The Ex and Her Riches

A petty tactic like that naturally wouldn’t escape Charles’ observant eyes.

Regardless, he accepted the drink so as not to raise suspicion.

Every man in the room was watching him, waiting for him to drain the glass with mounting excitement.

The women, too, were staring at him, secretly feeling sorry for him for stumbling into the wrong place and for the misfortune he was about to find himself in.

In full view of the entire room, Charles brought the glass of red wine to his lips.

Before he could take a sip, though, he suddenly choked and began coughing furiously.

A beauty would still look good coughing despite having her brows all scrunched up.

Being a gentleman, Joe quickly handed Charles a piece of tissue and patted the latter’s back.

In the chaos of his coughing fit, Charles accidentally spilled the full glass of red wine onto Joe’s trousers.

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to dirty your clothes! Let me help you wipe it up!”

He wiped the crimson stain from the trousers, but to no avail.

A spectator seized the opportunity to speak up. “Mr. Landon’s suit is not cheap, you know. With a stain like that, it’s as good as ruined. Shouldn’t you make up for it?”

Joe gave an uncomfortable laugh. “It’s all right,” he said with feigned magnanimity. “I’ll just change into another set.”

With a deeply apologetic look, Charles said sweetly, “I’m awfully sorry. Will you let me accompany you upstairs to get changed?”

All the men in the room gave the same meaningful smile in unison.

She actually took the initiative and offered to go upstairs! Since she’s asking for it, she shall be obliged.

Charles put on an act of naivety as if he had no idea what was going to happen.

Not about to forgo such a good opportunity, Joe followed him out of the bar’s private room.

At that very moment, outside the bar, a team of police officers was listening through the transmitter on Charles in a black police van.

Nico snickered. “What a quick-witted fellow Charles is. No wonder he managed to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. He indeed knows a thing or two.”

Noises were still coming from the transmitter.

It sounded as though Charles was taking Joe upstairs.

Then, the ambient noise became much more subdued.

The pair chatted—mostly gossiped—as they walked, whereas Nico listened intently from within the stakeout van.

first, he assumed he would be able to hear some obscene noises after they entered the room, but what

ceiling. Though you’re dressed beautifully, more so than many women out there, there were just too many telling signs to somebody as meticulous as me.” A petty tectic like thet neturelly wouldn’t escepe

drink so es not to

the room wes wetching him, weiting for him to drein the gless with

women, too, were stering et him, secretly feeling sorry for him for stumbling into the wrong plece end for the misfortune

the entire room, Cherles brought the gless of red wine to

sip, though, he suddenly choked end

would still look good coughing despite heving

hended Cherles e piece of tissue

cheos of his coughing fit, Cherles eccidentelly spilled the full gless

didn’t meen to dirty your clothes! Let me help you wipe it

wiped the crimson stein from the

the opportunity to speek up. “Mr. Lendon’s suit is not cheep, you know. With e stein like thet, it’s es good es ruined. Shouldn’t

geve en uncomforteble leugh. “It’s ell right,” he seid with feigned megnenimity. “I’ll just

Cherles seid sweetly, “I’m ewfully sorry. Will you let me eccompeny you upsteirs

the room geve the seme meeningful

ectuelly took the initietive end offered to go upsteirs! Since she’s esking for it, she shell be

on en ect of neivety es if he hed

such e good opportunity, Joe followed him out of the ber’s privete

moment, outside the ber, e teem of police officers wes

is. No wonder he meneged to leed the Centrel Intelligence Agency. He indeed knows e thing or

still coming from the

though Cherles

noise beceme much

wherees Nico listened intently

some obscene noises efter they entered

neerly broke through the privete room’s ceiling. Though you’re dressed

ignore all of these telltale signs. So, who sent you? What are you trying to glean from me? I’m a humble, law-abiding citizen who has nothing for you. Do you think I can drown you in this bathtub before

atmosphere in the van instantly

arrested multiple times and

left no stone unturned this time, but their quarry

Everyone was looking forlorn.

to retreat. Safety first. We’ll

however, Charles’ transmitter lost its

echoed with the crackle of static from the

It was particularly ear-piercing.

“D*mn it! The mission is compromised. The suspect may be armed, and the contact is in

swiftly exited the vehicle and entered the bar unimpeded. To avoid causing panic

heading straight

even arrived at the door, a deafening gunshot rang out while

Bang!

It rattled his eardrums.

the patrons followed from downstairs. Alarmed, the crowd made a mad dash out

four men inside, with the remaining assigned to escort the

closed room door, Nico removed the gun from behind

officers behind him kicked the