Every word out of Stein''s mouthnded squarely on McNeil''s sore spots, leaving


    him utterly speechless and unable to muster a retort.


    "I''ve arranged a ce for you to stay tonight. Vicky-"


    Stein turned to her, his gaze so tender it drove McNeil up the wall.


    "That''s all right, Stein. Thank you, but we already booked our hotel before we arrived," Victoria interjected, cutting him off before things could getplicated. Stein held her eyes for a moment, reading her refusal, then didn''t press the issue. "Fine, I''ll stop ying host. But remember, I still have some pull in Echo City. If you run into any trouble, juste to me."


    His concern for Victoria was obvious, and the more McNeil looked at Stein, the more he found the man intolerable.


    "Mr. Campbell, it''s gettingte and we need to get back to our hotel and rest. Whatever else we need to discuss can wait until tomorrow," McNeil said, unable to hold back any longer. He pulled Victoria firmly into his arms, as if afraid Stein might snatch her away the moment he let go.


    Victoria tried to wriggle free, but he held her so tightly she couldn''t budge.


    Stein watched the two of them, but didn''t say another word. He walked out first, and only then did McNeil lead a reluctant Victoria after him.


    This time, Stein didn''t insist that Victoria ride with him. Instead, he told the driver to take the couple straight to their hotel. After a few final words of concern to Victoria, he left as well.


    Once inside the hotel room, Victoria was still bristling. McNeil noticed, but decided not to pick a fight.


    Stein might not have unimaginable wealth, but in a world where power is everything, a single word from him could make apany vanish overnight. Whatever scraps of superiority McNeil once felt in Stein''s presence had long since evaporated.


    Victoria took the clothes she''d prepared and went into the bathroom for a shower. McNeil sat on the bed, his gaze cold as he stared at the sliver of lighting from under the bathroom door.


    He pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one out, and held it between his lips, but didn''t bother lighting it.


    The bathroom door was frosted ss-nothing at all could be seen from the outside. Still, McNeil''s mind wandered.


    Victoria finally came out, now infortable pajamas.


    McNeil moved toward her, but she deftly sidestepped him.


    "I''ll be tied up all day tomorrow coordinating with Stein''s team of experts," she said coolly. "It''ste, and if you''re in the mood, Mr. Langford, I''m sure you can find someone else to scratch that itch."


    In other words: she wasn''t interested.


    Dragging around a pregnant body was exhausting enough. She simply didn''t have the energy to entertain him tonight.


    She''d been afraid McNeil might discover her pregnancy on this trip, so she''d kept anti-nausea tablets tucked under her tongue the entire evening.


    McNeil was well aware how important this visit to Echo City was. He knew tonight was hopeless as far as any intimacy was concerned.


    Swallowing his frustration, he waited until Victoria was in bed before slipping into the bathroom himself.


    When he finally came out, Victoria was already fast asleep.


    Between the ne ride and a long afternoon of project meetings, her energy was thoroughly spent.


    Only then did McNeil remember he hadn''t turned his phone on since theynded. He thought about it for a second-nothing urgent was happening at thepany. He''d taken care of everything before leaving, so he felt no desire to power it up.


    Back in Starfall City, Violet was nearly frantic after failing to reach McNeil. After much effort, she''d tracked down the hotel where he was staying and called the front desk directly.


    "I''m Mr. Langford''s girlfriend. I know he''s in your presidential suite, but I can''t get through to him. Please, go tell him to call me back immediately."


    The front desk clerk, well-trained for situations like this, immediately recognized it as another jealous lover''s drama. This wasn''t their first rodeo-such scenes were routine at their hotel.


    "I''m sorry, ma''am, but for the privacy of our guests, we can''t do that. If you need to reach Mr. Langford, you''ll need to contact his cell provider."


    Violet was so mad she nearly exploded.


    "He''s right there in your hotel! For all I know, you''re involved in something shady and that''s why I can''t reach him. Prove me wrong!"


    Her usations made no sense, but the clerk remained calm and polite.


    "I''m sorry, ma''am, but we simply don''t have the authority to do that. And it''s quitete our guests are resting. We can''t disturb them."


    Violet fumed. She tried threats and sweet talk, but got nowhere. In the end, she snapped, “Fine. But at least tell me is he staying alone or with someone? You can answer that much!"


    The front desk clerk answered with a patient, professional smile.


    "Ma''am, since you already know Mr. Langford is staying here, I''m sure you can also find out whether he''s alone or not. But we have a strict privacy policy and can''t disclose any guest information. I''m very sorry."


    She was stonewalled by the best in the business.


    "If you don''t tell me, I''ll see to it your hotel shuts down tomorrow!"


    Violet was so furious she wasn''t even making sense.


    The clerk''s tone stayed courteous, never missing a beat. "I''m sorry, ma''am. Our


    hotel is part of The Langford Group. If you can''t even reach Mr. Langford himself, I doubt you have the power to close us down. If there''s nothing else, have a pleasant evening. Goodbye."