Chapter 137
Behind the long table was a row of black couches. Several people were sitting there, and they were clearly the ones with real authority in the room.
The man seated in the center looked refined and polished. He smiled faintly. “This deal only came together because of him p>
“Soon the entire Xander family will be his to run. If he cannot even handle something this small, then what business does he have working with us p>
“The Xanders…” Winter murmured under her breath.
Behind her mask, she bit down on her lower lip. Her hands never faltered as she kept setting out the
bottles.
Then, all of a sudden, someone grabbed her by the arm.
Her heart gave a violent jump.
A sharp voice snapped in her ear, “Move it. You hear me p>
“Yes, sir. I’m almost done p>
Winter moved faster. After she finished setting out all the bottles, she pushed the cart around, turned, and headed for the door.
Someone was walking toward her, so she shifted the cart slightly to the side. Without letting anything show on her face, she used the moment to capture the remaining blind spots in the room.
Then she pulled open the door and walked out.
The moment the door shut behind her, she had no idea that the polished man on the black couch had just made a hand signal to the bodyguard and said calmly, “Bring her back p>
Winter pushed the cart faster as she moved down the hall.
All she could hear were her own footsteps. Then suddenly, music spilled out behind her and disappeared just as quickly.
That meant the door to the private room had opened and closed again.
Winter instinctively looked up at the wall across from her. There was a reflective panel there, and in it she saw two figures in black heading straight toward her.
Anyone bold enough to run this kind of operation would be extremely cautious and sharp.
She couldn’t be sure whether she had slipped up in front of people like that, but if someone was following her, it could only mean trouble.
The footsteps behind her were getting faster.
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They were not heading for the elevator. The other end of the hall led to the restrooms, but the private suite already had two bathrooms inside. There was no reason for them to come out here.
That could only mean one thing.
She had been exposed.
Winter didn’t hesitate for a second. She let go of the cart and ran.
The two men immediately took off after her. Zion, who had been staying hidden nearby, stepped in to block them. He moved fast, and they were completely caught off guard.
Winter ran toward the stairwell, but suddenly slammed into a hard chest.
She instinctively looked up, but before she could see who it was, a hand pressed against the back of her head and pinned her to his chest.
At that distance, a faint cedar scent drifted into her nose. Her body shuddered. Before her mind could react, her hands moved on instinct, trying to push him away.
But the hand holding the back of her head was like a steel clamp. She couldn’t budge it at all.
“Chris, let go of me p>
More footsteps were rushing closer from the far end of the hall, and Winter’s expression changed. Chris lowered his eyes and glanced at the woman in his arms. Her brows were tightly drawn, but her gaze was steady and determined. His dark eyes were so deep they seemed to swallow all light.
Then he lifted his other hand.
He removed the tiny camera hidden in her button.
Then he reached higher and took the recorder out of her hair.
Winter watched helplessly as both devices were dropped into the drain beneath the sink outside the
restroom.
Her heart sank.
With one arm still holding her in place, Chris covered the part of her face the mask didn’t hide with his broad hand, shielding it completely.
Then he looked up at the men who had caught up to them and let out a cold, unreadable laugh.
“You’ve got some nerve, pulling this on my turf p>
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Florence
A passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.