Vengeance With My White Knight by Maya Kensington

Chapter 169

Stations og fingers tapped the table, sine and steady, shadows dancing under the dim light.

long

just

That calm, rhythmse woud ja made the room feel heavier, creepier. Macro threw Stephanie a wild look, basically pleading for her top in

tephanie kapa her eyes locked on her bowl, acting like she didn’t see a thing,

Why’s be staring at me? She wasn’t about to stick up for Luca.

Sebastian had hammered it into her since they were kids–you don’t go easy on people who’d screw you over.

Luca was here to grab her, and if Stephanie played the softie, she’d get one of Sebastian’s quiet, endless lectures later. Hard

Macro was freaking out “Luck’s not dever enough to pull off something nuts like this, he said, dragging a hand through his hair

“Oh yeah Sebastian shot back, his voice cold as ice. “So what’s ditching Sofa’s crew then?”

Macro opened his mouth, then clamped it shut. Nada. He was stumped

He wanted to yell, maybe even praying in tears for Lucas return

“Why Luca ditch Soles people What was the up to? His head was a jumbled disaster.

bastian was over Macro’s breakdown. He turned to Stephanie instead, his tone solid. “You’re staying with me for the next Lowdop

be

Luca was too unpredictable–too stick–and he wasn’t risking it

If she watched Stephanie now, after shaking Soda’s team, she might take Stephanie to the end of the world.

For all he knew, she’d haul Stephanie across the globe just to screw with Sofia, hopping borders like it was nothing.

Stephane nodded, all sweet and agreeable.

Then the sogged, rethinking it “Wait–I’ve got studio tomorrow, she said, looking up at him.

* sudio for you. Min killer chimed in from the side, straight to the point.

“Hair” semptune’s brain shorted out for a set, totally lost.

No

studio? What the heck does that mean? It felt like her whole world just blew up.

Her stomach dropped, and the spoon in her hand almost hit the table.

Valore Villa conded way more, her phone buzzed Jennifer’s name popped up.

bepped up fast Jennifer Her voice was tight, on edge. terphanie parked

“Were tnt–skynver Travel bailed Jennifer rushed out, panie buzzing through the phone.

Stephanie’s und wena bank

Kailer: This was just had it was a train wreck

Chapter 169

Her heart sank. A multi–million–dollar client, gone? Her eyes popped wide.

Stephanie jumped up, adrenaline kicking in. She shot out of her chair so fast it toppled over, hitting the floor with a loud crash that bounced around the room.

She didn’t even care that Sebastian, Macro, and the others were right there–she darted to the side, phone glued to her ear.

Stephanie gripped the phone, her voice jumping with frustration. “What the heck happened? Weren’t we solid with them this whole time?”

“And didn’t they already drop the design deposit?” She frowned, her fingers squeezing the phone without her even noticing. ‘Why would they bail now? Her head was spinning.

They’d loved every draft she sent–couldn’t stop gushing about them. She leaned against the wall, trying to keep it together.

Jennifer let out a tired sigh on the other end. “I don’t know. Their business team just called out of nowhere–said the deal’s

off

Stephanie

Jennifer said, sounding flat and done.

Stephanie stopped cold, her

sink her

dragging on the drafts?

was on Sebastian–throwing her off like that, and now her big

studio couldn’t crash–not with all those designers depending on it. Stephanie’s grip on the phone got

small. “They just said they’re done.

it, dazed. “Don’t need it anymore?” She stood there, blank–faced, totally

was that? It didn’t even add up, she muttered to herself.

asked, “So… do we have to give

it, Jennifer replied, cool as ever.

it?” She stared at the

Throwing away a six–figure deposit like it’s

there or what?” She shook her head,

hissing quietly. “No way to patch this up, huh?”

budge.

staring

དེ

that–gone? No real explanation, nothing? Her chest felt empty.

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Sebastian, both looking grim, the vibe as heavy as

on! Sofia’s crew rolled in with Luca, and now they re here,

was losing it, arms

attitude was getting to him, so he went

He had every

Jennifer kept talking. “Losing Skyriver Travel’s a massive blow for

off, tapping her fingers on the wall in

to the dining room, then

She’d been counting on Skyriver Travel to prop up the studio so she could pass it to

she pictured Jennifer–two years of grinding–and the designers busting their

everyone going. She ran the math in

you swing by Shallow Bay Area tomorrow?” Stephanie said, her voice easing into something

jumped on the other end. “Sh–Shallow Bay

Long Bay had been talking about that place forever, saying how fascinating it was. Jennifer never got a chance to see it for herself.

a quick hum. “Yeah. Grab some of

out tomorrow–not with the

Sofia’s crew, and no one knew what wild move

wasn’t risking it. She’d hole up in Shallow

dining room just as Sebastian’s low,

Elliot said with a

somewhere in Long Harbor–nailing her down wouldn’t be tough.

after him, shaking snow off his jacket. “Hold

missed riding with Elliot in the morning, and it’d left him twitchy all

Elliot finding Luca and actually laying

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Chapter 169

hope her girl could get that “porcelain

breath as he

on Stephanie, the sharp edge

warm as he

shuffled over, toes tapping softly on the floor,

her onto his lap in one smooth move,

guard. “Hey–what’s this? They

Elliot were out, but

laughed, low and easy. “Thought you

dropped her eyes,

lightly. “Still sore there?”

eyes popped wide, a

red at that. Her brain fizzed out, heart picking up speed.

any time–you’re not seriously…” she stumbled over

her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. “How about doing it now?” he mumbled, words muffled

Stephanie stiffened.

This