Drunk and Daring I Kissed a Tycoon

Chapter 17

Vespera opened the message.

Raymond had replied, "On Friday, I'll be accompanying Mr. Reid to a meeting at the Amara Hotel. Ms. Gildon, perhaps you could deliver the suit there."

Vespera blinked. "What does that even mean?"

A flood of questions filled her mind.

Dominic asked to meet her again, and it was at a hotel—not just any hotel, but a secluded one-so isolated that if someone screamed or even committed a crime, no one would hear a thing.

She thought, "What... exactly does Mr. Reid want?"

She refused to overthink it. It wasn't about being scared or turning down an opportunity handed to her. She simply couldn't read this man.

She had no interest in getting caught up in anything beyond her career.

After a long moment of consideration, she decided to handle it the same way he did-by ignoring it for now.

In the parking garage, Raymond sighed and slipped his phone back into his pocket.

He knew there was no need to force things, but he had a feeling that wasn't what Dominic truly wanted. Besides, he had heard from Gerard that Vespera had actively applied to be Dominic's secretary.

There had to be some misunderstanding between them.

So, he had taken the liberty of arranging this. They could only clear things up face-to-face.

But Vespera was just as stubborn.

The Bentley pulled out of the community, passing by a Ferrari parked on the side of the road.

Inside the Ferrari, Luke sat motionless.

His calls had gone unanswered. His messages were ignored. His patience was on the verge of snapping.

Moments later, the resident list for Lanton Residences, the one he had someone look into, came through on his phone.

But what shocked him first wasn't seeing Vespera's name it was the name listed for the penthouse-Dominic, the heir of the Reid family.

Luke had already heard whispers of Dominic's return.

The Reid family had always ruled over Halewick from the shadows, keeping an air of mystery. Their family members rarely appeared in public, and while Luke wasn't

in the same circle as Dominic, they had crossed paths before.

At 15 or 16, he had seen him at an event-aloof, distant, and untouchable, like a statue of polished marble.

And now, Vespera had secretly bought a place right under his penthouse.

He wondered if there was a connection between them or if it was merely a coincidence.

Luke's mind drifted back to that moment on the golf course.

...

Two hours later, Vespera finally drove out of the Lanton Residences.

she spotted that familiar Ferrari on the side

inside, smoking, white tendrils curling against his

His expression was terrifying.

Vespera's mind raced.

next to him,

the initiative, she spoke

the cigarette from his lips, picked up his phone from the dashboard, and

and saw the resident list from

phone back. "I've worked for years. What's wrong with buying myself a place? I paid the down payment with my

play games with me. Is this about money? Why did you buy that apartment, and why did

it was necessary to tell you. I wanted a home that

after their wealth and forced her to sign a

let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Have I ever been stingy with you? The jewelry and gifts I've

She said nothing.

her lap. "You want to buy property?

faint smile.

turn a blind eye to his betrayals, and be the unfeeling woman who does nothing but take his

be the worst option. But deep down, she knew she could never accept a

that had fallen beside her and carefully placed each card back inside. "I'm not in the mood to buy anything right now. When I am, I'll ask you for

on his lap. Just as she was about to pull her hand away, Luke caught her wrist and turned

to herself, "You're just realizing

both infuriating and ridiculous. She smiled, bright and carefree. "Trust? What does

She withdrew her hand.

her phone

if Raymond was calling because she hadn't responded

gaze sharpening. "You ignore my calls, and now

she pulled out

up with a name—"Mrs. Munoz",

expression eased slightly when he saw the caller ID. "Go ahead and

could already guess why she was calling. The deadline was approaching, and Felicia was

out.

picked up. "I'm with your son right

had been about to say. "No need. I was just calling to ask if you still want that bag you were looking at last

my bags for cleaning, so I'm actually

"Thank you."

after

a skeptical look. "Since when did you

Or would you rather I be at

deflecting, twisting words to sidestep the

Luke's anger had

eased

he

paid close attention

even glanced

nor had

concern about him.

him discovering her secret purchase. That meant her

a tantrum, trying to slip out of his control in small,

ways.

an apartment with her own money made her