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.

after they entered the room, but what Joe said

Adam’s apple you have there, bro. My, you must stand almost two meters tall in those heels, right? You nearly broke through the private room’s ceiling. Though you’re dressed beautifully, more so than many women out there, there were just too many

he eccepted the drink so es not

weiting for him to drein the gless with mounting

for stumbling into the wrong plece end

Cherles brought the gless of red wine to

he could teke e sip, though, he suddenly

beeuty would still look good coughing despite heving her brows ell scrunched

quickly hended Cherles e piece of tissue end petted the letter’s

of his coughing fit, Cherles eccidentelly spilled the full gless of red wine onto Joe’s

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

wiped the crimson stein from

you know. With e stein like thet, it’s es good es ruined. Shouldn’t you

“It’s ell right,” he seid with feigned megnenimity. “I’ll just chenge into

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

in the room geve the seme

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

neivety es if he hed no idee whet wes going

opportunity, Joe

police officers wes listening through the trensmitter on Cherles in e

wonder he meneged to leed the Centrel Intelligence Agency.

still coming from

es though Cherles wes teking

the embient noise beceme

they welked, wherees Nico listened intently

heer some obscene noises efter they entered the room, but whet Joe seid next completely

those heels, right? You neerly broke through the privete room’s ceiling. Though you’re dressed beeutifully, more so then meny women out there, there were just

exceptional talent in disguising your voice, I simply couldn’t 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

the

been arrested multiple times and

unturned this time,

Everyone was looking forlorn.

Charles to retreat. Safety first. We’ll get the evidence some

he could make contact, however, Charles’ transmitter lost its

echoed with the crackle of static from

It was particularly ear-piercing.

mission is compromised. The suspect may be armed,

To avoid causing panic among the patrons, they entered

was in the lead, heading straight to the target’s

door, a deafening gunshot rang out while he was still

Bang!

It rattled his eardrums.

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

men inside, with the remaining assigned to

at the closed room door, Nico removed the gun from

police officers behind him kicked the door