+15 BONUS
Chapter 498
Kieran was supposed to join them as well, but something came up at the last minute, so he didn’t go along.
That night, Trevor was technically the host. But when he arrived at the bar, he only exchanged a few pleasantries before excusing himself, saying he had another engagement. 2)
Matthias, who had a few close friends in Jorburgh, was soon whisked away too when they came looking for him.
Celeste, not being familiar with Matthias’s circle, followed him over to say hello but didn’t linger in their private booth. 1
Instead, she rejoined YodaVision’s staff and the others, dancing for over half an hour before finally settling back into her seat to chat. 5
She was striking–there was no denying it.
So, once she sat down, men kept approaching her, asking her to drink with them.
She turned them all down without hesitation. Most took the hint and left quietly, but a couple of them proved more persistent.
One of them, a flashy–looking man with a slick, arrogant air, frowned and said, “Pretty lady, you’re not local, are you? Don’t you know who I am? Won’t you just have a little drink with me?” 4
Another chimed in, sneering, “Exactly. Don’t you even bother to ask around about who Mr. Lugo is? He personally comes over to invite you, and you just snub him? Are you sure you want to offend him?” 2
Celeste’s brows knit together.
Though Trevor hadn’t spent any time with his staff or the YodaVision crowd since arriving, he was still in one of the VIP rooms upstairs. 1
His booth had a clear view of the main floor.
Celeste’s beauty wasn’t something that could be overlooked. Even the two executives speaking with Trevor had noticed her, and by extension, the scene unfolding below.
One of them couldn’t help remarking, “Quite a view down there.”
The other gave a short laugh. “Plenty of eyesores in that view, too. And…” He trailed off, but the meaning was obvious–trouble was brewing 1
After all, they knew Tobias Lugo. In Jorburgh, his family name carried weight.
And while Celeste had her group around her, that might not be enough….
Trevor glanced toward the floor, then turned his head slightly in Jacob’s direction.
Jacob instantly caught his meaning.
Back when Celeste had worked at Fleming Group, Trevor had paid her little mind. But over the past two years, he had doted on the daughter they shared.
Jacob knew well that while divorce papers might be looming, Trevor had never stood in the way of Jordyn’s bond with her mother.
In other words, even if Trevor didn’t care for Celeste, even if he was cold to her, even if he could turn a blind eye to her entanglements with Matthias, there was no chance he would sit by and watch some shady man harass the mother of his child.
With that thought, Jacob gave a nearly imperceptible nod and slipped downstairs before the situation could escalate further.
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Chapter 498
+15 BONUS
“Mr. Lugo, isn’t it?” he said smoothly once he arrived. “I’m Jacob Collins, secretary to Mr. Trevor of Fleming Group.”
Fleming Group was one of the country’s most powerful conglomerates. Even if Trevor wasn’t a Jorburgh native, Tobias could hardly claim ignorance of the name. 1
Sure enough, at Jacob’s words, Tobias glanced up toward the VIP rooms. Spotting Trevor and his companions watching from above, his expression shifted.
A moment later, though clearly reluctant, he backed down and stalked off.
With the crisis averted, Jacob cast Celeste a brief look, then turned and left just as quietly as he had come.
The YodaVision group all exhaled in relief. “Good thing Mr. Fleming had someone step in. Otherwise…”
Celeste listened in silence, her expression cool and unreadable. 2
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