Chapter One Hundred And Eleven Lea’s dangerous and bossy father’s eyes blazed with a fury that could have scorched the room itself. Without a second thought, he raised his walking stick high and brought it down on the art collector’s shoulder with a sickening thud.“You know what you’ve nearly cost me today?” he roared, striking the man again, this time across the back. The collector stumbled, crashing onto the polished marble floor.“What will the Hexagon Consortium boss think if he realizes I gave him a fake collection?” he demanded, his voice dripping with venom. “Are you trying to ruin me? Are you… a fraud?”The art collector, now crumpled and broken on the floor, clutched at the edge of his coat, shaking his head frantically, tears streaming down his face. “Please… please, sir, I didn’t know. I swear… I thought it was real…”But Léa’s father sneered, towering over him like a merciless god. “Save your pathetic excuses. I don’t want to hear them.”He glanced at his men, his voice
Henry’s gaze flickered between Léa and the glinting gold bar on the table, his expression unreadable. She leaned closer, the playful smirk on her face twisting into something more calculating, more dangerous. It was a look he recognized well—a look that said she was holding all the cards and daring him to play. “Henry, don’t tell me you’re backing down,” she whispered, her voice dripping with mock disappointment. Her fingers toyed with the gold bar, tapping it rhythmically as if each tap was meant to break down his restraint, test his limits. “I thought you were different from the others. I thought you could handle a little… challenge.”He chuckled softly, not breaking eye contact. “Challenge? Or manipulation?”“Oh, I don’t manipulate,” she replied, her voice smooth as silk. “I simply… present opportunities.”“Opportunities?” He let the word hang in the air, his tone laced with skepticism. “Is that what this is to you?”Léa’s gaze was steady, unwavering. “Call it what you want, but y
Henry’s fingers lingered on the gold bar, the cold metal sending a shiver up his arm. He wasn’t sure if it was the chill of the gold or the heat of Léa’s gaze that had his pulse racing. His jaw tightened, his breathing steadying as he leaned back into the plush seat. The hum of the jet’s engines reverberated beneath him, a steady reminder of how high the stakes had suddenly risen.“So, Henry,” Léa began, her voice smooth and teasing. She placed the gold bar down, letting it hit the table with a muted thud. “Tell me, what exactly are you afraid of?”“I’m not afraid,” he said firmly, his tone sharper than he intended.Her lips curled into a dangerous smile. “Then why the hesitation? A man like you should know when to act. Or are you second-guessing yourself?”His fists clenched at his sides, his nails biting into his palms. She was baiting him, digging into his pride, and it was working. “Léa, don’t confuse caution with weakness,” he replied, his voice low, almost a growl.“Oh, please,”
Henry’s fingers brushed over the cold surface of the gold bar, its weight palpable even without lifting it. The cabin’s warm light contrasted sharply with the tension crackling in the air, a heat that Léa’s unwavering gaze only intensified.She smirked, leaning back against the edge of the table. “You’re hesitating, Henry. Not like you, is it? Or are you just… afraid?”“I don’t hesitate,” Henry said, his voice low and sharp. “I calculate. And what I’m calculating right now is whether this is a trap.”Léa laughed, the sound both mocking and alluring, echoing softly through the enclosed cabin. “A trap? If I wanted to trap you, Henry, you’d already be caught.”“Bold claim,” he countered, rising from his seat. The plush leather groaned as he moved, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. “But I’ve seen men smarter than you try to pull the same game. So tell me, Léa, what’s this really about?”Her eyes darkened, her smirk fading into a thin line. She stepped closer, her heels clicking ag
Henry’s fingers brushed over the cold surface of the gold bar, its weight palpable even without lifting it. The cabin’s warm light contrasted sharply with the tension crackling in the air, a heat that Léa’s unwavering gaze only intensified.She smirked, leaning back against the edge of the table. “You’re hesitating, Henry. Not like you, is it? Or are you just… afraid?”“I don’t hesitate,” Henry said, his voice low and sharp. “I calculate. And what I’m calculating right now is whether this is a trap.”Léa laughed, the sound both mocking and alluring, echoing softly through the enclosed cabin. “A trap? If I wanted to trap you, Henry, you’d already be caught.”“Bold claim,” he countered, rising from his seat. The plush leather groaned as he moved, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. “But I’ve seen men smarter than you try to pull the same game. So tell me, Léa, what’s this really about?”Her eyes darkened, her smirk fading into a thin line. She stepped closer, her heels clicking ag
Henry leaned back in the seat, staring at the untouched gold bar. Its surface gleamed under the dim cabin lights, mocking him with its quiet allure. His thoughts churned, Léa's words replaying in his mind like a haunting melody.The door opened abruptly, the rush of cool air breaking his reverie. Simon, his trusted pilot, stepped in, his boots clicking softly against the polished floor.“Everything alright, sir?” Simon asked, his sharp eyes flickering to the gold bar before settling on Henry.Henry nodded, though his jaw tightened. “Just fine. Ready to take off?”Simon hesitated, sensing the unease in his boss. “We’ll be airborne in five minutes. Just waiting for clearance.”“Good,” Henry said, his tone clipped. He dismissed Simon with a wave, his gaze shifting back to the gold. The weight of Léa’s words pressed down on him, heavier than the metal itself.The faint hum of the engines grew louder, signaling their imminent ascent. But Henry couldn’t shake the tension coiling in his ches
Henry’s glass clinked softly as he set it down. His fingers tightened around the edges of the bar, the chill of the surface grounding him. The jet’s steady hum was the only sound in the cabin, but his mind roared with unspoken words.The door burst open again, and this time, Simon stood there, his face unreadable.“We’re in the air, sir,” he announced. His tone was neutral, but his eyes scanned Henry’s face, reading every line of tension. “Anything else you need?”Henry shook his head, his lips pressed into a firm line. “No. Just keep us on course.”Simon hesitated for a moment before nodding and closing the door behind him. Alone again, Henry exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. The weight of Léa’s words pressed on him, louder now than the engines beneath his feet.But his solitude was fleeting. Léa barged back into the room like a storm, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.“You can’t just dismiss me like that,” she snapped, her voice cutting through
Henry leaned back in the seat, staring at the untouched gold bar. Its surface gleamed under the dim cabin lights, mocking him with its quiet allure. His thoughts churned, Léa’s words replaying in his mind like a haunting melody.The door opened abruptly, the rush of cool air breaking his reverie. Simon, his trusted pilot, stepped in, his boots clicking softly against the polished floor.“Everything alright, sir?” Simon asked, his sharp eyes flickering to the gold bar before settling on Henry.Henry nodded, though his jaw tightened. “Just fine. Ready to take off?”Simon hesitated, sensing the unease in his boss. “We’ll be airborne in five minutes. Just waiting for clearance.”“Good,” Henry said, his tone clipped. He dismissed Simon with a wave, his gaze shifting back to the gold. The weight of Léa’s words pressed down on him, heavier than the metal itself.The faint hum of the engines grew louder, signaling their imminent ascent. But Henry couldn’t shake the tension coiling in his chest