Once boarding school life kicked in, evenings were filled with classes or study hall. No one was allowed to leave campus until the weekend.
By the time Tiffany finished her evening study session and got back to the dorm, it was already 8:30 PM.
She quickly packed a bag and slipped out through the balcony.
The early summer breeze was refreshingly cool. Streetlights dotted the path ahead like a galaxy of stars in the night sky.
Tiffany stuck to the shadows, making her way to the school’s perimeter wall. With surprising agility, she scaled it and headed straight for the Skyline Bar.
It was hands down the biggest, most upscale bar in Lovell City.
Tonight was the night. Uncle Stan was meeting his shady building materials supplier to sign their under-the-table deal. Tiffany’s mission? Swipe that contract without anyone noticing.
Before entering the bar, Tiffany changed out of her school uniform into a casual dress she’d packed.
The moment she stepped inside, heads turned. Tiffany’s dazzling looks and effortless grace drew attention from all corners.
Her long, dark hair cascaded down her back. Her face, free of makeup, was still stunningly beautiful. There was something almost otherworldly about her-alluring yet innocent, breathtakingly gorgeous.
Within a minute, several guys approached, drinks in hand.
Tiffany brushed past them with a quick “Sorry.” After all, she wasn’t here to party. She was here on a mission.
Uncle Owen had tipped her off about Stan’s secret meeting, but the bar was huge. Tiffany would have to search every private room to find them.
As she made her way deeper into the bar, a very a very drunk guy started following her.
“Hey, beautiful! Don’t run away… I won’t bite…” He lunged at Tiffany, grinning stupidly. Tiffany was about to kick him into next week when someone beat her to it.
In a blur of motion, the drunk went flying, slamming against the wall with a thud.
Tiffany blinked in surprise. Talk about being plastered to the wall. Literally.
Before she could process what happened, a familiar voice spoke behind her. “What are you doing here?”
That deep, cool voice. She knew it instantly. Tiffany turned to find Richard’s handsome face looking down at her.
He wore an expensive, deep blue suit that emphasized his tall, lean frame. Every move he made exuded elegance and authority. He was captivating yet intimidating.
Tiffany couldn’t help but stare.
Looking at Richard, Tiffany finally understood what people meant by “clothes make the man.” His physique was perfect-lean in all the right places, but clearly well-built.
It was no wonder he was the most eligible bachelor in Lovell City.
Tiffany’s admiring gaze earned her a gentle tap on the head from Richard.
“See something you like?” he teased.
Tiffany nearly choked on her own spit.
How did Richard go from being the untouchable ice prince to acting like this? It was a confusing shift, to say the least.
Tiffany waved her hands frantically. “No way! I’m just here looking for someone. Got some… business to take care of.” She couldn’t exactly spill the details.
But Richard surprised her. “Who are you looking for? I can help.”
The Hamptons were practically royalty in Lovell City. Finding someone in a bar? Child’s play for him.
“Really?” Tiffany’s eyes lit up. “Thanks, uh…” She almost called him Mr. Hampton but remembered how he’d reacted last time. “Thanks, Richard!”
“Don’t mention it.” Richard’s lips quirked up slightly. He beckoned to one of his men, who approached respectfully. “Sir?”
Richard looked at Tiffany expectantly. She gave Stan’s name, adding, “I just need to know where he is. Keep it on the down-low, okay?”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied, straightening up and nodding with a look of determination.
Makan.
He vanished, returning within minutes with the intel.
Stan W being cautious, holed up in the most secluded private room. He’d snuck in like a pro, too. Without Richard’s help, Tiffany might never have found him.
“Thanks again, Richard,” she said, genuinely grateful. “I owe you one. Dinner’s on me next time, okay?”
There she went again with the empty promises.
Richard raised an eyebrow. Tiffany was something else, always writing checks she never cashed.
Unfortunately, he had his own business to attend to and couldn’t stick around.
Watching Tiffany head off, Richard instructed two of his men, “Follow her. Keep her safe, and see what she’s up to.”
His entourage exchanged surprised glances. The Richard Hampton they knew was always cool and distant, completely uninterested in anything remotely romantic. But here he was, showing a softer side for this girl.
Making an exception, going out of his way to protect her? Now that was something you didn’t see every day.
The two men stood there, stunned for a moment, before finally nodding. “Yes, sir.”
Now that Tiffany knew where Stan was, she relaxed a bit. She even took a detour to the ladies’ room, cool as a cucumber.
Inside, two women in heavy makeup were touching up their lipstick. Both wore little black dresses with long, dark stockings.
Tiffany walked right up to them, pulling out a thick wad of cash from her bag.
“Let’s make a deal,” she said.
The women turned to her, eyebrows raised.
“This is just the down payment, Tiffany continued smoothly. “You’ll get double when the job’s done.
“What do you want us to do?” one of the women asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“It’s simple.” Tiffany’s-lips curved into a smile as she lowered her voice, explaining her plan.
In the most secluded room of Skyline Bar, Stan watched his partner sign the contract. His hand trembled with excitement as he added his own signature at the bottom.
This secret deal would net him all that money, just like that-one point two million dollars.
Stan had never seen that kind of money in his life. His heart was racing.
With everything settled, his partner took his copy of the contract and slipped out of the room. Stan stayed behind, riding high on the thrill of it all.
It took him a good fifteen minutes to come down from his euphoria. Finally, he left the room, grinning from ear to ear.
As he stepped out, he bumped right into two gorgeous women.
Stan felt a rush of confidence. Feeling like a big shot, he couldn’t resist flirting. “Ladies… care to join me tonight?”