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

why?” Stephanie pushed, her voice

Jennifer said, sounding

her brow scrunching up.

that huge just walking away–it could sink her studio. A shiver

been dragging on the drafts? Tell them we’ll have it ready in three days-

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

with all those designers depending on it. Stephanie’s grip on the phone got tighter.

voice got small. “They just said they’re done.

“Don’t need it anymore?”

excuse was that? It didn’t even add up, she muttered

we have to give

keep it, Jennifer replied, cool

She stared at the

a six–figure deposit like it’s nothing?”

there or what?” She shook her head,

quietly. “No way to patch this up,

didn’t budge.

silent, staring at her

དེ

that–gone? No real explanation, nothing? Her chest

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Chapter 169

that huge should at least have the

44%

in the dining room, voices were rumbling–Macro and Sebastian, both looking

I’ve got no one to unload this on!

was losing it, arms

to him, so

was. He had

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

tapping her fingers

then dropped as

She’d been counting on Skyriver Travel to prop up the studio so she could pass it to Ella. “Without them, is it even worth keeping alive?

the designers busting their

going. She ran

tomorrow?” Stephanie said, her voice easing

other end. “Sh–Shallow

about that place forever, saying how fascinating it was. Jennifer never got a chance to see it for

hum. “Yeah. Grab some of the company’s business files and bring them along.”

tomorrow–not with the snow piling up outside, and Luca

one knew what wild move she’d

hole up in

up with Jennifer, she wandered back to the dining room

Elliot said with a nod, heading for the

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

after him, shaking snow off

the morning, and it’d left him twitchy all day, gut churning

finding Luca and actually laying into

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13

Chapter 169

held out hope her girl could get that “porcelain glow” back–no chance he’d let

muttered under his breath as he hustled out.

sharp edge in his eyes

here,” he said, voice warm as he kicked back in

over, toes tapping

he pulled her onto his lap in one smooth move, wrapping her up

wiggled, caught off guard. “Hey–what’s this? They

were out, but their

low and easy. “Thought you agreed–no

pink, and she dropped her eyes,

her cheek lightly. “Still

wide, a flustered spark flashing through them.

bright red at that. Her brain fizzed out, heart

stumbled over

his arms around her waist, resting his head on her shoulder. “How about doing

Stephanie stiffened.

This