?Chapter 87:


    Hadley shook her head, puzzled by his reaction. Rising from her seat, she said, “Well, I’ll leave you to it. Enjoy your breakfast.” She didn’t wait for a reply, shouldering her bag and walking out.


    Eric remained seated, frustration simmering inside him.


    What was her angle? Did she just give him attitude?


    “She’s been away for years, and all she’s learned is how to get under my skin,” Eric fretted.


    Returning to her apartment, Hadley took a nap to energize herself for her performance at Gnt that evening.


    Hadley arrived in thete afternoon, ready to get a head start on her preparations for the evening’s dance performance.


    Lennon had chosen a beautiful outfit for her, a gown of soft, flowing chiffon that seemed almost weightless.


    She began dressing and applying her makeup.


    Lennon came into the dressing room.


    “Mr. Lewis,” Hadley greeted, standing up quickly.


    “Rx, keep sitting,” Lennon instructed with a smile, motioning for her to continue her makeup. “Just listen while you get ready.”


    “Okay.”


    Lennon was there to talk about what wasing next.


    “We’reunching the Toasting Ceremony in a few days.”


    “The Toasting Ceremony?”


    “That’s right.”


    It was a clever marketing strategy. As the venue focused on dance, they nned to include dance battles as part of the festivities, aligning with Gnt’s dance queenpetition.


    Guests would have the opportunity to vote and bet on their preferred dancers.


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    It was expected that multiple bets might be ced on the same dancer.


    What was at stake? The top betting guest on the winning dancer, who would be crowned as the dance queen, would be honored by having her serve them a drink.


    Hadley understood the concept but remained skeptical. “Do you think that will actually attract interest?”


    “Don’t worry about it.” Lennon reassured her with a confident smirk. “People here love to spend money for entertainment. They’ll definitely enjoy this.”


    He didn’t mince words. “You’re a guaranteed winner for dance queen. Just a heads-up, you’ll be pouring drinks, so prepare for that. Are you okay with this?”


    “That’s fine,” Hadley responded, her smile easy and assured. She had understood such responsibilities were part of the job when she joined Gnt.


    Lennon, feeling confident in her response, said, “Great. Get ready, then. I have to go.”


    Meanwhile, outside, the familiar group was back in their usual spot. The booth facing the stage held Eric, Barrie, Marshall, and Denver, just as before.


    Tonight, Eric was more reserved than usual, his silence notable since their arrival.


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