Harem Startup : The Demon Billionaire is on Vacation
Chapter 144: Dinner After Chaos

Chapter 144: Dinner After Chaos

Chapter 144 – Dinner After Chaos

Fiera walked backwards ahead of them, facing the group. "Okay, so what now? Dinner? Private afterparty? Or do we all pretend none of this happened and go cry into imported Mont Blanc?"

Rava muttered, "You’re assuming we’re getting Mont Blanc after that?"

Elyndra clicked her tongue. "We should. After that emotional rollercoaster? I need sugar therapy."

"I need liquor therapy," Mira chimed in, stretching her arms above her head like a cat freshly fed chaos.

"You need therapy-therapy," Fiera muttered.

Mira winked. "Why, thank you."

The bar door near the auction building opened. Inside, low lights glowed warm gold, the scent of leather seats mingled with that soft vanilla-cedar of high-end perfume. A bar sat flush in the wall, stocked with wine, whiskey, and something glowing faintly purple.

The girls slid in first, shoes off, gowns gathered around them like pillows of silk and sequins. Lux entered last. Quiet. Not brooding—he never brooded—but something different.

Still.

Sharp.

Eyes narrowed just slightly, like his mind was filing something.

He didn’t look at Elyndra.

Didn’t glance at Fiera or Mira.

Nope.

His eyes locked on Rava.

She pretended not to notice. Which was a bold move considering he wasn’t blinking.

Lux poured himself a drink without breaking eye contact. A half-pour. Not out of restraint, just emphasis.

He sipped once. Leaned back.

Still watching.

Rava shifted, finally looking up. "What?"

"Just asking," Lux said, casual and cold. "You’ve been putting distance between us. So I’m wondering—"

He twirled the glass in his hand, not even pretending to be delicate.

"—is it because you’re afraid of Mira?"

Mira blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Or," Lux continued smoothly, "you’re afraid I’m going to drag you to the bathroom."

That got a collective sound.

Elyndra choked on air.

Fiera dropped her champagne glass onto the plush carpet. "Wait. What?"

Mira stared. "I thought that was a joke."

Fiera recovered faster. "No, it’s not a joke," she said, eyes narrowed. "They’re dating. You didn’t know?"

"I thought it was just tension!" Ely squeaked.

Mira’s eyes didn’t blink. "You also date Rava now?"

Lux turned toward her fully. Voice low. Dry.

"Yes. Call me a playboy if it helps. I date whoever I want."

The words landed with that signature Lux venom-wrapped honesty. No apology. No hesitation.

Just power.

Fiera stiffened. Not dramatically. But her leg crossed the other way. Her arms folded.

"Of course you do," she said, a little too sweetly. "How very... typical of you."

Elyndra’s mouth was still open. "Hold on. I thought Rava hated you. I mean... What about dating is a scam thing?"

"I’m persuasive," Lux said.

"Translation," Fiera muttered, "he has abs and likes expensive dinner traps."

"I’m offended," Lux said. "You forgot ’wicked tongue’ and ’godlike stamina.’"

Rava finally rolled her eyes. "You really want to fight in a bar?"

"No," he said, too quickly. "I want to know why you’re pretending this didn’t happen. Why you’re acting like I didn’t already ruin your lipstick and make you scream my name through six inches of marble."

Mira let out a low whistle. "Okay. Hot."

Fiera nearly dropped her cocktail. "That’s not even fair. Who says that in a crowded bar?"

Elyndra buried her face in both hands. "I’m going to die right here."

Mira leaned forward, ignoring them all. Her eyes didn’t leave Lux’s. "I love how you play it."

"Play what?" Ely asked, peeking through her fingers.

Mira’s voice dropped to a sinful purr. "The game."

She licked her lips—slow, deliberate.

"I really love it."

Elyndra made a noise that sounded like someone stabbing a throw pillow. "Mira," she groaned. "What the actual—"

But Mira didn’t reply. She just slipped her hand off Lux’s sleeve, sat back, and murmured, "Nothing. I’m just thinking."

Lux raised a brow. "You’re thinking nasty things."

"I am," she said unapologetically.

Fiera muttered into her glass. "This whole bar is cursed."

Rava stayed silent.

Her eyes fixed on the rim of her untouched drink. Hands folded neatly. Spine too straight. Poised like a statue made of self-restraint.

Lux watched her, the noise of the bar fading to static in the background.

"I didn’t think you’d be the type to ghost me," he said quietly. "Or are you worried someone might see? That they’ll talk? That you’ll lose... what, your icy control?"

Rava’s jaw twitched. Barely. But enough.

The pause stretched. Tension thickened. The bar lights flickered gold across glass and polished wood, but in their booth, everything stilled.

She finally leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. Her voice was cool, measured.

"I’m not scared of Mira," she said. "And I’m not scared of you."

Lux tilted his head slightly. "Then what?"

"I just don’t like playing in public."

She didn’t elaborate—but she didn’t need to.

The way her gaze briefly flicked toward the hallway near the restrooms—then away again—said enough.

Lux caught the implication. Understood it. Filed it away like the greedy bastard he was.

Rava wasn’t avoiding him because she didn’t want him.

She was avoiding him because she didn’t trust herself—or him—not to get pulled into something steamy and unspeakable in a public space with very questionable acoustics.

He exhaled, slow and amused.

"So you indeed afraid I’d drag you into the bathroom?" he murmured.

She didn’t answer.

Didn’t have to.

Her silence was damning.

Then, after a long moment, Rava looked up again.

And something in her gaze softened. Slightly.

"How about this, then," she said.

The table quieted.

Even Mira’s tail twitched.

Lux’s brow lifted. "Yeah?"

"I’ll take you to dinner."

"As a sorry," Rava continued, brushing her hair behind her ear, voice low. "For the distance. I didn’t mean to ghost you."

Lux watched her closely.

"I don’t like messes," she said. "Or being put on display. I like knowing what’s mine. And I like... privacy."

Her words had an edge. But not cold. More like guarded warmth. Apologetic. Possessive. Honest.

Lux leaned in, the smirk fading just enough to show he was listening.

"Just dinner?" he asked.

Rava gave a slow, dangerous wink. "At my place."

Lux grinned, slow and sharp. Equal parts amused and relieved.

"I forgive you," he said, clinking his glass gently to hers.