare that they got together like this. For the most part of the night, their glasses were full and they drank to their hearts' content.

Presently, Miranda showed up at the club with her friends. She was walking past the lounge when she heard the raucous laughter coming from inside. Seeing that the door was left ajar, she peeked into the lounge and suddenly caught a glimpse of Kingsley's familiar profile. Her eyes lit up at once.

If Kingsley's here, then Benjamin must be here too.

She quickly told her friends, “Hey, my tummy isn't feeling too well. I think I need to use the restroom. You girls go ahead without me!”

“Okay, but make it quick!” one of her friends replied. Whenever nature called, the girls were always too embarrassed to use the adjoining restroom in the lounge. As such, they did not think much of Miranda's situation and merely headed into their lounge.

Miranda waited until they were out of sight before she pulled out a mirror and fixed her hair and makeup. When she was satisfied with her appearance, she pushed open the door to Kingsley's lounge and went in.

“Why, if it isn't Kingsley! What a coincidence!” she greeted Kingsley as though they were the oldest of friends, then swept her gaze across the room.

Men! All of them are men!