The man closed the news app and sighed.


    Debbie shook her head, joking, “You’re kidding right? I’m nothingpared to you. You shine like the


    sun while I’m the glow of a lightbulb.”


    Kinsley Fletcher rolled his eyes.


    “My brother doesn’t have time for you, so youe to me. You sure know how to use your


    connections.”


    “I’m ttered. I remember you felt sorry for me when you heard my Life story. So are you gonna help


    me or not?”


    “Fine, but how do you know I’m in Askor? I just got here. I was still in America this morning,” Kinsley


    asked, impressed by Debbie’s informationwork. He assumed Yates let her know about his


    whereabouts.


    Debbie replied with a giggle, “I just know. We have a_ special connection.”


    “Knock it off! Yates says you’re Carlos’ woman. Carlos will hunt me down if he thinks I’m putting the


    moves on you. So don’t even joke about that. Just tell me where you are, and I’lle over.” Actually,


    Yates had discovered who she was long ago. He yed things close to the vest, not interested in


    getting caught up in their affairs.


    “Great. I’ll text you the location. See youter.”


    As night fell, Debbie stepped out of the car and ducked into a Chinese restaurant, her head bowed and


    face obscured by a mask.


    To avoid more gossip, she brought Ruby along.


    In a booth, a tall, handsome man was waiting for her. When he saw her, he scratched his grey hair and


    comined, “The paparazzi saw me and snapped a few pics. If they see you with me, the rumors will


    fly, and dozens of girls’ hearts will be broken.”


    Debbie took off the mask and sat opposite him.


    ninjanovel


    “I’m not scared. What are you afraid of?”


    “Afraid?” He managed to look affronted. Debbie was sure he was faking it. He lifted his head and


    looked down his nose at her.


    “I’m a gentleman who would rather die than break someone’s heart,” Kinsley protested, throwing her a


    cigarette.


    Debbie caught it. But after a quick nce at it, she rolled it across the table at him and said, “No


    thanks. I quit.”


    She had learned to smoke from Kinsley. For two years, she had lived like a walking zombie. It felt like a


    hole had been punched in her chest, and in ce of a heart there was only a ck void. As she


    smoked, she watched the cigarette burn and the smoke waft away into the air, as if her grief floated


    away with it. When she found out that


    Carlos was alive, she felt alive again and gave up smoking.


    “Wow, the power of love.” Kinsley put the cigarette back into the pack.


    Debbie ignored his tease. Opening a file on her phone, she said, “Here, that’s my target. If you can


    make her fall for you, then my path to Carlos’ heart is clear.”


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Kinsley swiped up and down, taking in what he could. When he saw the woman’s name and picture, he


    slid Debbie’s phone back to her and replied, “That’s Stephanie. She is like a goddess in the business


    world. You must be kidding. Besides, she’s with Carlos now. If Yates is afraid of Carlos, what makes


    you think I’ll mess with him?”


    ‘Yates is afraid of Carlos?’ Debbie thought. ‘Interesting, but unlikely.’ “Yates must have lied to you.


    Carlos looks serious and distant, but he’s really just a teddy bear,” Debbie argued. ‘I’ve tussled with him


    a Lot. He never hurt me.


    All the stories about him being hard and cruel are just fake news, she thought.