The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2109

What the heck was he babbling about!

"I'm stiff as a board, can't dance a step."

Azriel would have none of it. "Just do the Bunny Hop."

Phoebe froze for a moment, then her entire face suddenly turned beet red. "I... I don’t know how."

Azriel reached over, grabbed his phone, and after a few taps, the familiar yet foreign tune filled the hospital room. The moment the intro hit, Phoebe wished the earth would swallow her whole.

"You... you..." She glared at Azriel, her face so hot she could probably cook an egg on it.d2

Out of all the songs in the world, why on earth did it have to be this one? She had been the butt of the joke in her family for years because of that dance.

Back in the day, she had performed it at a school event, showing off to her grandparents the day before. Everyone had clapped and praised her, except for one good-looking boy who had dismissively said, "It's alright."

To a child, there's only pretty or ugly. She couldn't accept such a lukewarm review, so her confidence took a nosedive, and on the following day, she was pushed on stage unwillingly and ended up crying through the entire routine.

She remembered the intermittent laughter from the audience and couldn’t understand why they found joy in her misery.

Little did she know, the performance was recorded and her grandparents had shamelessly flaunted it every chance they got. People would bring it up even now, years later. She wouldn’t be surprised if the video was still floating around online.

Why was this embarrassing memory resurfacing here and now?

"You really can't dance?"

Azriel was undeniably bored and just looking for a laugh at her expense. Seeing her blush with mortification, he persisted, phone in hand, "Let me find you a tutorial video. You'll pick it up after one watch."

"No!" Phoebe shot out her hand in a stop sign, "No, no, no, no! I... I can do it, I just can't do it well, but that doesn't mean I can't dance."

Azriel arched an eyebrow, nodded, and after swiping on his phone for a bit, he said, "Alright, let's see it then."

The music from the phone started again. Phoebe, with her eyes closed, took deep breaths until the crucial moment when, resigned to her fate, she opened her eyes and started her stiff, awkward dance moves.

The sight was cringeworthy, and it made Azriel look like he had a twisted sense of humor. Once wasn't enough; he had her do it a second time, and Phoebe was grinding her teeth.

You build up a tolerance for embarrassment, she thought. If at first, the prospect of dancing your most embarrassing dance alone in a hospital room made you want to vanish into thin air, by the second round, it felt like no big deal.

However, just as she was mustering her resolve, the door to the room burst open without warning.

Phoebe stiffened, staring blankly at the doorway.

Azriel's assistant Jace was frozen at the entrance, hand still on the doorknob, equally stunned for a moment.

There stood Phoebe, hands poised like bunny ears atop her head, knees bent as if ready to bounce. Dressed in simple jeans and a knit burnt orange sweater with a delicate white lace collar, she really did look like a carrot-loving bunny.

Jace's gaze flipped between her and Azriel, who typically wore an air of aloof detachment but now sported a faint, almost schadenfreude smirk.

Remembering the odd message he had received not long ago, Jace suspected that Azriel had anticipated this scene.

Regaining her composure, Phoebe quickly dropped the act, pretending to be calm as she downed two glasses of water, her eyes glaring through the clear glass at the man on the bed who seemed to be asking for a slap, her palms itching with the urge.

Azriel glanced at Jace, who had just entered, and his face slowly became more serious.

Sensing her intense gaze, Azriel's cool eyes met hers. "What are you looking at?"

Phoebe bit her lip, set down the glass, and shook her head, "Nothing. Since you guys have business, I'll just head out."

As Jace handed over some documents, Azriel gave a noncommittal "Hmm."

With that, Phoebe was out the door. But just as she was about to escape, Azriel's voice, chilly as ice, followed her, "Come back in half an hour, or else."

Phoebe took a deep breath, then turned with a forced smile, "Okay," she said before slipping out and softly shutting the door behind her.

Once out of sight, her expression fell. She mentally cursed Azriel out, and the embarrassment from earlier came flooding back. Her cheeks burned with shame as she grimaced, covering her face as she scurried away.

Back in the room, Jace briefed Azriel on the Alonso family's latest antics and the mishap at the Bowles' dim-witted heir's birthday bash.

Phoebe glanced at him, startled by the gloom that lingered on his face.

"Can't I be happy?"

Azriel stared at her silently, the chilly silence making Phoebe feel inexplicably out of sorts.

After a while, as she began to frown slightly, Azriel said coolly, "Of course."

Crazy mood swings, she thought. Why so moody all of a sudden?

But the thought of the upcoming lunch perked her up and she flashed him a bright, toothy smile. Her cheeks, with just a hint of baby fat, seemed so supple, her glowing skin blushing like the inside of a ripe peach. Her clear eyes were utterly guileless, even a bit goofy. Such a girl ought to be happy like this all the time.

Azriel's gaze softened as he picked up some documents from the side, his voice gentle, "What's got you in such a good mood?"

Phoebe raised an eyebrow in triumph, "You'll see soon enough."

Before long, the room's coffee table was laden with an array of dishes, filling the room with the scent of a hearty meal.

Phoebe ate with her eyes sparkling, circling the table with gusto.

When Azriel first saw the spread, his face grew a shade darker, a suspicion taking root in his mind but without confirmation. He wasn't quite sure until the woman finally sat down next to him with a plate and ate with her mouth full. She was doing this on purpose.

"Didn't know you had such good taste.

"Are these all your favorite dishes?

"Are you hungry?

"Too bad, you can't eat anything right now."

Azriel was speechless. He decided to take back his earlier thoughts. That face of hers was made for crying. Her crying would be the most pleasing sight.