Chapter 37: The bait

Jessica's pov

The mirror had always been my favorite accomplice. It reflected not just my image but the version of me I needed the world to see. Tonight, that version wore a blood-red dress that shimmered under the soft light of my bedroom. I ran my hands down the fabric, feeling the cool texture against my skin. My lips curled into a faint smile.

“He won’t even know what hit him,” I murmured, tilting my head to one side as I studied my reflection. The pearls on my ears gleamed like promises. My hair fell in waves over one shoulder, effortless but deliberate. I’d learned long ago that men like Michael Halloran didn’t fall for purity. They fell for the illusion of danger.

Outside, a horn beeped twice. The chauffeur, Right on time, Rose didn’t do late.

I slipped on my heels, grabbed my small clutch, and walked down the narrow staircase of my apartment. The driver stood beside a black sedan, his posture professional.

“Miss Jessica?” he asked.

I nodded, sliding into the leather seat. “Let’s go,” I said, without looking back.

As the city lights smeared across the tinted windows, I sat in silence, mentally tracing the plan Rose had laid out. The casino loomed ahead like a temple of greed and neon dreams. Laughter, music, and the metallic jingle of coins spilled into the night as we pulled up. I adjusted my lipstick in the reflection of the car window. One more touch of red.

Inside, the air was thick with perfume and cigar smoke. Crystals glittered overhead, refracting light into sharp splinters. Men in tailored suits leaned over roulette tables, clutching glasses of whiskey as if fortune itself could be squeezed out of amber.

I walked in like I owned the place, Eyes followed.

At the bar, I ordered wine and scanned the room. It didn’t take long to spot him. Michael Halloran, sleeves rolled, tie loosened, arrogance spilling out of his grin. He was laughing with a group of men, slapping one of them on the back as though they shared the secret to immortality.

I tilted my glass slightly and whispered, “There you are.”

He was exactly as Rose had described . He was the kind of man who thought every woman wanted him.

I watched him over the rim of my glass, pretending to be lost in thought. Men like him could smell attention but they wanted to earn it. So I gave him nothing.

When I finally rose from my seat, I walked toward his table, slow and measured, my heels echoing against the marble floor. I didn’t look directly at him. I let him notice me .

I stopped near his table, pretending to glance over the gambling chips as though the game itself interested me. His laughter faltered for half a second. Good. That was the moment the hook slipped in.

Then I turned away.

I sauntered back to the bar area, pulled out my phone, and pretended to scroll through messages. I didn’t need to see him to know he was watching.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement, his chair scraping back, the flicker of irritation from his bodyguard trying to stop him.

“Sir—” the guard began, but Michael waved him off.

The guard sighed and sank into his seat, defeated.

Michael walked toward me with that practiced predator’s smile.

“What’s a beautiful woman like you doing here all alone?” His voice was smooth, coated with whiskey and pride.

I didn’t look at him right away. “Treating myself,” I said simply, swirling my wine. “It’s been that kind of week.”

He chuckled, leaning an elbow against the counter. “I could keep you company. No one should drink alone.”

“That’s sweet,” I said flatly. “But I’m not looking for company.”

He blinked, surprised. That wasn’t the response he was used to.

I set my glass down and stood up. “Enjoy your evening, Mr. Halloran.”

I didn’t have to look to know his pulse just spiked. He hadn’t told me his name.

As I walked away, his voice followed me, desperate now. “Wait, just a minute. Could I at least have your number?”

I turned, letting my lips curve into a faint smile . “If you insist.”

He handed me his phone, and I typed in my number, then handed it back.

As I stepped into the night, the casino’s lights reflected against the car windows, and I caught sight of him standing by the entrance, staring after me, confusion and curiosity warring in his expression.

I whispered to myself, “Hooked.”

The chauffeur drove off without a word. I leaned back against the seat, crossing one leg over the other.

When my phone finally rang hours later, I was brushing my hair, the city dim outside my window.

“Jessica,” he said, voice low, almost boyish. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

I smiled faintly, even though he couldn’t see. “You are, but go ahead.”

He laughed nervously. “You’re beautiful, you know that? I can’t stop thinking about you. Maybe we could have dinner tomorrow?”

“I don’t go on dates with strangers,” I said coolly.

He laughed again, louder this time. “So you were watching me.”

There was silence, then a quiet breath. He was intrigued. Predictable.

“I’ll see you again,” he said finally.

“Maybe,” I answered, and hung up.

“Look at the worm offering itself to a bird,” I said to myself. “And it thinks it’s the one doing the hunting.”

I poured myself another glass of wine, letting the liquid catch the city light. My phone buzzed again, a message this time.

Michael: You have the most mesmerizing eyes I’ve ever seen.

I didn’t reply. I just locked the screen and set the phone face down.

Control wasn’t about power. It was about timing.

The next day, Rose called to check in.

“How did it go?” she asked.

“Like a charm,” I said, lighting a cigarette and walking to the balcony. “He noticed me, asked for my number, and called me the same night. He’s already circling.”

“Good,” Rose said, her tone firm but quiet. “Just don’t rush it. The goal isn’t to make him fall, it’s to make him comfortable.”

“Please,” I said with a hint of mockery. “Comfort is my middle name.”

Rose laughed softly. “You sound confident.”

“I am. But confidence doesn’t mean carelessness,” I said, exhaling smoke into the air. “He’s arrogant, but not stupid. If I move too fast, he’ll sense it. He needs to think he’s the one leading.”

Rose paused. “Do you ever get nervous?”

I smiled faintly. “Only when I’m bored.”