After all that commotion, the atmosphere in the booth was obviously no longer as relaxed and lively as before.
The music was still thumping, but the pure enjoyment seemed disrupted.
At this moment, Sophie's delicate body was completely nestled into Ethan's arms, her warm breath carrying the scent of alcohol as it brushed against his neck, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist like a lazy cat seeking shelter.
Meanwhile, Jessica, who'd been struggling internally on the outer edge, finally mustered up her courage.
She grabbed a glass of wine, took a deep breath, quietly squeezed past one of the flight attendants, and sat back down next to Ethan—the spot that had originally been hers, her body pressed almost against his.
She turned slightly sideways, gently leaning her soft body against Ethan's other arm. Looking up at him with moist eyes full of flattery and hope, her voice came out soft and sweet, almost drowning in the music:
"Ethan... Later... Can you give me a ride back?"
Her fingers clutched tightly at the hem of her dress.
Ethan shook his head:
"I've been drinking, so I'll have to call an Uber or get a driver. Can't drive myself."
A flash of disappointment crossed Jessica's eyes, but she immediately pressed closer, her red lips almost touching Ethan's ear, her warm breath carrying a hint of sweet fragrance as she said in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"That's... that's okay. I can take a cab back by myself, or you can call a driver and we'll ride together. Don't you really like... my legs?"
Her cheeks were already flushed red. She seemed to have exhausted all her courage to say this, her body trembling slightly but with a kind of determination to lay everything bare.
As she spoke, she seemed to casually shift her long stocking-clad legs with their beautiful lines into Ethan's line of sight.
Ethan looked down at Jessica's shapely legs.
Yeah, very nice.
"Alright, I'll take you back later."
Jessica's face lit up with joy: "Really? Ethan, you're the best."
After saying that, she nuzzled her head into Ethan's arms.
She then asked cautiously, with a hint of testing in her voice:
"So... you're not mad at me, are you?"
Her voice was still soft and sweet, with a touch of coquettishness.
Ethan's palm gently rubbed against her thigh, feeling the smooth texture, his tone flat but carrying a sense of control:
"When did I say I was mad at you?"
As if the earlier awkwardness had never happened.
Jessica's body stiffened slightly, then immediately relaxed. She even adjusted her position subtly, making it easier for Ethan's hand to stroke her thighs.
She replied obediently:
"Okay! Then I'll wait for you!"
After saying that, she sat back with satisfaction, though her eyes still drifted toward Ethan from time to time, full of anticipation.
Ethan watched her transformation, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.
Jessica had just turned away with a triumphant smile when Sophie, who'd been snuggled in Ethan's arms seemingly drunk and unconscious, suddenly opened her eyes.
She lifted her head slightly, with a deliberately exaggerated drunken look, her voice soft and sweet mixed with a hint of grievance:
"Ethan~ You can't play favorites like this..."
Her pale fingers gently tugged at the fabric on Ethan's chest:
"Sister Jessica acts all cute and you promise to take her home. So what about me? I'm drunk too... How unsafe is it for a girl alone in the middle of the night..."
In her deliberately drawn-out ending, the essence of playing games was on full display.
How could Ethan not see through her little scheme?
The corners of his lips curved up in a smile, his eyes calm and steady as he said lightly:
"I'm taking Jessica home."
He paused, his fingertips quickly tapping a few times on her phone screen:
"You take an Uber to the hotel where I'm staying. I just sent you the address. I'll let the front desk know—just give them my name when you arrive and they'll take you up."
Sophie's red lips pursed slightly. She twisted her body, leaned closer, and said in a wheedling voice:
"Ethan, how can you do this... I want to be with you too! Taking an Uber is so boring..."
The dependence and hints in her voice practically overflowed.
"Be good."
Ethan's tone was impossibly calm, and at the same time his large palm patted her shoulder comfortingly, though also with a sense of distance.
"Okay!"
Sophie's eyes quickly flashed with a trace of loss and imperceptible unwillingness, but she still maintained a well-behaved and obedient smile on her face.
She responded softly and straightened up slightly from Ethan's arms.
It seemed that in Ethan's heart, her embrace just now still hadn't shaken Jessica's position.
She quickly adjusted her mindset, knowing her place very well—in Ethan's world, having a spot was enough. Asking for too much would only backfire.
Her eyes rolled, and she suddenly thought of something. Looking at Ethan with a mix of shyness and boldness, she asked in a low voice:
"So... Ethan, do I need to go back to the crew hotel first?"
Ethan asked, puzzled:
"Why would you go back to the hotel?"
"To get my work uniform!"
After saying that, she quickly raised her eyes to glance at Ethan, then immediately lowered her lashes, which trembled lightly like butterfly wings.
Ethan instantly got it.
Damn, she really knows what she's doing... Makes your heart race. He couldn't help but take another look at Sophie in his arms. She was gorgeous under the lights, her eyes full of allure.
The flight attendant uniform, that unique professional charm—it really did have an indescribable attraction for men. Wasn't the popularity of "uniform fantasies" all over the internet proof enough?
He even knew that in his previous life, there were always guys on Twitter hanging around various airports...
In his mind, he subconsciously imagined Jessica wearing that fitted pencil skirt...
Jessica caught Ethan's gaze and smiled sweetly at him.
This scene fell into Sophie's eyes and immediately filled her with sourness and indignation.
She gently pinched Ethan's arm and said with undisguised jealousy:
"Hmph! I'm right here in your arms and you're still staring at Jessica! Ethan~ You're playing way too many favorites!"
Her coquettish tone was playful, but there was also a hint of real grievance.
Ethan withdrew his gaze, looked at Sophie who was "exploding" in his arms, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening a bit as he pinched her face playfully:
"Alright, got it. Go ahead, grab your uniform first, and I'll see you at the hotel later."
In front of Marquee.
The early morning breeze brought a cool feeling, dispersing some of the noise and alcohol.
Sophie gathered her somewhat thin clothes, waved at Ethan, and a bright smile appeared on her face again:
"Okay Ethan, I'm heading out first!"
Before she turned around, she didn't forget to give Ethan an ambiguous and knowing look, with a hint that only the two of them understood.
Immediately after, she quickly walked toward a few colleagues who were also about to leave, flagged down a taxi, and soon disappeared into the neon night.
Jessica, standing not far away, watched Sophie's back as she left unusually quickly, her brows furrowing slightly with a trace of suspicion rising in her heart.
Just now in the club, Sophie had practically glued herself to Ethan, never leaving for a second, totally clingy.
Why was she leaving so happily now?
Not even putting up a fight?
That wasn't like her style...
However, this doubt was quickly diluted by her sense of victory.
Whatever scheme Sophie was cooking up didn't matter.
Right now, the person Ethan wanted to take home was her, Jessica!
That was enough!
Even if it was just the short ride from the club back to her place, it was rare alone time for just the two of them.
The corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise slightly, her heart full of anticipation.