Chapter 33
Megan was caught off guard.
Due to some business with Victoria Leach, Bennett hadn’t exactly been Mr. Congeniality with her lately, and just the other night, he’d given her a hard time.
And now he was offering her a ride
Instinctively, Megen felt there was an ulterior motive. She took a step back, her tone distant. “Bennett, you said you’d stop giving me a
hard time.”
Benisett just looked at her, assessing. Finally, he let out a few words, almost carelessly, “I did say that.”
And with that, he drove off, his black Land Rover leaving twin trails of exhaust in its wake.
Megan thought the Bennett issue was settled.
But that evening, she saw him again on the 56th floor of Regal Bolt, sitting at a card table with Timothy and a few others, conspicuously without the usual entourage of starlets or models.
When Megan took the stage, Bennett glanced up.
This small, seemingly inconsequential gesture didn’t escape Timothy’s notice.
Catching a glimpse of Megan on stage, Timothy casually laid down a winning pair with a flourish, “Bennett, you’re not exactly a regular here. What brings you by tonight? What wind blew you this way?”
Bennett’s tone was indifferent, “Not welcome?”
Timothy chuckled, “Are you kidding? I wish you would come by every day and spread your wealth around,”
At that, Bennett’s lips curved in a slight smirk…
Mid–conversation, Sullivan arrived. Dressed as if he’d come straight from home, in a crisp black shirt and slacks beneath a navy peacoat, his tall and lean form effortlessly drew the room’s attention.
Timothy’s gaze flicked back to Bennett.
Bennett shifted in his seat, his expression growing more detached.
With an inscrutable smile, Timothy said, “Sullivan’s here too! What’s this… coming to pick Megan up after her set?”
Sullivan didn’t take the bait. He sat down across from Timothy pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket, and casually placed it on the coffee table before speaking. Tm taking Megan back to the family estate for the night. Grandma’s been asking about her.”
Timothy’s smile widened, “Sounds serious!”
He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “But are you still in a position to ask Megan for favors? I heard through the grapevine from Lucia that you two are on the brink of divorce. Hasn’t Megan’s settlement proposal already landed at your office?”
Sullivan had no interest in sharing the details of his marital woes. He lit a cigarette, took an indifferent drag, and exhaled a thin stream of smoke.
That’s when he noticed Bennett in attendance, and while Bennett’s face remained impassive sometimes a man’s intuition is particularly sharp, especially when the woman in question is his own wife. His radar was alarmingly accurate.
Bennett was here because of Megan
In the haze of pale smoke, Sullivan’s gaze deepened as he watched Megan on stage.
She was clad in a sleek black cocktail dress, her bare shoulders tantalizing. Her legs were a work of art–slender, straight porcelain, and delicate.
Sullivan watched her for a long moment before he looked away and said, “Let’s play cards. Same stakes as usual? One hundred a
hand?”
“Sounds good to me, Timothy agreed.
Bennett didn’t speak. He simply snuffed out his cigarette and began to shuffle the deck.
At ten, Megan clocked out early. She’d barely stepped off the stage when Sullivan tossed his cards on the coffee table and stood up, Tm heading out!”
Timothy watched Sullivan leave, a knowing smile playing on his lips. Tuming back, he shuffled the deck with a cigarette dangling from his lips and said offhandedly, “Bennett, stop staring. The lady’s been mamed for three years. Man, you’re fickle. Just the other day, you were on her case, and now you’re smitten? What’s the deal? Did you pop the wrong pill or get hexed or something?”
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12:01
Chapter 33
Bennett, holding the cigarette between his fingers, exhaled a perfect smoke ring. He glared at Timothy and spat out, “Get lost! I have no clue what you’re babbling about.”
Timothy pointed at Bennett’s chest. “You’ve got a sickness right here! Don’t you forget who she’s married to!”
