Chapter 8 don't touch her

Rachel's steps halted as she crossed paths with Lucian, who was about to climb the stairs while she was descending. Lucian adjusted his glasses, noticing Rachel's appearance, which was different from what he usually saw. This time, Rachel was wearing a crop top paired with a short skirt and boots that wrapped around her long legs. Her appearance was very different from the usual, and Lucian knew exactly what kind of place she would be heading to with this outfit. He remained silent.

As Rachel continued her steps, she stopped when they were side by side.

"I'm going out to meet my friends," Rachel said, making Lucian pause. He looked at her outfit again, and it seemed like Rachel noticed his gaze.

"This is my style when I meet my friends, so don't be too surprised," Rachel continued. She was about to walk past Lucian, but her steps halted again when Lucian spoke once more.

"I'll take you," Lucian said suddenly, causing Rachel to turn around.

"No need, I'll drive myself," Rachel declined.

"No, wait for me for five minutes. I'll be ready," he said, not waiting for Rachel's protest, and turned to walk up the stairs again. Rachel clicked her tongue in annoyance and, with an indifferent attitude, continued down the stairs. She then walked toward the garage, asked for the car keys from the head butler, and drove off without waiting for Lucian. After all, she was just going to meet her friends, not some men at a nightclub, she thought.

A few minutes after Rachel left, Lucian came down, dressed neatly for someone heading to a club. He immediately scanned the room, but Rachel was nowhere to be found. Lucian then asked Elsa.

"Where's Rachel?" he asked, making Elsa lower her head.

"Madam left by herself, Master," Elsa replied, making Lucian pinch the bridge of his nose. It seemed that Rachel wasn't easy to follow his instructions, and perhaps Lucian had been too hasty. Maybe Rachel felt like she was being controlled by him. He exhaled sharply.

"In that case, give me another set of car keys. I'll follow where Rachel went," Lucian said, making the head butler immediately look for another set of keys.

Lucian then drove his car, even though he was already behind. He didn't even know where Rachel had gone. There were so many nightclubs in the city, and Lucian started guessing which one Rachel might visit. She was the type who wouldn't go to a lower-class club; she would likely meet her friends at an upscale place. It wasn't hard to find high-end clubs in the city, as there were only a few. Lucian's choice was the club closest to his home, which would only take 20 minutes to reach.

Meanwhile, Rachel was already inside a room where only the thumping music could be heard, piercing her ears-something that truly annoyed her hearing. However, this place was the only one she could go to for fun with her friends.

Rachel began looking around, searching for her friends, but she was startled when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"You're 5 minutes late, baby," said a woman with a wide smile, causing Rachel to roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Don't you know it's Saturday night? The roads are going to be packed at times like this," Rachel replied, then glanced at the woman in front of her, who was dressed in revealing clothes.

"You really came here dressed like this? Where are the others?" Rachel asked.

"Like this? You seem to be unaccustomed to it. The others are waiting in the VIP room," the woman said, then walked alongside Rachel, who was probably one of her friends she was meeting that night. Rachel then arrived at a room specifically reserved for VIP customers in the club.

"Seriously, you guys are locking yourselves in this room? Why don't we choose a VVIP room outside?" Rachel said, then sat in one of the chairs, joining two other friends: Monica, Alexa, and Jessica. Three friends she frequently met.

They couldn't exactly be called best friends, but they were close enough to go clubbing together. That was what friendship meant to Rachel.

"Are you trying to choose the outside room just to watch the six-pack abs dancing around the pole?" Monica joked, making the others laugh, while Rachel just shrugged indifferently.

"I just want to enjoy the club atmosphere, so it's better if we move," Rachel said, making the others finally agree. They then decided to take a VVIP spot outside the club, which was directly in front of the people who were tearing up the dance floor with increasingly loud music.

Rachel started chatting with her friends, talking about their busy schedules and what they were up to, until their conversation was interrupted when someone placed a bottle of wine, priced quite fantastically, right in front of Rachel.

"Long time no see. How have you been?" asked a tall man in stylish clothes that molded his body. Not to mention the butterfly tattoo on his neck, which made Rachel remember the man who had been close to her a few months ago. However, Rachel was glad they never got into a relationship because it turned out that the man with the mischievous smile had a personality that made Rachel hesitant to even exchange messages with him.

"Long time no see," greeted Alexa, causing the man named Gio to respond with a sweet smile. After that, he turned his gaze back to Rachel.

"I've been busy lately, just like someone who never replies to text messages, probably because she's now the owner of a big company. I just wanted to greet her to keep our friendship from breaking apart," he said, looking directly at Rachel. It seemed that Rachel's three friends understood Gio's look. It was no secret among their friends that Gio had feelings for Rachel, even though Rachel didn't consider him in that way at all.

"By the way, are you really giving this to us?" Monica asked, reaching for the bottle of wine he had placed earlier.

"Exactly. That's for Rachel as a gift for our first reunion," Gio said, causing Rachel to raise an eyebrow.

"You can drink it, since he gave it to me, so I'm free to give it to anyone. Thanks," Rachel replied nonchalantly, making Gio chuckle.

"So you're still the same as before. Still cold, and it makes me want to warm you up," Gio said, then walked closer to Rachel, intending to reach out and brush the strand of hair covering her face. However, suddenly Gio's movement was stopped when another strong hand held his back, making Gio and the others look toward the man who was now adjusting his thick round glasses resting on his nose.

"Don't touch her," he said.