Chapter 470
Keith punched in another number on his phone, the firmness in his voice unmistakable, "I''m heading to Pinehurst tomorrow. Make the arrangements.”
He was determined to deliver the cash to Darlene in person!
And he needed to catch up with Lucinda, see if she had any savvy tips up her sleeve for coaxing Darlene into revealing a bit more than she intended.
Now more than ever, Keith trusted Lucinda''s judgment.
Her intuition was spot on.
Not to mention her predictions!
It was almost a shame she wasn''t reading fortunes under some bridge in the city.
Darlene’s unexpected visit had robbed Keith of a full night''s sleep; four hours was all he managed before dawn crept in.
Short as his slumber was, Keith woke up feeling refreshed and energized, his mood buoyant.
First thing, he dialed Lucinda''s number.
To let her know he''d be visiting today.
Lucinda’s delight was palpable through the phone, though tinged with confusion, “Keith, weren''t you nning oning over for Tiffany''s wedding?
Why the sudden drop-by on a Monday?”
She was going to hand in her resignation at thepany today.
After Tiffany''s wedding, she nned to move back to Skywatch
Post-resignation, her time would be devoted to preparing for Liam and Tiffany''s wedding.
"What, not happy to see me? Or perhaps you''re worried I''ll be a third wheel, cramping your style with Stefan?”
Keith teased.
Watching his sister and her husband all lovey-dovey always left him feeling like he was being force-fed a diet of romance.
Sometimes it even made him consider looking for love.
All thanks to the lovebirds, his sister and brother-inw.
"Keith, what are you talking about? You''re my brother, my flesh and blood, just as important to me as Stefan. Of course, I''d want to spend time with
you first. Out with it, why are you reallying over? I don’t buy for a second it''s just because you missed me."
“Your words make me sound like a heartless brother,” he said with mock indignation. "Last night, well, more like one in the morning today, my
lifesaver paid me a visit."Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Lucinda was instantly intrigued, "So, did you finally see her face? Was it Darlene? How did you thank your lifesaver? Any chance you offered yourself
in return? I have two brothers, and the elder one''s all settled. You''re the only bachelor left. Keith. If it turns out to be Darlene, you should shamelessly
offer yourself to her."
"The debt of saving a life can certainly be paid that way.”
Keith was speechless, "Lucy, are you a matchmaker now?"
Lucinda giggled, "I''m just looking out for you. Mom and Dad aren''t pestering you about marriage, so it falls to me to take up the mantle. Even though
you''re ten minutes older, I''m married; I''ve been through it. I know the ropes."
Keith was speechless.
Most people got the marriage nudge from their elders, but Keith got it from his little sister.
"I didn''t get to see her real face, so I can''t be sure it was Ms. Darlene," Keith confessed, "She wasn''t willing to reveal her identity, and I didn''t want to
press her. But when I spoke to her up close, I caught a scent I recognized. Next time I see Ms. Darlene. I''ll know for sure."
"It seems you''re quite taken with her, breaking your own ‘three-meter rule’ just for her," Lucinda teased.
She knew it. Her brother was an amazing catch, and she was certain that once the right moment came, the no-women-within-three-meters rule would
shatter.
Keith said, “I''d actually forgotten about that.”
Lucindaughed heartily over the phone.
Keith was a tad frustrated.
When he saw the masked woman in his room, his only thought was relief. He had people scouring everywhere for her, and here she was, showing up
on her own ord. In his excitement, he''dpletely forgotten his rule about women not getting too close.
And not only had he forgotten, but he had also intentionally closed in on the masked woman.
"Though I didn''t see her face, I''m about eighty percent sure she''s Ms. Darlene."
He was testing the waters.
She hade to him with a clear purpose: to have him cancel his contract with Cipher Detectives and get his deposit back.
That way, she wouldn''t be put in an awkward position.
Cipher Detectives was her operation.
If it weren''t for his sister ying matchmaker and sowing seeds of doubt, Keith would never have linked Darlene to the shadowy owner of Cipher
Detectives.
When Keith thought of Darlene''s agility and sharp wit, his lips curled into a smile. She was shrouded in mystery.
And he, he was eager to unravel her secrets, oneyer at a time.
‘I knew it was Darlene. And you were
so sure it wast. Now you''re having
doubts, huh?’So, what''s your n?
You sureryou'' re not going to x
stubboraly offer yourself to her?
Speaking of which, you could. learna
thing? or two from Owen. He-had the
nerve to chase after Cecil, no holds
barred.”
Learn from Owen?
Well, he could do that.
No, that’s not right. He wasn''t aiming to woo anyone, so why adopt Owen''s tactics?
He simply admired the masked woman, nothing more.
"Lucy, are you that eager to get rid of me? Pushing me out the door like I''m some bachelor on clearance!”
Lucindaughed, "Keith, I just feel for you. It''s lonely being on your own, no one to care for you. If you found someone, I''d worry less."
“Alright, enough teasing. Tell me, what else happened between you and Darlene?"
Keith sighed, "What could have happened? Lucy. the way you put it, I sound like some kind of predator.”
"Keith, that''s your mind twisting things, not my words."
Keith was speechless.
He couldn''t cuttalk his sister.
After all, she was a writer, a wordsmith. And wordsmiths were formidable; they could y without a de.
"She asked me to cancel the contract with Cipher Detectives and take back the deposit. to use it as a reward for saving me.”
"That''s it?"
"What else were you expecting?”
Lucinda sounded almost disappointed, "Bro, couldn''t you have chatted her up a bit more? Besides, she saved your life. Doesn''t it seem a bit cheap to
repay her with just a few hundred thousand?”
"Did you transfer the money to her?”
Keith grumbled, "No. she wouldn''t give me her ount details, probably afraid I''d trace her real identity. She insisted on cash, the nerve!”
"A few grand in cash? Come on,
Keith, that''s chump change. If you''re
seriously gonna make it rain for her,
you needton go big. I''m talking =
mi lions. 4magine rolling up with a
coupleof hefty leather suitcases,
bu sting at the seams, just dragging
them over to her doorstep. ‘Bet she''d
come zooming over on Ker
motorcycle just like she did when
she saved your hide that one time.”
"Thing is, she won''t be able to lug all
that dough ayherself, and it''s not
exactly safe, right? That''s your
golden ti titket, Keith. You offer her
lift, andno matter where she asks
yous. drop her off, it''s a cluena way
toarrow down our search* ?
?N
Both Keith and Lucinda were pretty convinced that the maskeddy was none other than Darlene, although without seeing her true face, they still had
their werk cut out for them
They needed hard evidence, a glimpse behind the mask that confirmed it was Darlene, before they could start piecing the puzzle together.
Keith was dumbfounded, taking a moment before he sighed, "Lucy, you''re something else. Good thing you''re not a guy. If you were, I bet you''d have
a trail of broken hearts behind you.”
"Just trying to market you, you know? I''m pulling out all the stops, brainstorming day and night on how tond you a sister-inw.”
Keith was on the verge of hanging up again.