Chapter Five
As Declan and Stella moved to a quieter part of the club, a few of Denver's friends who watched the exchange between Declan and Denver, began to mock Declan.Their voices were loud and their words cut through the noise of the crowd, hurling insults towards him."He looks like he should stick to beer, doesn't he?" one of them laughed loudly, catching the attention of nearby partygoers."Yeah, can he even afford a sip of the champagne we're drinking?" another added, his tone dripping with disdain.Declan, overhearing the comments, turned to face them. His expression was calm, but his eyes were sharp. He approached the group, with Stella a step behind, observing quietly."You think I can't afford it?" Declan asked, his voice even but loud enough for others around to hear."Why don't you buy your own drink then? Show us if you can match what we drink," one of Denver's friends taunted, smirking confidently.Without responding verbally, Declan pulled out his credit card and signalled to the club's bartender."Two bottles of your finest wine, please. Something better than whatever these gentlemen are having."The bartender confirmed the order. "Sir, that would be the Château Margaux 2009. It’s half a million per bottle."Declan nodded. "That's fine."The surrounding crowd fell silent as the bartender processed the transaction. Declan’s card was approved without issue. He signed the receipt and turned back to Denver and his friends.The bartender brought over the two ornate bottles, setting them down with a flourish on the bar in front of Declan.Everyone watched, some with open mouths, as Declan began pouring the wine into glasses, offering them to everyone around him—everyone, that is, except Denver.Denver, feeling the sting of humiliation, could only watch as the expensive wine was shared freely among the guests, his friends included.They hesitantly accepted the glasses from Declan, their earlier bravado dissolving under the weight of their embarrassment.As the wine was tasted, murmurs of appreciation filled the air. Declan had not only proved he could afford it but had also turned the situation around, making a public statement without aggression.Clara felt even more humiliated,angry and embarrassed because her plan failed and it was her and her boyfriend who got embarrassed in front of the whole club.“I will make your life a living hell” Clara whispered while eyeing her sister with intense envy.Stella, observing all this, felt a mix of annoyance and indifference. Declan's actions only reinforced her view of him as a show-off, using his wealth to prove a point.She was not impressed, feeling that this display of wealth was just another form of bragging."Seems like you can afford more than just a sip," one of Denver's friends mumbled, looking away from Declan's steady gaze.Declan just smiled, briefly meeting Stella’s eyes. "It’s just money," he said. "It’s meant to be spent, right?"Stella turned away, her feelings unchanged. "You enjoy the show," she muttered under her breath.To her, Declan was just giving her more reason to hate their arranged marriage.She had always dreamed of marrying for love, not to be married to someone who used money to solve problems or impress others.The night continued, and while the incident became the talk of the club, with Declan’s generosity noted by many, Stella remained distant.To her, it was all a performance and certainly didn't appreciate it but she felt like there was something mysterious about Declan.“Mysterious or not ,I will never allow him to kiss me or even put his hands on my body “ she vowedChapter SixDenver stormed out of the VIP room, his face red with anger and embarrassment. The loud music of the club pounded in his ears as he pushed through the crowd.He was tipsy, and his vision blurred slightly, but his anger fueled him as he staggered toward the stage where the DJ was busy playing music.On stage, a young man was busy adjusting a microphone. Denver didn't care who he was; he just wanted to yell at someone, anyone since he couldn’t yell at Declan, who had embarrassed him."Hey!" Denver shouted as he climbed onto the stage. The music drowned out his voice, but he moved closer, poking the man's shoulder roughly. The man turned, surprised."Can I help you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow."You think you're so great, don't you?" Denver slurred, jabbing a finger at the man's chest."Well, you're not!"The man frowned, stepping back. "Do I know you?" he asked, clearly confused."You're about to," Denver sneered, but before he could continue, someone from the crowd shoute
Chapter Seven Declan pushed his way through the crowd, his face flushed with fury. Stella stood still, her expression a mix of defiance and fear as Jacob's words hung in the air."How dare you speak to my wife like that!" Declan shouted, stepping forward to shield Stella.Jacob sneered. "It's none of your business. I'm talking to Denver and Stella."Declan's hands clenched into fists. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm the storm inside him. If he lost control now, he might do something regrettable.When Declan reopened his eyes, Jacob was reaching out to touch Stella’s arm. Rage surged through Declan again.“How dare you touch my wife! Don’t make me warn you again, or you’ll be waking up in the hospital!” Declan’s voice was a low growl, barely controlled.The club had gone quiet. Everyone was watching, murmuring to each other about what might happen next.Jacob, unphased and arrogant, raised his hand, aiming to slap Declan across the face. His smirk suggested he enjoyed
Chapter Eight As Jacob felt the sting from the slap, anger boiled up inside him. He turned to his uncle, his eyes full of fury. "You need to handle this! He's acting like a crazy mad man!" he shouted, pointing at Declan.The club owner, a tall and strong man who everyone respected, looked straight at Jacob. He spoke in a calm but firm voice, "Jacob, say sorry to Mr. Declan now, or I will stop giving you money and take away your credit cards," he said, making it clear he was serious.Jacob, feeling proud and stubborn, shook his head. "No! Why should I say sorry when—"Before he could finish, the uncle signalled to his security team. Two big men quickly came over, grabbed Jacob, and forced him to kneel in front of Declan.People around them gasped. One security guard took out a small device that made a buzzing sound, showing he meant business.It was a torturing device that can electrocute and make someone feel so much pain till the person faints. Scared of getting hurt and embarrasse
Chapter Nine The mood in the club calmed down as the music started again, but people were still buzzing and whispering about the drama that had happened earlier. The club owner, Uncle Jim, knew exactly why he had acted so protectively toward Declan. He had recently found out something shocking since he is into the business of hosting the super rich business moguls and top government officials of the country. He rushed to the club when he chef the security camera and saw that Declan was there but when he came he found his nephew being disrespectful and embarrassing him. Declan was supposed to take over a very secret and powerful organisation. This group had a big say in politics, the military, oil and gas, and many other businesses all over the 7 continents of the world. Uncle Jim learned this through his wide network of connections. A reliable friend in the intelligence community had accidentally mentioned Declan's role, stressing how important and far-reaching his influence was
Chapter Ten Clara, still laughing, turned her attention to Declan, her voice laced with mock seriousness. "I mean, look at this," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "The owner must think you're some kind of celebrity or something. Got it all wrong, huh?" Denver, who was also quite tipsy, picked up on Clara's tone and joined in the teasing. "Yeah, Declan, who did you think you were tonight? The king of the world?" he chuckled, nudging Declan in the arm. Their laughter grew louder, drawing even more attention from the people around them. They were clearly enjoying the moment because they were back to mocking Declan, their words slurring slightly as they continued to poke fun at the situation. "Seriously, Declan, I didn't know we were in the presence of royalty," Denver continued, raising his glass in a mock toast. "To Declan, the mistaken fake VIP!" he exclaimed, laughing. Clara clapped her hands, adding, "Yeah, all hail King Declan, friend of the mighty and the powerful
Chapter Eleven “Mmmmm” Declan remembered how their kisses grew more passionate and how his hands wandered. He remembered how Stella responded with equal fervour, clearly ready to take things further when they were together the last time. The atmosphere now was charged with similar anticipation, but just as they were about to cross into more intimate territory just when he was about to kiss her, Declan paused. He pulled back slightly, looking into Stella's eyes with a mixture of desire and concern. He remembered how much red wine Stella had consumed at the club. The thought made him hesitate; he wanted to be sure she was fully in control of her decisions, not just caught up in the heat of the moment influenced by alcohol. "Stella," Declan said gently, his voice low and careful, "are you sure this is what you want tonight? I don't want the wine speaking for you." Stella looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity and care in them. She felt a rush of affection for Declan, appreci
Chapter Twelve “Hahahaha, you’re so funny ! Are you an upcoming comedian?” “No, I’m not “Declan replied but he ignored his reply. Stella's brother laughed out loud, dismissing Declan's claim. "You must be joking," he scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is the event of the year. There’s no way a commoner like you could be invited, let alone be the guest of honour. Just because you married my sister doesn’t mean you’re suddenly an important part of the society! Better know that” The room filled with a tense silence as everyone waited to see how Declan would handle this new challenge. Declan maintained his composure, his expression calm and assured. Stella's brother, unable to contain his disbelief and irritation, raised his voice at Declan. "It's insulting for you to come into our house and lie about being a businessman!" he exclaimed, his face red with anger. He then turned to Stella, "You need to learn how to handle your husband and keep him quiet like a dog
Chapter Thirteen Stella's brother, still reeling from the shock of the cancelled business meeting, was determined to prove Declan wrong. As he scrolled through his contacts, searching for someone who could confirm or deny Declan's claims, his phone buzzed with a notification. It was a message from a colleague in the industry, informing him of the reason behind the cancellation of the exclusive dinner. He burst into a terrible mockery laugh, drawing everyone's attention back to him. “Hehehhehhehehehh, hohohooo” "Well, well, well," he sneered, looking at Declan with disdain. "It seems your little charade has been exposed. The daughter of the business tycoon hosting the dinner fell ill. That's the real reason for the cancellation, not your imaginary influence." Hissed Stella’s brother Declan remained calm, unmoved by Stella's brother's taunts. He knew the truth, and nothing Stella's brother said could shake his confidence. Stella, watching her brother's behaviour, felt a m