Chapter 167
Chapter 167:
Inside the club, the walls were adorned with professional dartboards and all the necessary accouterments, catching Rylan’s eye immediately. His excitement was evident, for he was no amateur at darts; his skill was nearly professional.
Eager to show off his skills, Rylan suggested, “Mr. Russell, shall we play a round?” Alden hadn’t even opened his mouth when Dorian, clearly itching to stir up some mischief, jumped in with a sly grin. “Where’s the thrill in a casual game? If we’re doing this, let’s put some skin in it and make it count p>
He turned to Alden with a sly look. “How about a real bet, Covey? If Mr. Wilson wins, you reduce our contract price by three percent, and you’ll remove your mask right here p>
“Absolutely!” Rylan interjected, seizing the challenge before Alden could negotiate any terms. His confidence was sky-high; defeat was not in his vocabulary.
Alden observed Rylan’s eager expression and chuckled softly, dismissive yet intrigued. “Very well,” he said, maintaining his cool demeanor.
And just like that, Rylan and Alden began to prepare themselves, while the air around them buzzed with a tension that hinted something big was coming. Helena’s attention was on Covey as he meticulously chose his darts and fine-tuned the dartboard. Even behind the mask, his commanding presence was undeniable.
Something about his sharp concentration brought Alden to Helena’s mind. She recalled how skilled he was whenever he stood in front of the dartboard, effortlessly hitting his mark. The thought of him stirred something deep within her, a sudden and powerful pull she couldn’t ignore.
The resemblances between Alden and Covey were striking, yet their lives were so markedly different. Feeling a surge of empathy for Alden, she longed to reach out to him at that very moment.
Helena bent toward Dorian and quietly told him she needed to step out for a quick call, then made her way toward the door without drawing attention.
But right as she reached the threshold, Betsey’s icy tone sliced through the air like a blade. “Would it kill you to think about the team for once? You’re representing Nexus TV, and your job tonight is to cover some major players. But instead, you’re walking off to deal with something personal. Doesn’t it cross your mind that this might make the network look bad p>
“If I step out, that just leaves the spotlight wide open for you. You clearly can’t get enough of it, so why pretend otherwise p>
Helena felt a deep sorrow for Alden, weighing heavily on her spirits. Without hesitation, she countered Betsey’s comment sharply.
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Taken aback, Betsey could only offer Helena a stern look, her jaws locked tight, unable to muster a quick reply.
With a brief glance at Betsey, Helena walked out with an air of determination.
Parked right at the club’s entrance was Covey’s extravagant Rolls-Royce—a custom, extended model not merely purchased but ordered directly from the company after proving his financial standing.
Catching sight of the car, Helena couldn’t help but reminisce about Alden’s old, worn-out Chevrolet, stirring a tinge of sadness within her as she hurriedly made the call to Alden.
Oddly enough, he didn’t pick up despite several attempts, which only heightened her concern. However, Helena knew she couldn’t linger outside for long, so she returned to the club.
Upon her return, the dart match was reaching its climax, the final round poised to determine the winner.
Since she was unaware of the current standings, Dorian updated her, explaining, “Rylan is slightly ahead. For Covey to win, he needs a perfect ten in this round p>
Helena, distracted by her worries for Alden, nodded absentmindedly, her focus elsewhere.
Betsey, eager to disrupt Dorian and Helena’s conversation, interjected with a charming smile, “Mr. Morrison, who’s your pick in this match p>
Ignoring Betsey, Dorian turned to Helena and asked, “Ms. Ellis, any thoughts p>
“Me?” Helena asked. “Honestly, I don’t really care who wins p>
Initially, Helena had a favorable view of Covey. However, her opinion shifted dramatically after she learned of his marital status and recalled his previous inquiry about hers.
At this point, she genuinely didn’t favor either side. What lingered instead was a growing bitterness toward Dorian. He was well aware that Alden had placed the most importance on the Wilson Group’s development area, so why would he team up with Covey and strip Alden of something that clearly mattered so much to him?
Helena sat there seething quietly, the frustration not for herself but for Alden. That was when Dorian flashed a grin and said, “You’d better cross your fingers for Covey. Things only get interesting if he wins p>
Right as the words left his mouth, Covey let his final dart fly. Helena had convinced herself the result didn’t matter, but in that split second, her eyes locked onto the target before she could stop herself.