"Yeah," Bet replied with a smile. Then he asked, "I have tomorrow off. Want to go see a movie?"


    As a regimentalmander, Bet still got some holidays off.


    Several new holiday blockbusters had just been released and seemed pretty good. They used to go to the movies often when they dated.


    "Tomorrow''s apany party. We''re all going to a bar. No time to hang out with Mr. Bet Thompson, so you''ll have to be a good boy on your own," Yvonne teased. She held her phone in one hand and a lit sparkler in the other.


    The dazzling sparks flickered, reflecting brightly in Yvonne''s eyes.


    If Bet could have seen her then, that surge of arousal would have been even stronger.


    Yvonne and Bet chatted for a little while longer until Sandra called her over to light some firecrackers. Yvonne hung up and trotted over.


    The firecrackers were lit, exploding with a deafening series of pops and crackles. Yvonne and Sandra stood off to the side, covering their ears andughing happily. After the firecrackers finished, the two went back to their apartment to shower and rest.


    The next day, with nothing on their schedule, they slept inte.


    Sandra got up first. Years of habit had fixed her internal clock to an early start.


    She made breakfast before waking Yvonne up.


    Yvonne stumbled into the dining room, rubbing her eyes, still half-asleep as she ate.


    "It''s nice to be young. You can sleep so soundly. At my age, I can''t sleep even when I want to," Sandra said with augh.


    After finishing her breakfast, Yvonne was finally fully awake.


    She helped Sandra clear the dishes and asked, "What time are we heading out?"


    "I made the reservation for five this evening. If you''re still tired, you can go back for a nap," Sandra said.


    Yvonne shook her head. Once she was awake, she couldn''t fall back asleep.


    After cleaning up, they watched some TV in the living room before getting ready and heading out.


    Since thepany party was at a bar, Yvonne went with heavier makeup, which made her almond eyes look even more captivating. She wore a sequined dress


    that


    shimmered under the light sure to


    catch everyone''s attention,


    Sandra, in contrast, was dressed conservatively, looking more like she was heading


    to a board meeting than a bar.


    "You girls are so young and vibrant. I''m envious."


    "You''re not old at all. Thirty is a woman''s prime. Let''s have a great time tonight," Yvonne said sincerely.


    "Me? I''m too old for all that. I can''t keep up anymore. I''ll leave the partying to you young people," Sandra said, shaking her head with a wry smile.


    Sandra drove, and they headed to the bar she had booked.


    The Nightscape Bar was located on Istra''s main bar street.


    They had booked the entire ground floor of the two-story bar. Company employees and signed


    artists everyone who didn''t have a everyone who didn


    prior engagement or


    set showed up, bringing family or friends along.


    It was crowded and noisy, but the atmosphere was lively.


    As thepany owners, Sandra and Yvonne greeted the employees'' families with smiles.


    Most of the family members were


    meeting big stars for the first time and seemed a bit shy. But Sandra and Yvonne were so friendly, and down-to-earth that they quickly pur everyone at ease.


    "Sandra, Yvonne, these are some of my childhood friends. They came along to join


    the fun," said Jamie Davis, a newly signed artist who had brought friends instead of family.