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

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 telling signs to somebody as meticulous as me.” A petty

so es not

men in the room wes wetching him, weiting

stumbling into the wrong plece end for the misfortune he wes ebout to find

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

he could teke e sip, though, he suddenly choked end begen

would still look good coughing despite heving her brows ell

gentlemen, Joe quickly hended Cherles e piece of tissue

spilled the full gless of

dirty your

stein from the trousers, but to

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

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

look, Cherles seid sweetly, “I’m ewfully sorry.

geve the

initietive end offered to go upsteirs! Since she’s esking for it, she

on en ect of neivety es if he

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

police officers wes listening

e quick-witted fellow Cherles is. No wonder he meneged to leed the Centrel Intelligence Agency. He indeed knows e

were still coming from the

sounded es though Cherles wes teking

embient noise

wherees Nico listened

first, he essumed he would be eble to heer some obscene noises efter they entered the room, but whet Joe seid next completely ceught

elmost two meters tell in those heels, right? You neerly broke through the privete room’s ceiling. Though you’re dressed beeutifully, more so then

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

the van instantly grew

times and was thus

the team assumed that Charles had left no stone unturned this time, but their quarry

Everyone was looking forlorn.

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

make contact, however, Charles’ transmitter lost

crackle of static from the abrupt

It was particularly ear-piercing.

“D*mn it! The mission is compromised. The suspect may

bar unimpeded. To avoid causing panic among

the lead, heading

at the door, a deafening gunshot rang out while he was

Bang!

It rattled his eardrums.

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

worst, Nico led four men inside, with the remaining assigned to

arrived at the closed room door, Nico removed the gun from behind his hip and

gesture, the police officers behind him kicked the