Chapter 107 Still Playing the Innocent?

Chapter 107 Still Playing the Innocent?

Stephanie's POV

The instant Luke saw me, the hard edge in his eyes softened, just a fraction.

"Stephanie, are you alright?" He closed the gap between us in quick, determined strides. "I called you over and over. No answer. I thought something had happened."

"Sorry. My phone died." My tone stayed neutral, but my gaze slid toward Karon. He tilted his head slightly, a subtle signal. He hadn't told Luke about being in my bedroom earlier. I wondered if that was deliberate.

Luke looked ready to launch into a barrage of questions, but I cut him off, my attention shifting to the man standing nearby, shivering despite the warmth of the room. "Is that the reporter?"

"Yeah." Luke's voice was laced with disdain. "Eli. Bottom-feeder from the Evening Chronicle."

Eli flinched at the sound of his name, his complexion turning even paler.

"I... I was just here to do an interview..." His voice stumbled over itself. "No harm intended..."

"No harm?" Luke's laugh was short and sharp. "Then why were you camped outside her place? Why were you taking pictures?"

"I..." Eli's mouth opened, but no words came out.

I turned away from him and faced Karon.

He set down his coffee cup, rose from his chair, and came to stand beside me.

"Handled?" I asked quietly.

He gave a single, firm nod. "Steven's booking the hotel now. I'll take you home before I go back."

Steven was his other assistant.

"You're going back to the hotel?" My brows lifted. "I thought you were staying at the manor."

"Renovations." His tone was flat, almost detached. "Been at the hotel for a while."

I nodded, letting it drop.

That was when his phone rang.

He answered, listened for a few seconds, and his expression hardened into something colder than steel. "Understood."

He ended the call and looked at Luke. "Keep questioning him. Find out who else Bennett sent."

Luke's jaw tightened. He turned back to Eli without hesitation.

I studied Karon's face, my stomach sinking. "What happened?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he took my arm and guided me a few steps aside, lowering his voice. "Bennett has someone tailing you."

My breath caught. "What?"

"Since last night." His words were clipped. "A private investigator named Clayton. He's been following your car."

I pulled in a deep breath, forcing down the anger that surged through me. Bennett. That lunatic. What was his endgame?

"Where is he now?" I asked.

"Missing." Karon's tone stayed even. "Steven just called. Clayton's been unreachable since last night."

My heart thudded hard. "Missing... as in gone?"

He held my gaze but said nothing. I read the truth in his eyes—he wasn't the one who made Clayton disappear.

So who did?

"Leave it for now." His voice softened just enough to be persuasive. "Steven will keep digging. You need to keep living your life as if nothing happened. Don't let him get under your skin."

I nodded slowly. "Alright."

Karon studied me for a moment longer before his hand lifted to ruffle my hair. "Don't worry. I'm here."

The gesture was too familiar, too intimate. Heat rushed to my cheeks before I could stop it.

I was about to speak when Luke returned, his expression grim. "Karon, he confessed. Bennett sent him to interview Stephanie, to ask about you, and to get photos that would stir trouble."

My fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms. Bennett. That bastard. Pretending to be innocent while stirring the pot. Trying to provoke me.

"Send him to the station," Karon said coldly. "Trespassing on private property, taking unauthorized photos. Enough to keep him locked up for a few days."

Luke nodded and moved to arrange it.

Karon turned back to me. "Come on. I'll take you to the office."

I drew in a slow breath and nodded, following him out of the front hall.

The car was waiting at the door. Steven stood beside it, opening the rear door as we approached.

"Boss, the hotel is booked. The suite you requested, best view in the building."

Karon acknowledged with a nod, gesturing for me to get in first.

I slid into the back seat. He followed, and the car eased away from the curb.

I leaned back, my thoughts a tangled mess. Bennett had someone tailing me. He sent a reporter to dig into my life. What was he really after?

"What are you thinking?" Karon's voice cut through the haze.

"Bennett," I answered honestly. "Why is he doing this?"

Karon was silent for a few seconds. "Because he's rattled."

I turned to look at him. "Rattled?"

"Yes." He nodded once. "You moved too fast. He didn't have time to react before you backed him into a corner."

I blinked. 

"Elite Choice Executive Search Firm," he said, his voice low. "You got there first. Snatched the headhunter firm before he could make a move. Now you've shut the last door he had left."

The realization hit me. No wonder he was losing his composure. And his ego was too fragile to take the blow.

"So now he's trying to strike back?"

"No." Karon shook his head. "Right now he's probing. Testing your limits. Testing your hand."

I drew a long breath. "What should I do?"

He glanced at me, a faint, knowing smile playing at his lips. "Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Let him keep panicking," Karon said. "Panicked men make mistakes."

I nodded slowly, the idea settling in my mind.

The car pulled up outside Elite Choice's headquarters. I pushed the door open, about to step out when Karon caught my wrist.

"There's a gala tonight," he said. "Come with me."

I hesitated. "What kind of gala?"

"Charity auction." His tone was casual. "Bennett will be there."

My pulse kicked up. Bennett would be there? That sealed it. "Alright. What time?"

"Seven." He released my wrist. "I'll pick you up."

I stepped out, watching the black sedan disappear around the corner before turning toward the building.

Bennett's POV

Lightwood Pack headquarters, conference room.

I sat at the head of the table, my expression dark enough to make the air feel heavy.

The meeting had dragged on for three hours, but I hadn't heard a single word. My mind kept circling back to Stephanie's face… and the shadow of Karon beside her.

"Alpha Bennett?" The finance director's cautious voice cut through my thoughts.

I snapped my head up, forcing my temper down. "What?"

"It's about the North District project funding…"

He edged forward, almost flinching. "We need your approval."

I waved a hand, irritation bubbling. "Approve it."

"But—"

The word was barely out before my palm slammed onto the table. "I said approve! Was I unclear?"

The finance director shrank back, lips pressing into a thin line. He kept silent.

The room went dead quiet. Even the sound of breathing seemed muted.

I dragged in a breath, trying to leash the fury clawing at my chest, and pulled out my phone. I dialed Clayton's number.

The ring tone played out to voicemail. No answer.

My jaw tightened. I called again. Same result.

Damn it. What the hell was this useless man doing? I told him to keep eyes on Stephanie, and now he couldn't even pick up his phone?

A pulse throbbed at my temple. A bad feeling crawled over me like ice water.

"Meeting's over," I said coldly. "Get out."

The executives exchanged wary glances but filed out without a word.

Soon, only my secretary Donna remained. She stood stiffly, breathing shallow.

She could feel it—the way my temper was balanced on a knife's edge.

"Call Clayton for me," I ordered.

"Yes, Alpha." Her hands trembled as she dialed.

No answer.

Her voice was shaky when she reported, "Alpha Bennett… Clayton's phone… still no response…"

My fist slammed down on the table. The coffee cup jumped, spilling dark liquid across the polished surface.

Donna flinched, color draining from her face.

"Useless!" I snarled, the rage spilling over. "All of you… useless!"