Chapter 126
Chapter 126:
“Collins. Enjoying the bachelor life?” Kieran sneered, scanning the room around him. “Where is the blushing bride p>
“I am married, Douglas,” Gaston replied, his voice carrying the particular boredom of a man who finds the conversation beneath him. “Unlike some people who simply collect engagement rings p>
Kieran flushed a deep, ugly red. “Is she here? Your… wife? Or did she finally realize you prefer the company of your assistant p>
Gaston’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “She is resting. Being Mrs. Collins is exhausting work. Much harder than being yours p>
“Or maybe she is hiding from you,” Kieran pressed, stepping closer. “Maybe she realized the contract wasn’t worth it p>
𝘙𝖾𝗮𝖽 f𝗋𝗈𝗆 у𝗼𝗎𝘳 р𝘩𝘰nе 𝘰𝘯
The air between them dropped ten degrees. Gaston’s smile vanished. He stepped into Kieran’s space, towering over him.
“Careful, Kieran,” he said, his voice dropping to something low and lethal. “You are standing on a trapdoor p>
Kieran laughed — nervous beneath the arrogance. “I am not afraid of a rumor p>
Gaston held his gaze for a moment longer, dissecting him with a look. Then he turned his back. The ultimate dismissal.
He pulled out his phone and opened the security application linked to Jocelyn’s car — an upgrade he had insisted on after the incident at the mall. She had resisted; he had framed it as a non-negotiable protocol for the wife of a Collins. The location pin glowed steadily: Penthouse.
She was home early.
She never went home early.
Gaston’s frown deepened. He caught Vance’s eye across the room and gave a single, sharp signal toward the exit.
“We are leaving. Now p>
Before leaving, Gaston stepped out onto the balcony for a breath of air. The city lights sprawled before him — a vast grid of electricity and ambition.
Vance materialized from the shadows, tablet in hand. “Robert Schneider is trying to secure the Hudson Yards lot. He’s pushing hard p>
“Is he?” Gaston drew a silver case from his jacket pocket and lit a cigarette. It was a rare habit, one he reserved for moments of extreme annoyance.
“He needs it to leverage his loans. If he loses it, he’s insolvent,” Vance said, tapping the screen.
Gaston took a slow drag and let the smoke fill his lungs. Through the glass doors, he could see Kieran watching him, working hard to look important.
“Buy it,” Gaston said.
“Sir, it’s overpriced by at least fifteen percent,” Vance cautioned.
“I don’t care about the price. I care about the pain. Buy it tonight. Cash offer p>
Vance nodded and began tapping furiously. “Consider it done p>
Gaston pocketed the tablet and opened his phone’s camera. He turned it toward the skyline and recorded a short video, his voice low and quiet against the ambient hum of the city.
“The city is boring without you. Hope the headache is better. — G p>
He sent it. Through the glass, he noticed Kieran lighting a cigarette of his own, his posture a studied imitation.
Gaston looked at the cigarette between his own fingers and stubbed it out against the stone railing. “Disgusting habit p>