Their conversation had given me a lot to think about. I excused myself and stood from the table, heading in the direction of the restroom— which I definitely didn’t need directions to.


    But I actually wasn’t headed for the restroom. I went outside on the patio and wrinkled my nose since there was still the lingering smell of smoke from Duke’s cigarette.


    But there was no one else on the patio, which gave me what I really needed right now–privacy. I took out my phone, and Ava answered after the third ring. Quickly, I told her what I learned so far during our lunch with Duke.


    “This isn’t good,” she said in a worried tone when I was finished telling her about how Chloe and her mother were getting help from a powerful rtive. “I don’t know a lot about the ZIKO group, but everything I’ve heard is pretty creepy. Some people think that they control fifty percent of the world or something crazy like that.”


    My hands shook. “Are you serious?”


    “Yeah, but that’s just a rumor. I have no idea how true it is,” Ava said, but then her voice brightened. “But at least we have Alexander on our side.”


    I sighed as memories fromst night floated into my head. Did Alexander’s help reallye for free?


    “Well, in the worst case scenario where Chloe and her mother are set free, we need to warn everyone to be extra careful. Like Sarah and Kelly,” I pointed out.


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    “You’re right,” Ava said, I’ll make sure to send them a message warning them to be cautious.”


    When Ava and I said goodbye, a middle–aged man came out on the patio. He had a pack of cigarettes in his hand, but when he saw me, his eyes widened, and he stuffed the box into the pocket of his expensive ck cks. He shuffled toward me. I wished that there was a way around him, but he was blocking my path to the door back inside.


    “Luciana,” he whispered when he was right in front of me.


    Even though I knew there wasn’t anyone behind me, I still looked back to check.


    Nope.


    This weirdo was talking to me.


    I turned back and jumped a little because the stranger had moved even closer to me. His bright green eyes were studying my face like he was going to be given a test on itter.


    The hair on the back of my neck raised, and I tried to get around him, but he shuffled to the side, blocking my exit.


    What the hell was this guy’s problem? Was it a hit man that Chloe had hired from within jail? But I knew that was just a paranoid thought. If he was a hit man, he wouldn’t be standing right in front of me.


    I would have already been dead.


    “Can I help you?” I asked, trying to indicate that he should stop staring


    at me.


    “My name’s Stanley,” the man said. But continued speaking before I could even tell him my name. “How old are you?” the stranger asked suddenly. His voice was deep and rich, like chocte. “You look


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    exactly like my future daughter.”


    My eyes widened in shock. What an odd thing to say.


    Before I could push past him, another man walked onto the patio.


    This man I automatically recognized. His silver hair was gelled back just like his son’s, and he had a confident yet cocky air to him.


    It was Neil Green. Alexander’s father.


    “Ah, you must be Olivia,” Mr. Green said and held out his hand for me to shake. “Alexander’s assistant.”


    I nodded as we shook hands.


    “Have you met my associate? Mr. Stanley Cater.” Alexander’s dad gestured to the strange man. “He is CEO of the Cater Group.”


    Shock flowed through me as I reluctantly shook hands with Stanley. This man must be Hana’s husband, which made it even stranger that he had said I looked like his future daughter. Also, I knew that he was the great uncle of Duke. Even though New York was one of thergest cities in the world, everyone seemed to be connected in some way.


    “Would you like to join us for lunch?” Mr. Green asked and gestured inside in the original private room that Duke had been sitting in before Alexander asked for a new room.


    Before I could think of a suitable excuse, Stanley looped his arm through mine and steered me into the room.


    Why was this man so handsy? Did he not understand normal social etiquette?


    I tentatively sat down, and Stanley stared at me unblinkingly. I shifted in my seat as my stomach churned and an ufortable tension filled


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    the room.


    When Mr. Green picked up his menu. He looked over and noticed that Stanley hadn’t taken his eyes off of me.


    “Cool it, Stanley,” he scolded his associate. “You’re going to scare the poor girl.”


    “My apologies. I just wanted to know if you were single,” he said. “I would love to introduce you to my nephew.”


    “Excuse me?” said a deep voice from behind me.