Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 71

Meanwhile.

Asher was playing snooker with several friends at an exclusive gentlemen's club.

Alexander chalked his cue, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he teased casually: "Well, well, look who's graced us with his presence. How is it you have time for us tonight, Asher? Not picking up your precious Gabriella from work?"

Since Gabriella had started working and moved into her own apartment, Asher had spent every free moment at her Tribeca flat.

It had been ages since he'd joined them for a get-together.

After the incident at the engagement ceremony and his hospital stay, Asher and Gabriella's relationship had grown even closer. He made time almost daily to pick her up from work.

Asher's expression remained neutral as he lined up his shot. "She's having dinner with colleagues tonight."

"Left behind, are we?" Alexander laughed dramatically, his expression deliberately provocative.

His tone was mockingly sympathetic. "Has the mighty Asher Blackwood actually been abandoned by a woman? What sort of colleague dinner could possibly be more important than you?"

Asher's demeanor cooled slightly. He glanced up at Alexander with a frigid gaze. "Abandoned?"

"Hardly," Asher's lips curved into a slight smile. "She'll be coming home after her gathering, won't she? What about you? Will you be picking up your girlfriend later?"

The remark wasn't particularly harmful, but it was deeply insulting.

Everyone knew Alexander was perpetually single. What girlfriend was there to speak of?

He ground his teeth in annoyance, turning to WilGabbym in an attempt to redirect the conversation. "Would you look at him, mocking a chap like that. WilGabbym, you're single too—how can you stand for this?"

WilGabbym cleared his throat. "Actually, I'm seeing someone at the moment."

"What?" Alexander's jaw dropped, his mouth hanging open, his cigarette falling. "What did you just say? You're dating someone?"

WilGabbym nodded.

"You never mentioned it. Which family is she from? The Kensington set? Or perhaps old Westminster money?" Alexander's curiosity was piqued.

The Kensington family was among London's elite, while the Westminster lineage had political connections, with their patriarch holding considerable influence second only to the Blackwoods and the Powells.

WilGabbym came from a political dynasty, a genuine member of Britain's governing class. Alexander naturally assumed he would court someone of equivalent status.

Before WilGabbym could answer, Alexander continued: "I saw that Kensington girl recently, just back from studying abroad. Absolutely stunning. Tell me, is it her?"

WilGabbym, however, shook his head. "Just an ordinary university student."

"What?" Alexander looked incredulous, enunciating each word. "An ordinary university student?"

Asher's reaction was remarkably casual, merely glancing briefly at WilGabbym. "Will your family approve?"

WilGabbym exhaled a smoke ring, his tone matter-of-fact. "It's just a bit of fun, not marriage. What's there to disapprove of?"

Alexander clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Since when did you start playing around with university girls? Aren't you worried she'll become rather clingy?"

WilGabbym smiled carelessly, the picture of nonchalance. "What's there to worry about? A couple of designer handbags and some cash. If I don't want to see her, how would she even reach me?"

Alexander rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's true enough."

For men of their social stratum, unless they chose to be accessible, ordinary people would likely never have a chance to even encounter them.

Asher took another shot, his gaze passing over WilGabbym, his tone neutral but pointed. "Playing with someone's emotions like that—aren't you concerned about karma?"

WilGabbym smiled. "Who's playing with emotions? We're simply meeting each other's needs."

Asher responded: "That's your business, but be careful. Don't find yourself trapped in something you can't escape."

Alexander's eyes lit up with gossip-hungry interest. "What does she look like? Bring her around sometime, let us have a look."

WilGabbym's expression cooled. "What for? She's not part of our circle. There's no point."

Alexander shrugged. "Fair enough."

Asher said nothing more.