407 Remove Your Hands!
Axel gave Jackson a cool look. “Careful. You sound bitter.“0
Jackson coughed. “I am bitter.” His gaze slowly shifted to Dn, eyes narrowing. “What about you?”
Dn blinked. “What about me?”
“Don’t tell me you can’t join either,” Jackson said. “I already booked my family vi. Ocean view. Drinks. Lots of Premium beef. Barbecue. Fireworks. All the works.”
Dn froze. ns with Ste immediately surfaced, overwhelming his mind. Quiet dinner on the balcony, while romantically looking at each other. Fireworks in the background. Their first New Year together. The thought alone made his chest tighten with rarely known joy.
“No. I absolutely can’t! I can’t and won’t join you guys! Sorry!” But the words refused toe out of his mind to his mouth.
He simply stared at them, mouth opening slightly before closing again. His silence spoke louder than any confession.
Jackson stared back. Then his shoulders slumped. “Unbelievable.”
Collinsughed dryly. “So that’s how it is now.”
Jackson pointed between Axel and Dn. “You both follow the same path. Marriage. Dating. Responsibility.” He shook his head dramatically. “You’re no fun anymore.”
Dn finally found his voice. “I resent that.”
“You resent nothing,” Jackson said. “You just don’t want to admit you’ve changed.”
Collins patted Jackson’s shoulder. “Rx, man. We’ll celebrate with the others.”
“Yes,” Jackson muttered. “The single, the heartbroken, and the emotionally unavable.”
Axel stood, straightening his suit jacket. “Alright. Enoughining.”
All eyes turned to him.
“Let’s go to lunch,” he said simply. “I’m hungry,”
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407 Remove Your Hands!
Collins was instantly on his feet. “Finally. I thought you’d never say that.”
Jackson grinned. “Food fixes everything.”
Dn followed silently, still dreading the conversation he knew awaited himter. His rtionship with Ste was exposed.
As they exited the office, Axel’s lips curved slightly. He already knew one thing for certain. Keeping secrets from his wife was going to be impossible.
Double Seven Club.
The lunch at Double Seven Club stretched longer than expected, mostly because no one seemed willing to let Axel leave without making a scene about it.
Inside the private VIP room, the atmosphere was loud, rxed, and filled with thefortable chaos of men who had known each other for far too long.
tes were mostly cleared, wine sses half–full, andughter echoed against the dark wooden walls.
“So this is it,” Jackson said dramatically, leaning back in his chair and raising his ss. “Ourst lunch of the year. December thirtieth. A historic moment.”
“Historic for you, maybe,” Collins scoffed. “You’ll forget about it tomorrow after your third drink.”
Jackson ignored him and turned to Axel instead. “You know, Knight, this is officially the first New Year you’re ditching us for family.”
Axel calmly wiped his hands with a napkin and stood. “I’m not ditching anyone.”
Dn smirked. “You are. You just upgraded.”
“From us to a wife and kid,” Collins added, grinning. “That’s a serious upgrade.”
Jackson sighed exaggeratedly. “Marriage really does steal good men from society.”
Axel shot him a t look. “You say that like society benefited from you.”
Once more,ughter erupted around the table.
“Alright, alright,” Jackson raised both hands. “No offense. But seriously-” He lifted his ss again. “Happy New Year, Axel. May your son sleep through the fireworks, and may your wife forgive you for whatever you inevitably mess up.”
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< 407 Remove Your Hands!
Collins clinked his ss against Jackson’s. “And may you finally stop ring at people in public ces.”
Dn added quietly, “And… take care.”
Axel inclined his head, the closest thing to warmth he ever showed in public. “Happy
New Year.”
With that, he grabbed his coat and exited the room, ignoring the renewed teasing behind him.
“Go home to your family!” Jackson shouted.
“Try not to bete!” Collins added.
Axel didn’t bother responding.
The hallway outside the VIP area was quieter, dimly lit with soft amber lights.
He walked with steady, unhurried steps, his mind already shifting away from business and friends toward home. Toward Evelyn. Toward Oliver.
He had just reached the club’s main exit when a woman’s voice cut sharply through the low hum of the evening.
“Axel!”
He paused for a fraction of a second.
Normally, he would have ignored it. His name was called often enough by people who wanted favors, attention, or trouble. Most of the time, he didn’t even turn.
But something about the voice–strained, uneven–made him nce back.
A woman stood several meters behind him.
She was young, no more than her early thirties, dressed inly for a ce like Double Seven Club. Her hair was tied back hastily, strands falling loose around her pale face. Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying–or holding back tears for far too long.
Axel frowned slightly.
He didn’t recognize her.
No memory surfaced. No name. No connection.
He turned away again, dismissing the moment. Evelyn often joked that he attracted
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< 407 Remove Your Hands!
strange admirers simply by existing. This, he assumed, was another one.
He continued walking.
But the woman didn’t stop.
The woman ran after him. “Axel, please wait!” she called, her voice trembling. “I need to tell you something important!”
Axel didn’t slow down.
“If you ignore me,” she continued, panic creeping into her tone, “I don’t have a choice but to say it here! I’ll shout if I have to!”
Her words echoed loudly enough to draw nces from nearby guests.
Axel’s jaw tightened, but he kept walking.
Outside, the cool air greeted him as he stepped onto the private driveway. His car was already waiting, sleek under the sunlights. Liam stood beside it, opening the rear door the moment he saw Axel approach.
Just as Axel was about to enter, the sound of hurried footsteps rushed up behind him.
Before Liam could react, the woman lunged forward.
She threw herself against Axel, arms wrapping tightly around his torso, clinging to him as if letting go would destroy her.
Axel froze.
Liam swore under his breath, shock shing across his face as he reached forward… toote.
“Remove your hands,” Axel said coldly, his voice low and sharp.
“No!” the woman cried, pressing herself closer. Her body trembled violently. “Not until you listen to me!”
Liam stepped forward. “Sir, let me-”
“If you try to drag me away,” the woman screamed suddenly, her voice cracking, “I will scream louder! I’ll let everyone know you’re not as perfect as they think!”
Guests nearby had already begun to stare.
Axel’s eyes darkened.
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<strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.