Chapter 269
Upon seeing the message, Kingsley immediately called Lucy.
At the time, Lucy was deeply focused on drafting a design. Without checking the caller ID, she casually answered, assuming it was just a routine update from the casino manager.
“What is it?” she answered, her tone slightly distracted.
“It’s me. Kingsley. I wanted to discuss something. Keep Susan Talmadge detained at your place. I’ll cover all the expenses, but don’t let her leave until she pays the debt out of her own pocket.”
Kingsley’s smooth, surprisingly pleasant voice flowed through the receiver.
Lucy remained strictly business. “Fine. But I’m charging you a daily holding fee, and if anything happens to her while she’s here, I’m not liable.”
Kingsley gave a low murmur of agreement. “Deal. You can keep whatever she pays, and I’ll wire you an additional sum for the trouble. If anything goes south, it’s on me.”
“Perfect.” Without waiting for him to say another word, Lucy hung up.
Her fingers barely paused before returning to the keyboard, her focus seamlessly shifting back to her designs.
Down in one of the casino’s basement rooms, Susan Talmadge sat rigidly in a chair. Her clothes were impeccable, and her makeup was flawlessly applied. She didn’t look the least bit distressed.
She stood up, marched over to the door, and demanded loudly, “Have you contacted Kingsley Sherwood yet?”
The guard’s voice echoed through the heavy door, dripping with impatience. “We did. But he said you need to pay for it yourself. Told us you’ve got plenty of cash! You aren’t stepping foot outside this room until that debt is settled.”
Susan’s expression faltered. “That’s impossible,” she said urgently. “Let me borrow your phone. I’ll call him myself.”
“Don’t you have your own phone?” the guard shot back.
A flash of indignance crossed Susan’s eyes. She softened her voice, trying to sound pitiful. “He blocked my number.”
“Right. Well, even if you did get through, it wouldn’t change a thing,” the guard replied flatly. “You want out? Pay up.”
Susan fell completely silent.
If she paid the debt with her own money, wouldn’t all her meticulous scheming be for nothing? Not to mention, she’d be out millions of dollars.
No, she had to hold her ground.
Reaffirming her resolve, she turned around, sat back in her chair, and prepared to wait them out.
She ended up waiting until the following afternoon.
Susan’s patience had completely worn thin. Thankfully, her private investigators had finally located the exact address of Kingsley’s Swiss branch.
She bolted out of her chair and snapped at the door, “Open up! I’m paying.”
True to their word, the guards immediately unlocked the door and escorted her to clear the balance.
Stepping out of the underground
casino, Susan didn’t waste a single second. She flagged down a cab and headed straight to her hotel She needed a fresh, commanding outfit.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, Susan arrived at Kingsley’s corporate office in Switzerland.
She barely made it past the lobby before the receptionist blocked her path, refusing
to let her up without an appointment.
Just then, Xavier walked in from
running errands. Spotting her
immediately he
pulled out his phone
and dialed Kingsley. “Mr. Sherwood,
Ms. Talmadge is in the lobby? Do you
want to see her?”
Kingsley’s voice was frigid. “Send her up.”
Minutes later, Kingsley sat behind
his sprawling desk, his piercing gaze locked onto Susan, who was perched on his office sofa. His voiČE dripped with sarcasm. “Did I not make myself clear last time? You
actually chased me across the globe.”