Chapter 31
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I clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling a sudden coughing fit, then turned tail and ran. I didn’t even glance back to see what Evan’s reaction was. The thick carpet muffled my footsteps, but he still heard me. Panic clawed at my chest. Had I been too obvious?
Back in the poker room, Zach visibly relaxed. “Mr. President, you’re back,” he said. I breathed a sigh of relief. If I’d been any later, they’d have suspected something.
When Evan returned, I’d planned to “attend” to Ann Maxwell, to cover my tracks, but he surprised me.“Ms. Maxwell’s resting. You don’t need to keep her company,” he said, a hint of displeasure in his tone.
I was utterly bewildered. Could he… could he think I’d had designs on Ann? I wanted to shout, I’m not a lesbian!
He ignored my internal turmoil, noticing the extra chips instead.“Zach’s got a lucky hand,” he remarked casually.
Earlier, a tycoon had been all over me, his eyes lingering inappropriately on my chest, his comments about my beauty and intelligence bordering on predatory. It made my stomach churn. I forced a smile, grateful when Evan intervened, his warning clear enough to shut the lech down. I appreciated his defense, but it wasn’t surprising; it was typical of him.
After the game, Olivia Huang asked Evan for his number, but he had Zach give it to her instead–a clear display of distance. Olivia, though slightly deflated, quickly bounced back, grabbing the number from Zach. I found her endearing, bravely pursuing her affection, even if it was doomed.
Ann Maxwell stumbled in, drunk, two waitresses supporting her. Getting her off the yacht, Zach and I were hesitant, fearing another meltdown. Evan sighed and helped her himself.
On the dock, he prepared to take Ann home, but he made no move to offer me a ride. I suggested taking Ann to a hotel. He sneered.“That’s a bright idea. You’re responsible for her at the hotel then!”
I was completely lost, but he got in the car anyway, leaving Zach and me to hail a cab. Zach practically shoved me into
the passenger seat before disappearing. I buckled my seatbelt, the tension in the air suffocating.
In the backseat, Ann Maxwell slumped against Evan, her body swaying precariously, threatening to collapse on him at
any moment.
A bitter taste filled my mouth. His earlier tenderness towards Ann was now replaced with cold indifference. Their relationship was far more complicated than I’d imagined. I felt like a pawn in their game. Why had I gotten involved? All I’d done was say a few words, and now I was neck–deep in their mess… I was such a fool.
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