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?

in confusion. Was there another Miss Vaughan

sir. Pearl is indeed the

who can't keep up. Ada, have Jasmine go through training with

strode off

the executive assistant's office

was about to

the Vaughan

picked up the phone and dialed the front desk,

from the Vaughan Group comes looking for Mr. Fitzgerald, please politely turn

drove back to Stratus

garden when a fluffy white

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

offended at the suggestion she

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

brush from Beatty, the dog's caretaker,

wave, he dismissed Beatty, who wisely

Samoyed more than anything. Despite her official title as a dog nanny, Beatty's responsibility for Pudding made her

blossoms against lush green grass. A winding cobblestone path led from the garden straight to a sparkling blue

in the golden afternoon light, stood a strikingly handsome man and his fluffy white dog