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.

on the side of the road,

smoking, white tendrils

His expression was terrifying.

Vespera's mind raced.

the time she pulled up next to him, she had already thought of a

initiative, she

up his phone from the dashboard, and tossed it onto

the resident list from Lanton Residences

back. "I've worked for years. What's wrong with buying myself a place? I paid the down payment with my own money. Not a

her attempt to shift the conversation. "Vespera, don't play games with me. Is this about money? Why did you buy that apartment, and why did you keep it

replied, "I didn't think it was necessary to tell you. I wanted a home that truly belonged to me, with my name on the deed. Is

Munoz family accused her of being after their wealth

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

She said nothing.

her lap. "You want to buy property? Go

a faint smile. "How

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

down, she knew she could never accept a life that

card back inside. "I'm

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

herself, "You're

carefree.

She withdrew her hand.

then, her phone

She wondered if Raymond was

noticed the slight tension in her posture, his gaze sharpening. "You ignore my calls, and now

with no choice, she pulled

with a name—"Mrs. Munoz",

the caller ID. "Go ahead and answer

was calling. The deadline was approaching, and Felicia was likely checking in to make

out.

picked up. "I'm with your son right now. Do

end of the line, Felicia paused before swallowing whatever she had been about to say. "No need. I

I sent most of my bags for cleaning, so I'm

"Thank you."

call ended after just a few

gave her a skeptical look. "Since when did you and my mother get along so

smiled. "Isn't that a good thing? Or would you rather I be at

deflecting, twisting words to

Luke's anger had

eased

he

the resident list, he had paid close attention to her

even glanced

nor had she shown

concern about him.

meant her living in

just throwing a tantrum, trying to slip out of his control

ways.

thought buying herself an apartment with her own money made her independent.