Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 40

Victor curled his lips in a dismissive smirk. "You know, there are enough people lining up to have dinner with me to wrap around the Capitol and stretch all the way to the Eiffel Tower. Where exactly do you think you rank on that list?"

Just then, Jasmine dashed into the office, immediately grabbing Pearl by the arm.

She shot her a meaningful look. "You should head back first."

Pearl lingered, her eyes trailing after Victor's tall figure as he turned away. She pouted, clearly reluctant, but finally left.

A moment later, Victor pulled a cigarette from the pack on his desk and held it between his lips. The lighter slipped under his thumb a few times before he finally got it to spark.

He took a deep drag; the harsh nicotine burned his lungs, but did nothing to chase away the restless frustration simmering in his chest.

After a few more puffs, he crushed the barely smoked cigarette into the silver ashtray, got up, grabbed his jacket, and strode out of the office.

He ran straight into Jasmine, who had just seen Pearl out.

Jasmine stood to the side, careful and deferential, her head ever so slightly bowed. "Mr. Fitzgerald."

Victor paused, his tone light but edged with coldness. "This is the Miss Vaughan you told me about?"

Huh?

Was there another Miss

indeed

Ada, have Jasmine go through training with you

strode off toward the

the executive assistant's office

she was

Fitzgerald really can't stand the Vaughan family. He doesn't like their daughter

dialed the front desk,

on, if Miss Vaughan from the Vaughan Group comes looking for

back to

garden when a fluffy white Samoyed bounded across the lawn

caught the big furball in his arms, grumbling, "You think you're

barked loudly in protest, clearly offended at the suggestion she wasn't young

he held her close.

brush from Beatty, the dog's caretaker, and began grooming Pudding's

a wave, he dismissed Beatty, who wisely took

her official title as a dog

against lush green grass. A winding cobblestone

stood a strikingly handsome man and