Chapter 58
Just as Sonia was wondering who Lucius had been speaking to, Silas–whom she had met only once before–suddenly appeared out of nowhere, ghostlike in his arrival.
Saying he appeared out of nowhere was perhaps a bit of an exaggeration. It was more like he’d been lurking somewhere in the villa all along, ready to step out at a moment’s notice–like a bodyguard who never left the shadows.
Unlike Keane, though equally trusted at Lucius‘ side, Silas was a man of few words and fewer expressions. His handsome features were a mask, his face as cold as stone.
He crossed the room toward Hannah without the faintest trace of emotion.
“Come,” he ordered flatly.
Hannah trembled, her legs nearly buckling as she obeyed. She looked half ready to collapse by the time Silas led her away.
Only after they vanished did Sonia manage to find her voice again. “Mr. White, did Hannah do something wrong?”
Lucius sat down with an air of ease. “This is household matters. Outsiders should not interfere.
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Sonia wasn’t foolish. She knew at once what he was doing–making an example of Hannah to warn her. It was a silent reminder not to play petty games in front of him.
A sheen of cold sweat nearly soaked the back of her shirt. She hadn’t expected Lucius to see through her tricks so quickly.
“Ms. Woodward,” he said, his tone sharpening, “what business brings you here so early in the morning?”
His mood was sour. If not for that phone call, would he and Valerie still be upstairs, wrapped
in intimate moments?
Rationality told him it was best to cut things off when he had. Still, he couldn’t help feeling
the loss.
Sonia sat properly across from him. When she raised her gaze, she caught sight of the clear row of teeth marks on his cheek. It was unmistakably a woman’s mark.
Her gaze then flicked toward the staircase. She wondered if Lucius was keeping a mistress tucked away in Azure Bay.
She forced the thought down and finally voiced her purpose.
Chapter 8
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“I heard there will be a rather unique auction tomorrow, held at sea. Only those with invitations can board the luxury cruise ship. With your standing in Windmere, Mr. White, I’m certain the organizers have already sent one to you. I… I was hoping that I might have the honor of attending as your companion.”
For all her brilliance in hacking, Sonia had failed to uncover Phantom Healer’s whereabouts. That failure had already eroded some of Lucius‘ trust. Plus, Noah’s dismissive attitude toward her still stung.
If Lucius acknowledged her publicly, his friends would stop treating her like some disposable plaything.
After a long night of thought, Sonia had resolved to speed things up. The first step was to enter his social circle and make their relationship official in others‘ eyes.
Lucius hadn’t expected that to be her reason for calling today.
Yes, he had received an invitation to the cruise auction. The hosts had even mailed him a packet with a slideshow of the lots–fine jewelry and designer pieces for the women, and rare art and collectibles for the men. A few items had piqued his interest, though he hadn’t yet decided whether to attend.
Now, faced with Sonia’s hopeful eyes, he neither agreed nor refused. “Give me one reason to take you aboard.”
Sonia leaned closer. “To be honest, I’ve hit a wall in my field. I’ve heard that among the items
at this auction is a mysterious flash drive. If I can crack its program, my hacking skills will
reach a new level.”
Then, she added, volunteering eagerly, “For your sake–for the search for Phantom Healer —I
must get my hands on it.”
Her eyes shimmered with desperate sincerity.
It was a decent excuse, but it didn’t move Lucius.
Chapter h
