He Took The Bait

It was a pity that he wasn't the only one who understood the weight of this revelation.

Everyone present tonight knew what this meant.

Howard had been in negotiations with Richard Domango's enterprise for months. It was widely speculated that they were on the verge of finalizing a deal—one that could have been the saving grace for Richard's struggling company. And now, right before his eyes, Jessica had stolen him away.

Wasn't that the same as betrayal? 

Monica who was now standing stiffly beside Richard, turned to her father, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Father, wh—tell me you didn't… This is a mistake, right?" She let out an awkward, almost pleading laugh, unsure whether to be angry or ashamed.

Howard shifted uneasily, unable to offer a reasonable explanation

It was too late for one anyway. He had never expected Richard to change the venue of their meeting to Three Star. 

He had planned to break the news to him privately, but when he had hinted at an important discussion earlier, Richard hadn't taken him seriously and brushed it off. 

Who would have imagined that Jessica would choose this precise moment to announce their alliance under the dazzling lights and curious gazes of everyone— including Richard?

She must be fully aware of the personal and professional consequences of this situation.

"Everyone, let's welcome Mr. Courtney to the stage!" Jessica declared, passing the microphone to the MC before leading the applause.

One by one, the guests joined in, the applause building to a deafening crescendo as Howard stepped forward, extending his hand to Jessica in a gesture of confirmation

Richard didn't get to hear what Howard had to say as he suddenly discovered to his deepest chagrin that Shantel had already disappeared. 

His jaw clenched. Where did she go and how come he didn't see her leave? His only mission here tonight was to keep an eye on her.

Without hesitation, he strode out of the ballroom while dialing a number on his phone. 

 As he neared the entrance, he caught sight of a familiar redhead slipping toward the car park and immediately picked up his pace.

At the same time, Shantel's phone buzzed with an incoming message.

"I think he took the bait. He's headed to the car park."

A slow, satisfied smile curved her lips.

"Perfect. Everything's in place?"

"Yes, Boss. They're waiting for my signal.

"Good. I'll be on the twelfth floor. Keep an eye on things and proceed with the next phase when the time comes."

"Copy that. But are you sure about this?" Zephyr's Morte's voice carried a rare note of concern.

Shantel chuckled softly. "Aren't you getting unnecessarily bothered, Zeph? You should know me better by now. Besides, I've never been more sure of anything."

Zephyr has been working for her for a couple of years now. 

One fateful night, she had been drunk and vulnerable, nearly falling victim to one of her pretend customers when Zephir intervened, effortlessly taking down the man. Not knowing where else to take her, he had brought her to his girlfriend's apartment, where she had spent the night. That single act of kindness had changed both their lives

'Up till now, I don't know why I took that step. But I have never regretted it," he had told her one day when she had jokingly asked him why he took her to his girlfriend's place of all places.

"Weren't you afraid she'd suspect you?"

"Mercy is just like her name. She trusts me and would never believe that I would cheat on her. That singular trust had provoked total faithfulness in me and bound me to her side forever," he'd said.

From there, she got to know more about him—the kind of work he did, and the skills he possessed.

Instead of fear, she saw an opportunity and hired Zephyr to teach her self-defense, eventually turning her into a seasoned fighter. 

But their partnership did not end there as over the years, their arrangement had gradually evolved into something deeply beneficial—he handled the things she couldn't be seen dealing with, and in return, she ensured he was always well-compensated, well-connected with the best resources, cutesy of her identity as Elsa. 

He was her subordinate in theory, but in practice, he was the one person who could speak to her without pretense. He didn't sugarcoat the truth, and he certainly didn't coddle her. If she was being reckless, he told her. If she was walking into danger, he would warn her. And if she insisted on going through with something despite his objections—like she was now—he made sure she had every tool necessary to survive it.

Alright," Zephir sighed in resignation. "If you must reveal your true self to him."

"I must." Shantel's tone was resolute. "Is everything I asked for ready?"

"Delivered to the room an hour ago."

"Good. Thanks, Zeph.

"Just be careful and don't get burnt. That's all you owe me," Zephyr said helplessly. 

She smirked. "Noted.

"How long will it take for the fool to get your message?"

"He should be at the car park now. So let's say, five minutes."

"Good. I have to hang up now."

"If there's anything you want, do let me know."

"Of course, I will, bye, Zeph, and… thanks once again."

Meanwhile, at the parking lot, Richard was fast enough to see when the person he'd been following got into a car and almost immediately the windows were wound up. 

A few minutes later his eyes narrowed in disbelief. What was going on? 

Was she that desperate that she couldn't wait to get a room and had to do it in the car with that flirt?

At the rate the car was shaking, it must be fierce. Tsk!" He spat, scolding himself inwardly for embarking on a wild chase. Shantel Hale was up to no good. But like he'd always known, she was obviously good at nothing but wild sex. 

He wanted to turn away from the disgusting scene but he just couldn't. It was like a force was pushing him to go yank the door open and make her see how nauseating and cheap she was to society. 

He was just a step away from the car when his phone buzzed and he reluctantly turned away after suppressing the shock he felt from reading the message. 

Exactly ten minutes after ending the call with Zephyr, Shantel heard a knock on the door to the room he had arranged for her on the twelfth floor of Three Star Hotel.

Shantel exhaled deeply and smoothed down her dress before responding. "It's open."

The door swung open, and Richard Domango stepped in. The moment his eyes landed on the woman in the room, he froze.

For a long, taut second, he simply stared.

"E-Elsa?" he murmured, his voice betraying a rare note of uncertainty.