Chapter 87: After party

"Today has been stressful, right?" Dorah groaned as she sank into the plush chair. They were at the exclusive after-party, a private event reserved for business elites and a few selected teenagers. Soft lighting bathed the venue in a golden glow, the rhythmic pulse of music filling the air. Some guests were dancing, others engaged in quiet conversations over drinks. "My body is aching," Emma complained, rubbing her shoulders as she watched the dancers sway on the dance floor. "Who asked you to dance when you know you'll end up whining about body aches later?" Prudence asked, rolling her eyes. "Hey, dude, calm down. It's not my fault you didn't bring your dancing shoes," Emma shot back playfully, crossing her arms. Miranda, ignoring their bickering, turned to Dorah. "I heard Max and Jason didn't want to be artists anymore. Is that true?" "Yeah," Emma chimed in. "Max wants to be a businessman." "But why?" Miranda whined, clearly disappointed. "It's their choice," Dorah shrugged. "Besides, Ronald is being recruited into the industry too, and Jace... well, he decided to start over as a trainee." "Wow, that's a bold move," Emma said, impressed. "But wait, where are they? Shouldn't they be here by now?" She glanced around. "They're probably getting changed or something," Prudence replied. "They'll be here in no time. I heard Jace will be formally introduced tonight." "Oh, wow. Look who we have here," Prudence suddenly said, her gaze fixed on the entrance. The others followed her gaze. There, stepping through the grand doors, were Jace, Jason, Ronald, and Max all dressed sharply, exuding an effortless charm that immediately captured the attention of the entire room. A murmur rippled through the crowd as admiring glances followed their every move. "Here come the princes," Emma chuckled, nudging Dorah playfully. Joseph, who had been engaged in a discussion with some businessmen, glanced up and immediately signaled Jace and Ronald to join him. "We'll meet up with you guys later," Jace said, patting Max's shoulder before walking off with Ronald. Max made his way to their table and, without hesitation, bent down to peck Emma's cheek. "Hey, babe," he greeted with a grin. Emma's eyes lit up. "Max." She stretched out her arms and wrapped them around his neck in an excited hug. "Hey, girls," Jason greeted as he took a seat, but his words were barely acknowledged by Emma, who was too absorbed in Max to respond. "So, it's only your 'babe' that's sitting here, right?" Dorah teased, raising an eyebrow. "Sorry, ma'am," Max laughed as Emma finally released him. "I missed her too much that I didn't notice you guys." "You and your babe should just get lost," Miranda joked, shooing them away. "We'd gladly do that," Max smirked, turning to Emma. "Can I have this dance, my lady?" He extended his hand dramatically, his other hand placed behind his back like a proper gentleman. Emma giggled. "Yes, my lord," she replied, placing her palm in his. "See y'all later," she added, blowing a kiss to the group before letting Max lead her to the dance floor. "Annoying couple," Prudence grumbled, rolling her eyes. She crossed her arms and sank deeper into her seat. "You don't have to be jealous, babe," Jason said, sliding into the seat beside her with a grin. "Babe?" Miranda and Dorah echoed in unison, their eyes widening. Prudence glared at Jason. "What are you doing here?" Jason shrugged. "I was invited. Plus, my parents are here too," he said, nodding toward his parents seated across the room. "I know you were invited, dude. I meant, what are you doing here? At this table?" she asked, emphasizing her point with dramatic hand gestures. "I just figured you'd be sitting alone and decided to keep you company," Jason replied smoothly. Prudence scoffed. "Do I have to spell it out for you that I dislike your guts?" she said sarcastically. "Well, at least you don't hate me," he smirked. "But I thought you had a crush on him before," Dorah said offhandedly. Prudence shot her a deadly glare. "Easy there," Dorah chuckled, raising her hands in surrender. "Wait, wait. You had a crush on me?" Jason grinned, leaning closer. "Then why are you playing hard to get? Let's just..." "Can you just shut up, dude? You talk too much," Prudence groaned, covering her face with her hands. "When did you turn into this?" Miranda asked, looking at Jason in disbelief. "The Jason I knew was like an angel, all quiet and gentle." "He's been like this ever since that meeting," Prudence muttered. "Well, people change," Dorah shrugged. "You should just go for him. You guys are a perfect match," Dorah added with a playful wink. Jason grinned mischievously. "Please go out with me. Let's date," he said, grabbing Prudence's hand and kissing the back of her palm. Prudence sighed but couldn't hide her smile. "Okay, fine. But we're taking things slow." "As long as it's eventually happening, I'm not rushing things," Jason shrugged, pleased with himself. "You always have something to say," Prudence muttered, shaking her head. Jason stood and held out a hand. "Care for a dance?" "Guys, I gotta go. We'll talk later," Prudence said, taking his hand and following him to the dance floor. Miranda chuckled. "Well, it's just you and me now, Dorah." Dorah smirked. "Looks like it." Just then, the music stopped, and a microphone crackled to life. "Attention, everyone," Joseph's voice rang out as he walked onto the stage. The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward him. "Thank you all for your attention. I'm truly honored to see so many wonderful faces here tonight," he said with a warm smile. From behind, Ronald wrapped his arms around Dorah and placed a light kiss on her cheek. "Babe," he whispered, making her blush. "So now, I would like to introduce to you all... Star," Joseph continued. "My son, Jace." A round of applause erupted as Jace walked onto the stage, his presence commanding attention. The resemblance between father and son was striking, and murmurs spread through the crowd. After the formal introduction, the music resumed. "My baby," an elderly voice called out. Jace turned and ran into his grandmother's waiting arms. "Grandma," he said excitedly as she embraced him. Joseph walked over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Mum," he greeted warmly.