Chapter 72


    Chapter 72


    whistled in disbelief, “Catch heat for making a payment on time? Mr. Richardson is a tough cookie.”


    Curtis’ sour mood carried over into the evening’s dinner party.


    The big boss from Blue Beacon Collective, Albert, was throwing a grand dinner in his honor,ying it on


    thick with ttery, but Curtis was barely present.


    Heined that the hotel’s custom French perfume was too fragrant, dredging up some unpleasant


    memories.


    He griped that the lobster was giving him the stink eye as if holding a grudge?


    Albert suspected Curtis was nitpicking on purpose, a tit-for-tat for that time Albert tried to use his


    connections to cozy up to some big shot.


    “Mr. Richardson,” he said with a stered-on smile, “Are you still holding a grudge about. ourst little


    mishap? I admit I was shortsighted. But look at this partnership now. It’s smooth sailing and a win-win.


    Let’s let bygones be bygones, shall we?”


    Curtis, legs crossed, leaned back in his chair with an air of nonchnce,zily tapped the ash off his


    cigarette, “Me? Hold grudges? I wouldn’t dare.”


    Albert was met with silence.


    Sarcasm was thick in the air.


    Someone at the table wanted to ease the atmosphere and asked curiously, “Why didn’t you bring your


    wife here today, Mr. Richardson?”


    Taking azy puff from his cigarette, Curtis snorted, “She’s mad at me. I wouldn’t dare chat her u


    Qui


    the other person chuckled, “Never thought I’d see the day Mr. Curtis


    in, “Being henpecked isn’t bad, you know. Haven’t you heard? The more a nis wife, the better his


    fortune. Listening to the wife leads to prosperity.”


    just curled his lip, unresponsive.


    hone rang just then.


    tis answered with anguid, “What’s up? To what do I owe the pleasure?”


    was Phillip on the line, concise as ever, “I’m at the bar and I’ve spotted Leanne. Where are you? Come


    pick her up.”


    Curtis remained indifferent as he tapped his cigarette on the crystal ashtray’s edge.


    Chapter /2


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    “She’s been to bars before, more worked up about it than I am?”


    Phillip didn’t waste words and just gave Curtis the address with the authority, “Aken Bar. Get here now.”


    After a pause, he added, “She doesn’t look right, sitting there crying all by herself.”


    There was silence on the other end for a few seconds before the line went dead.


    Phillip had been out with friends when he walked into the bar and saw Leanne, sitting alone, drowning


    her sorrows in drink.


    Leanne was always a quiet one, even her way of drinking was subdued. Sitting there. silently, she


    clutched a bottle of beer, tilting her delicate, pale neck to drink.


    “Isn’t that Curtis’ wife?” his friend remarked.


    Phillip just grunted in acknowledgment.


    His friend squinted at her for a moment before noting, “Why is she over there crying all alone? Looks


    pitiful. Did Curtis give her a hard time again?”


    That was when Phillip noticed Leanne’s tears.


    She was crying so quietly without making a sound, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tipped the


    bottle back.


    A beautiful woman alone at a bar, drinking her pain away. It was bound to draw the attention of men.


    A heartbroken woman was most vulnerable, an easy conquest, especially when she was alone without


    companions. Once she’s drunk enough, whisking her away would be easy.


    Several


    ma


    yes were already sizing her up, some of them clearly itching to make a