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Dylan’s stern expression softens, and he nods in reluctant agreement. “It’s your call.”
I narrow my eyes at him, instantly suspicious, and cross my arms. “That was too easy,” I accuse. “You’re planning on coming along anyhow, aren’t you?”
“I’ll just say this. Stay alert. If anything feels off, you call me immediately. No heroics.”
I place a hand on his arm. “If you’re going to go regardless of what I say…” I pause, but his lips slightly curl at the corner, and I roll my eyes. “Fine. You can come. That’s probably smarter anyhow. Now, let’s prepare for what might lie ahead.”
With that, we delve into strategizing for the impending meeting with Damian Blackthorn, a man whose every move carries the weight of shadows and secrets. The Black Lotus becomes a haven for plotting our course through the intricate web of power and danger that surrounds us.
Only a few minutes into our discussion, the curtain of my alcove is drawn back.
“Dominic!” I beam at him. It’s not often that my brother shows up here.
“Vanessa.” He eyes Dylan and nods to him. “Seems like you two are in the middle of a serious discussion.”
“Eavesdropping on us?” Dylan asks with a smirk.
Dominic makes a face and shakes his head. “Making sure I wouldn’t be interrupting something that would require me to get out eye bleach.”
Dylan laughs uproariously, but I just finish off the last of my whiskey.
“What brings you here?” I ask Dominic.
My brother grins. “Can’t I just want to see my sister for once without everything being all about work?”
“Of course!”
“But that look on your face and that discussion… we have to talk work, don’t we?” he asks.
I groan. “Ah… yes.”
“What’s going on?”
“I’m going to have Dylan accompany me to a meeting with Damian,” I explain, gauging his reaction.
“A meeting with Damian,” Dominic repeats slowly. His gaze flickers between Dylan and me, assessing the dynamics at play. “We don’t know what Damian is capable of, and we need to be prepared for anything.”
“Exactly why I need to be there beside Vanessa,” Dylan says.
Dominic slowly nods. “I think that it makes sense to have both a visible and hidden presence.”
I smile. I always planned on talking to my brother before the meeting to get his input. He always adds a layer of calculated precision to our plans.
Dylan nods. “Visible and hidden… I like that idea.”
Dominic grins. “I’ll stay in the shadows, keeping an eye on things without being noticed. If anything goes south, I’ll be ready to intervene.”
“Perfect,” I affirm, grateful for the solid support of my brother and Dylan. “This meeting could be a turning point, for better or worse, and I want to make sure we’re one step ahead.”
With our roles defined and strategies in place, we disperse, each tasked with preparations for the encounter with Damian Blackthorn. The chessboard of power and deceit is set, and I brace myself for the next move in this intricate game.
CHAPTER 4
The next day, all I do is try to determine what to say to Damian if the meeting goes this way or that. Being prepared is the only way for me to get the most out of this meeting, and I certainly don’t intend to be walked over.
Whatever happens, it won’t be one-sided. I’m not just a young woman he can try to work over. I’m twenty-eight, not a teenager. I’ve been around the block, and I have more value for myself than to just lie down flat on my back and spread my legs to get ahead. I have a very active love life, thank you very much, but that’s because I want to. I know there are some women in positions of high power who will use their womanhood to their advantage, and what works for them is fine and good, but as for me, I refuse. Damian already wanted a peep show, and I refused that too, so hopefully, he knows and understands that I have boundaries that he will have to respect. If not, I’ll deal with it like I did then.
As the night descends, casting shadows over the city, I find myself standing outside Valentino’s Delight, a restaurant known for its discreet ambiance and exclusive clientele. The dim glow of the neon sign flickers, adding an air of mystery to the meeting that awaits me within.
