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?

blinked in confusion. Was there another Miss

Pearl is indeed the

can't keep up. Ada, have Jasmine go through training with you again before she returns

Victor strode off toward the

stepped out of the executive

was about to burst into

the Vaughan family. He doesn't

phone and dialed the front desk, issuing a

if Miss Vaughan from the Vaughan Group comes looking

back to

into the garden when a fluffy white Samoyed

grumbling, "You

Samoyed barked loudly in protest, clearly offended at

chuckle, ruffling Pudding's head as he held her close. He carried her to the middle

from Beatty, the dog's caretaker, and

Beatty, who wisely

official title as a dog nanny, Beatty's responsibility for Pudding made her the queen

red blossoms against lush green grass. A winding cobblestone path led from the garden

strikingly handsome man and his fluffy white dog at