Chapter 35
My phone stayed silent the whole time. I never received any message about a meeting.
Without ZeroSpecter showing up, the meeting couldn't proceed.
How would Audrey and her brother smooth this over?
Make up an excuse that ZeroSpecter had something come up, or...
My curiosity was piqued.
"Can I come along to tomorrow night's meeting?" I asked casually.
James's eyes snapped open, his sharp gaze sweeping over to me. "What are you going there for?"
"What? Did Andrew tell you to go? You want to spy for Andrew?"
In his mind, everything I did seemed to connect back to another man.
I pushed down the bitter feeling in my chest and met his suspicious gaze with a calm tone, deliberately curious. "You're overthinking it. I just want to meet the legendary ZeroSpecter too. After all, someone you value so highly that you'd do anything to meet them. I'm curious too."
My reason seemed to catch him off guard.
He stared at me for a few seconds, his expression complicated, as if trying to judge whether I was telling the truth.
In the end, he neither agreed nor clearly refused - just closed his eyes again, as if I'd never spoken.
This ambiguous attitude continued until the next evening.
At 7:50 PM, he was already dressed and ready to leave. Just when I thought he planned to go alone, he stopped at the entrance and, without turning around, tossed out a sentence. "Aren't you coming?"
I froze for a moment, then quickly followed.
It seemed he wasn't entirely without suspicion about Audrey's side either.
The car arrived at a private club hidden deep in the city.
A server led us into an extremely private room with vintage decor and the faint scent of sandalwood burning.
However, there was only one person in the room, a carefully dressed Audrey.
She wore a well-tailored white dress with delicate makeup. Seeing us enter, she immediately stood up, her face breaking into a sweet smile. "Mr. Smith, you're here!"
When her gaze fell on me, her smile stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
James surveyed the empty room, his bone-chillingly cold gaze turning to Audrey, his face expressionless. "Audrey, you'd better give me an explanation."
His voice was low, carrying thick anger.
Audrey's face went pale with fright, and she hurriedly waved her hands in explanation. "Mr. Smith, please don't misunderstand! My brother will be here any minute! Please believe me."
"Believe?" James let out a cold laugh, clearly not buying this excuse.
Audrey's eyes immediately reddened, tears threatening to fall. "Mr. Smith, I really didn't lie to you, my brother he..."
Just as she was explaining incoherently, the room door was pushed open again.
While no one was paying attention to me, I took half a step back, hiding half my body behind James.
My gaze went over James's shoulder, and I saw a young man walk in wearing a casual suit and gold-rimmed glasses, looking refined and scholarly.
I quickly ran through my memory, confirming I had no recollection of this man.
He wasn't from my team, wasn't even someone I knew.
The man surveyed the room, his gaze quickly sweeping over me before finally landing on the red-eyed Audrey. His brow immediately furrowed as he strode forward, pulling Audrey behind him protectively, his tone displeased. "So this is Mr. Smith? Nice to meet you. However, bullying a woman right off the bat - that's hardly gentlemanly behavior."
James studied this man who had suddenly appeared, his scrutinizing gaze intensifying. "You're ZeroSpecter?"
The man pushed up his glasses, revealing a smile that seemed humble but was actually arrogant. "Mr. Smith, you flatter me. I don't have that kind of talent. I'm Audrey's brother, Armando Carroll. Currently, I work as an assistant on ZeroSpecter's team, handling some external communications."
He paused, glancing meaningfully at Audrey protected behind him, with a hint of warning. "ZeroSpecter has a rule; he doesn't like working with people who don't respect women, and don't like having unrelated people present during business discussions."
Armando's gaze flicked toward me.
I clearly saw panic flash through his eyes.
Did he recognize me?
"Mr. Carroll, do you know me?" I asked.
"I must have mistaken you for someone else," Armando replied, as if suddenly certain.
I knew why he was so certain, after all, very few people knew my identity.
"Audrey, don't forget today's purpose." James's eagle-sharp gaze fell on Audrey.
Audrey's face went pale for a moment. She took Armando's arm, forcing a smile. "Of course."
Audrey's clever eyes darted around as she pulled out the head chair. "Mr. Smith, why don't we sit down and talk."
James didn't move, just stared at Armando.
Armando had already adjusted his composure very quickly. "Mr. Smith, please sit first. I'll go to the front desk to get some wine."
As Armando reached the door, he called for Audrey to come with him.
Getting wine would naturally be the server's job; there was no need for him to go personally. And calling Audrey along before leaving clearly meant he had questions for her.
"I need to use the restroom." Wanting to see what Armando and Audrey were really up to, I made up an excuse to leave the room.
"Sophia, don't get any ideas you shouldn't have." James's voice came from behind me.
"Why don't you come with me then?" I turned around, a mocking smile on my lips. "But if ZeroSpecter shows up in a bit and sees no one in the room and leaves, that would be a huge loss for you."
I knew very well how much James wanted to find ZeroSpecter. Just as Audrey had him in her grip by offering a meeting with ZeroSpecter, he was now pinned to his seat.
I left the room and sure enough heard Armando and Audrey talking in the emergency stairwell.
"Who exactly is that person with Mr. Smith?" Armando asked.
"Who else could it be; his wife, a useless woman who's all looks." Audrey's voice was full of dissatisfaction. "What was wrong with you just now? Don't tell me you've taken a liking to her?"
"Just thought she looked familiar." Armando muttered. "Maybe I was mistaken. But don't worry, even if ZeroSpecter doesn't come tonight, I have a way to get you what you want."
Footsteps approached. Not wanting to be discovered, I turned and went back to the room.
From what Armando said, he should have seen me before.
I thought back through my memories, but still had no recollection of him.
Audrey and Armando returned after two or three minutes. Seeing James still standing, they quickly said, "Sorry, getting the wine took a bit of time."
"ZeroSpecter just told me he can't make it today because something came up, but he said he could talk with Mr. Smith over the phone. Should I call him now?"
Though Armando said this, his hands didn't move.
James's brow furrowed tightly, his thin lips pressed together, the corners of his mouth turned down; his patience had clearly run out.
He said nothing, but low pressure spread through the room.
Armando gave an awkward smile and had no choice but to make the call, turning on the speaker.
A second later, the phone in my pocket vibrated nonstop. They all looked at me.