When she saw Benink "smane shing on the street, she instinctively nced at Nancy, still slouched on the couch. It seemed sine had cooled down and was probable


    After hanging up, she walked over to Nancy. "M. Beld wants to see me. You stay here milnest. I''ll be back soon. ''


    Leaning against the pillow, Nancy slowly hitether head. Het cold, detached game swept over Vesperatiom head to toe. As ifing to some realization, she gave bitter smile


    What was that look for?


    She hesitated, thinking of exining herself, but the thought of it one made her feel like she''d be drawing even more attention to herself.


    Frustratues bobbled up inside her. But she decided to forget it. Time would sout it all out in the end.


    Without sacing another word, she turnest and walked out. Auting at the door of Dominic''s suite, she swiped her key card and unlocked it.


    i convenience, bath she and Gerard had ess to his too, always on standby if needed it had always seemed perfectly normal. That was til Nancy''s earlier reaction made everthing feeleddle sunpicious


    She pushed the thought aside and stepped inside.


    Desminic was by the window, casually removing his watch.


    Vespera''s mind involuntarily wandered into a funr cliché - two people trapped in a love-hate dynamic. To provoke the other, the male lead would flirt with his secretary in front of the female lead, hoping to break herposite and make her losecontrol.


    "M-Mr. Reid, yini


    "Em hungry." Dorsink said, his deep voice slightly horse as his gaze settled on her.


    Vespera was teady to bolt from the rous She stared at him, wide-eyed and startled, her instinct to stop back leaving Dominic briefly confused.


    His eyes fell on the watch he had just unfastened, and he finally understood the case of her reaction. With a sigh of exasperation, he exined, "I meant... I''m hungry for food." "Oh! That''s what you meant. Wow, you really scared me there for a second," Vespera said,ughing with reliet


    Dat them, an awkward silence hung in the air, thick enough to suffocate.


    Vespera mentally cursed herself, wishing she could rewind and stop herself from speaking.


    Clearing her throat, she quickly turned toward the phone and dialed the front desk. Trying to regain herposure, she asked, "Mr. Reid, what would you like to eat?


    With a stoic expression, Domink fastroed his watch back on. "Anything"


    That was the most frustrating arpwer


    Despite Ler irritation, Vespera kept her tone professional, cing an order with a variety of dishes to ensure she covered all bases.


    After hanging up, she turned back toward Dominic, her eyesnding on his wrist- his watch was back on.


    So he knew exactly what she''d been thinking


    "Jess you''re aware, this was Gerard''s responsibility before," Domink said matter- of-factly, cutting through her chaotic thoughts.


    Still rattled, Vespera blurted out without thinking, "card had to do this too?"


    Dominic paused, momentarily stunned with a wave of his hand, he dismissed her. "Get out"


    Vesperahuntedly exited the roomi.


    After waking a short distance, she stopped and mmed her forehead against the wall.


    At that exact moment, Gerard returned and was met with the odd some


    Just as he was about to approach her, his phone rang-Dominic was calling. With no choice but to take the call, he tumed and went to see Dominic instead.


    As soon as he stepped inside, he couldn''t help but say, "Mr. Reid, did Ms. Gildon have a drink? I just saw her banging her head against the wall in the hallway." Dominic paused for a mouiffent, rubbing his temples. Alter a beat, he brushed thement aside and redirected the conversation, turning his attention to the details of the next day''scks


    It then, the food arrived, and Gerard''s stomach growded. Dominic gestured for him to sit down and join him for the meal.


    Aller they ate, Dominic wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin and casually asked, "Vespera was doing fine earlier. Why did you step in?"


    Gerard couldn''t help but chuckle. "She''s got nerves of steel. At first, I was worried about her, but then she got way too into it. She wanted to go all-in on a hand, and I nearly had a heart attack. I had to make up an excuse to get her out of there. She actually thinks she''s some kind of gambling genius.................”


    Dominic''s eyes darkened slightly. "She went out?"