The Governor's Woman

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The deafening music inside the bar drowned out everything else, even the faces of the patrons, blurred by their drunken stupor.

I swayed in rhythm, my body moving to the beat under the stage lights. The men in front tossed money my way, like none of them had wives waiting at home.

In the middle of it all, my eyes wandered to the far end of the bar.

And then, I froze.

Our gazes locked for just a second, but it was enough. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing before he looked away, continuing his stride. I followed him with my gaze, curious.

It was him—Governor Hendrix, with Airon and the rest of their crew from last time.

Without a second thought, I stopped dancing, stepped off the stage, and made my way through the throng of disappointed men shouting protests behind me.

I didn't care.

I kept walking, eyes locked on the group as they ascended the stairs to the VIP room.

The moment I stepped through the door, an uproar of shouts and laughter hit me like a wave. My eyes scanned the chaotic scene—shirtless bodies, intoxicated and entangled, some making out in dark corners, others sprawled across couches.

This was their idea of fun.

I shook my head, unimpressed. But my focus quickly returned to the man I was here for.

I spotted Hendrix at the far end, sitting with a drink in his hand, his expression unreadable. I started toward him, but before I could get close, a heavy arm draped around my shoulders.

"Hey, Akhlys! Miss mo na ako?" Airon's voice slurred in my ear, too close for comfort.

The group erupted in laughter at his words. I didn’t even flinch. I shoved his arm off and took a seat near Hendrix instead, ignoring the disappointed looks from the guys.

"Oh, suplada!" Airon chuckled, sliding into the chair next to me after shooing away the person beside me.

"Bakit ka andito?" he asked, too lively for my liking.

I arched an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed here?" My tone was sharp, uninviting.

He laughed again, not taking the hint. "VIP room 'to, Akhlys. Big time ka na ba?" he teased, pulling me closer by the waist.

I shrugged him off immediately, aware of Hendrix’s gaze on me from across the table. "You pay for me," I whispered, leaning in briefly before pulling away.

Airon laughed out loud and yelled, "Wow! Sugar daddy na pala ako!"

His friends burst into fits of laughter, but my eyes were on Hendrix, who now reached for a bottle, filling his glass before downing it in one go. His indifference only fueled my determination.

The conversation around me blurred as I kept my attention on Hendrix, but then someone set down a bottle of hard liquor on the table with a loud clink.

“Laro tayo! Ang talo magbabayad ng lahat ng inumin!” one of the guys, clearly drunk, yelled.

I winced at the thought.

"Sige na, KKB na lang!" Airon joined in.

I wasn't interested, but the boys were persistent.

Hendrix, however, remained seated, sipping his drink, unaffected by the chaos around him.

"Akhlys, sali ka!" one of the guys called out.