Chapter 56
Right outside the Luxe Auction Emporium, Athena got out of the car and followed Leonard
into the auction hall.
The moment they stepped in, they could tell something was off. The place was dead as a doomail with all the quests huddled together at the center,
The quests were packed like sardines, making anyone curious about what kind of treasure had caught their eyes.
“Leonard, we’ve got trouble!” Nancy hurried over as soon as she saw Leonard.
Anna was trailing behind Nancy, and the moment she saw Athena, decked out in the latest designer gown of the season, her face turned a few shades darker.
Athena was always the darling of the fashion world. Designers from luxury brands would send her their latest gowns before they even hit the market.
And now, just thinking about Athena causing her body to be covered in red marks, making it impossible for Anna to wear backless, shoulder–less, or even sleeveless dresses ever again, she could only wrap herself up from head to toe.
Anna clenched her fists, wishing she could tear Athena’s gown to shreds!
Nancy sidled up to Leonard and said, all worried, “Zoey from the Bradshaw family and Mr. Temple are having a row.”
Mr. Temple, whom Nancy mentioned, was Gary Temple, the big cheese of the Temple family in Stardale City.
The Temple family had always been the top dogs in the underworld, with gangs from nearby cities taking their cues from them. Now, under the new head, the Temple family had cleaned up their act a bit, but they were still the last folks in Stardale City people would want to cross. Following Leonard, Athena saw Zoey, red–faced and hopping mad like a monkey on hot bricks. His eyes were bloodshot as he yelled at a woman, “You freaking scammed me? Weren’t you supposed to be on a trip? Damn it! You were actually cozying up to some other dude behind my back!”
As Zoey’s swearing filled the air, Nancy whispered to Leonard, “Zoey found out that the woman Mr. Temple brought today is the fresh–faced model Juliet he’s been after. He wanted to bring Juliet to the auction himself. But Juliet told him she was going on a trip today, and here she is with Mr. Temple.”
A cold look crossed Leonard’s elegant face.
All this fuss over a girl, and the Bradshaw family’s big–shot heir was throwing a tantrum in public.
vived up with
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guys like this.
Nancy rolled her eyes inwardly as she noticed Leonard’s protective move toward Athena, and added, “Zoey’s been down on his luck lately. Every chick he eyes ends up with Mr. Temple. When he hits the clubs to pick up girls, all he gets are washed–up has beens. The Temple family has a grip on like 80% of Stardale City’s night scene. Do you reckon Mr. Temple is doing this to stick it to Zoey on purpose?”
Before Nancy could finish, Zoey was already charging at Juliet, intent on giving the cheeky model a piece of his mind.
Juliet screamed and instinctively hid behind Gary, who flicked his lighter;lit a cigarette, and then pressed the burning cherry onto Zoey’s hand.
“What the fuck!” Zoey yanked back his hand, his bloodshot eyes bulging, and glared daggers
at Gary.
Gary looked up, his eyes dancing with mocking laughter. He was actually a couple of years older than Zoey, but he had a baby face and looked much younger,
He was wearing a black mink coat over a pale gold leopard print tee, with grey hair and seven earrings in total. Even in such a flashy getup, it didn’t detract from his stunning good looks.
“Mr. Temple! Mr. Bradshaw! Please, let’s keep the peace!” Leonard raised his voice as he made his way through the crowd to the front.
The Bishop family’s auction couldn’t be ruined by their personal vendetta. However, Zoey was seeing red and found Leonard just an eyesore. He caught sight of Athena standing behind Leonard, his nerves twitching, and then taunted Gary.
“You love stealing my girls so much; how about Ms. Athena Dempsey, who I’m betrothed to? I’ll trade Athena for Juliet. What do you say?”
With that, Zoey egged Athena on, “Athena, do me a solid as your fiancé. Everyone says you’re a big shot in the business world and a smooth operator. Help your future hubby sort out Mr. Temple, will you?”
Athena was expressionless, but inside she scoffed coldly. Zoey was trying to show her who would be the boss in the Dempsey family.
Gary’s eyes grew colder as he heard this.
Anna, standing among the crowd, couldn’t help but speak up, “Zoey, don’t do this. My sister’s a mother; don’t make her do/such things. It’s not good for her reputation!”
Gary sneered arrogantly and asked, “Zoey, you’re really willing to give up Athena?”
Zoey replied with disdain, “Trading a woman who’s had a kid, for Juliet? That’s a damn good deal!”
Gary chuckled bitterly, his chest heaving as he pushed Juliet toward Zoey. Juliet let out a
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shriek; she was in for it if she ended up in Zoey’s clutches! But Zoey didn’t catch her.
Athena strutted out, grabbed Juliet by the shoulder, and planted herself between Zoey and Gary. Without missing a beat, she socked Zoey right in the eye.
“Athena, you dare hit me?!” Zoey bellowed, clutching his streaming eye.
He’d never been smacked by a woman before. In front of this whole crowd, Athena had the nerve to diss him like that?
Zoey swung back, aiming for Athena’s face! The whoosh of his palm cut through the air, but suddenly a long leg connected with Zoey’s midsection, sending him flying a good two meters. Gary, hands stuffed in his black mink coat’s pockets, retracted his leg.
Athena didn’t bother with the howling Zoey, and just told Juliet to scram. Juliet didn’t need telling twice. She bolted, getting the hell out of Dodge. Athena turned, queen–like, and quizzed, “Heard through the grapevine, Mr. Temple’s been tripping up Zoey quite a bit lately.”
Gary cracked a smile, dimples popping, “Can’t stand the guy. The Bradshaw family, big shots of Everglade City, and they churn out this piece of trash!”
Athena, all grins, said to Gary, “Let’s have a one–on–one.”
Gary tilted his chin, signaling Athena to the private room.
“Athena!” Leonard furrowed his brow, about to intervene, but Athena cut him off, “Go run the
auction, will ya?”
Belinda had thrown this charity bash just so Leonard, freshly back in Stardale City, could schmooze with the high and mighty. No small effort there.
Zoey, nursing his eye and cursing under his breath, watched Athena follow Gary out. He’d let Athena go with Gary, but what was in it for him?
“Zoey, you okay?” Anna rushed to Zoey’s side, reaching out to help him up, but he shoved her hand away.
“Don’t touch me! Get lost!” Just thinking about Anna’s hives made Zoey want to hurl.
Zoey’s bodyguard helped him up and off to the lounge. Anna watched Zoey’s retreating back, her eyes blazing with resentment as she thought about her own blotchy skin.
She glanced towards the private room Athena and Gary had headed to, touched her purse, and made her exit.
Inside the room, Gary locked the door and turned to see Athena; legs crossed, she was chilling on the sofa like she owned the place.
“You called this meeting. What’s up?”
From Athena’s tone, she and Gary went way back. The guy sat down beside her and showed her his phone.
“Newman’s got me on a wild goose chase across Stardale City, looking for some dame. Sent
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Chapter 56
me her pics and a video, and I’m like, hey! I know this ugly, chunky chick, right?”
