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Chapter_42
Tiana chuckled lightly. “It’s all just a show, you know? He’s probably just trying to get under your skin on purpose. Didn’t you notice how, with just a raise of his brow, Parker had everyone in the suite stub out their cigarettes? He’s clearly looking out for you because of your pregnancy.”
Whitney blinked in surprise. “Really?”
She couldn’t help but admire how effortlessly Tiana could turn a tense moment into something light-hearted with her silver tongue.
Just then, Parker called out, “Whitney, care to join me for a game?”
Meanwhile, the aloof man remained seated on the sofa, leisurely sipping the cocktail handed to him by a beautiful woman. His unreadable gaze flickered in Whitney’s direction.
Feeling an irrational surge of defiance, Whitney sat down and joined Parker in a card game. But by the second hand, Parker excused himself. “Bro, I’ve gotta hit the restroom. Mind stepping in for me?” Whitney was not blind to the fact that this was a thinly veiled excuse for something else.
Her fingers tensed. But she saw the man rise smoothly from his seat and approach. As he took his place across the table, his commanding presence was undeniable. Whitney couldn’t help but feel a rush of awareness, as if his aura alone enveloped her.
Tiana snuck up behind Whitney and positioned herself for a better view.
The game continued, and as the man laid down his cards, it was Whitney’s turn. Just as she was about to play her hand, Tiana quickly laid down a card of her own. “That’s a good one!” she said.
Whitney looked at her hand, now set up for her defeat. She glared at Tiana with a look that screamed, Are you blind?
From that point on, Tiana’s interference became constant. Whitney couldn’t decide if the man’s card skills were simply superior or if her luck had completely crumbled, but she kept losing game after game.
Tiana, ever the instigator, teased, “Mr. L, are you doing this on purpose? You really seem to be hard on Whitney tonight!”
“Hard on her?” The man’s cool voice finally broke through, and for the first time that evening, he looked directly at Whitney. His voice was deep and smooth, laced with an almost imperceptible suggestion. “Hard on me…” Whitney’s cheeks flushed at the thought.
Just then, Parker returned. Whitney immediately stood up. “I’m out,” she declared.
Tiana mocked her, “You’re quitting after all those losses? Since when have I had such a loser of a friend?”
Parker picked up the ledger, raising an eyebrow. “How much did Ms. Valentine lose?” He glanced at Whitney. “Ms. Valentine, you owe him a cool five million.”
Five million?
Whitney’s heart sank. She had no idea the stakes were so high. A million a game? She didn’t have that kind of money!
Feeling the weight of everyone’s eyes on her, she turned to Tiana in panic. “This is all your fault. Do you have a credit card on you?”
Tiana’s face hardened. “I ain’t got no money! You lost to him, so beg your dear Mr. L for mercy. Maybe he’ll let you off the hook.”
Whitney’s eyes widened with desperation as she turned to the man. His gaze was cold and unyielding, showing no mercy.
She didn’t want to beg. She had set her boundaries, and now he was enforcing them. It stung, but she refused to lose her dignity.
“Come on, just say something nice to him,” Tiana urged, nudging Whitney forward.
Reluctantly, Whitney approached the man. But just as she was about to speak, another shove from Tiana sent her tumbling into his arms.
“What the hell?” Whitney glared at her friend.
“Oops, my bad!” Tiana feigned innocence.
The man stood still, his long legs effortlessly catching Whitney in their embrace. His presence enveloped her, strong and undeniable. She was paralyzed for a moment, staring at the warmth of his chest, barely visible under the crisp shirt.
When their eyes met, she felt her cheeks heat up. The defiance she’d shown earlier had now softened into something almost endearing.
He noticed her fingers clutching at his shirt. His eyes darkened slightly, and with a mocking tone, he said, “Can’t seem to let go, huh? Fallen for these legs that many women have sat on?”
Embarrassment rushed through Whitney, and she tried to pull away. But he wrapped his arm around her subtly, keeping her close as his hand reached forward to play a card. Whitney froze in his embrace, her skin flushing with an undeniable intimacy.
The room erupted in laughter from the men nearby. “He sure knows how to handle a beauty in his arms. Talk about living the life!” one joked.
Another chimed in, “Yeah, look at that confidence. Unbeatable.”
Whitney curled up in his arms, her face flaming as she realized the men had completely misunderstood the situation.
Desperate to escape, she squirmed slightly. “I need to use the restroom,” she whispered.
The man looked down at her, clearly amused by her discomfort.
Too embarrassed to speak loudly in front of everyone, Whitney leaned in and whispered awkwardly, “I need to pee.”
The words hung in the air, and the man pretended not to hear. “What was that?” he asked, his voice teasing.
Her embarrassment growing, Whitney leaned in closer and whispered, “I really need to pee.”
His lips curved into a smile as he released her. “Go ahead,” he said.
Whitney dashed away to the restroom.
When she returned, she found the suite empty. Tiana and Parker had vanished, and the game had been abandoned.
The man was standing by the window, a cigarette between his fingers. He extinguished it as she approached.
“Where did everyone go?” she asked.
He turned to face her, his aristocratic features cool and mocking. “Isn’t this your little scheme? Conspiring with your best friend, playing the victim, the seductress… Or are you…” He cornered her against the wall, his tone icy. “Enjoying this little cat-and-mouse game, Madam?”
Whitney, caught off guard by his sudden chill, stammered, “Mr. L, what are you talking about?”
He pressed closer, misinterpreting her words. “Playing coy after denying me the other night. Now you’re here, trying to seduce me again?” His voice was full of scorn.
Whitney’s discomfort grew, but she steeled herself. “I have no plans to seduce you, Sir. I lost a competition today and was upset enough. I don’t need to add fighting with you to my night.”
Her words stung him. He assumed she was now picking a fight with him.
Suppressing his irritation, he mocked, “Upset over a competition and taking it out on me? Losing is normal for you, especially since I coached the theme. Your youthful arrogance blinds you to the fact that there’s always someone better. What makes you think you’re special, Whitney?”
She stood silent for a moment, reflecting on whether her confidence had been misinterpreted as arrogance. Did he truly understand her past?
With a cool smile, she responded, “I’m not claiming to be special, and I never said I couldn’t lose. But, Mr. L, you’re making assumptions without seeing the whole picture. My loss wasn’t fair and square. I didn’t expect any consolation from you.”
Feeling a sting of disappointment, Whitney decided not to dwell on the conversation. She opened the suite door and quickly left for the elevator.
Tiana, who had overheard everything, stood nearby, but the man didn’t seem to notice. As he turned toward Parker, his expression darkened.
“What’s going on with today’s jewelry competition?” he asked.
Parker opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Tiana’s urgent voice. “Mr. L, do you not know what happened to your wife?”
She continued, her voice soft but serious, “Monica stole her artwork, used her connections to present first, leaving Whitney blindsided. The judges accused her of plagiarism. Now, the whole town is talking about it. She’s barely holding it together, and here you are giving her a hard time. Is that fair?”
L’s face went from shock to fury. Without a word, he grabbed Parker’s car keys and rushed toward the elevator.
Tiana looked at Parker. “Is it really raining outside?”
Parker grinned. “I made it up.”
Tiana stared at him, impressed. “How can you be more conniving than me?”
He smirked. “It’s a guy thing.”
Whitney, unaware of the exchange, was sitting alone outside the Royal One Club. The rain had started to fall. She felt lost, unprotected, and alone. Her thoughts darkened as she scrolled through her phone, reading insults and mockery. Her first major setback since vowing revenge. She’d never shed a tear for the Valentine family’s cruelty, but tonight, everything felt like too much. L’s indifference stung more than she cared to admit.
Just as she was about to give in to her emotions, the roar of a car engine interrupted her thoughts. She looked up to see a sports car screech to a stop, and a handsome man stepped out. Dressed in black, his rolled-up sleeves revealed muscular arms, and a discreetly luxurious watch suggested a wealthy background.
He walked toward her, his voice soft with concern. “Didn’t you realize it was raining?”
Whitney blinked in surprise. “Why are you here?”
Before she could move, he stepped forward and lifted her into his arms.
“What are you doing, L?” she snapped, pushing him away.
