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.

the side of the road, she

smoking, white tendrils curling against

His expression was terrifying.

Vespera's mind raced.

up next to him, she

Taking the initiative, she spoke first, her voice cold and direct. "What are you doing

from his lips, picked up his phone from the dashboard, and tossed it onto

resident list

with buying myself a place? I paid the down payment with my own

conversation. "Vespera, don't play games with me. Is this about money? Why did you buy that apartment,

I wanted a home that truly belonged to

accused her of being after their wealth and forced her to

"Have I ever been stingy with you? The jewelry and gifts I've

She said nothing.

"You want to buy property? Go ahead. Buy as

a faint smile. "How generous

a blind eye to his betrayals, and be

wouldn't be the worst option. But deep down, she knew she could never accept a life that felt like a dead

carefully placed each card back inside. "I'm not in the mood to buy anything

she was about to pull her hand away, Luke caught her wrist

thought to herself, "You're just realizing that

and carefree. "Trust? What does

She withdrew her hand.

then, her

She wondered if Raymond was calling because she hadn't responded to his

gaze sharpening. "You

with no choice, she pulled out

lit up with a name—"Mrs. Munoz",

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

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

out.

son right now. Do you

other end of the line, Felicia paused before swallowing whatever she had been about to say. "No need. I was just calling to ask if you still want that bag

bags for cleaning, so I'm

"Thank you."

ended after just

skeptical look. "Since when did you and

thing? Or would you rather I be at war

twisting words

Luke's anger had

eased

When he had

paid close attention

glanced at

nor had she shown

concern about him.

revolved around him discovering her secret purchase. That meant her living in the same building as Dominic was likely just

was just throwing a tantrum, trying to slip

ways.

with her own money made her independent. That was