Chapter 17 Play Along And Name Your Price
Chapter 17 Play Along And Name Your Price
Jonathan’s gaze turned icy as his fingers lightly brushed over Annabel’s delicate wrist. His lips curled in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “So… what’s your relationship with that kid you were with?” he asked.
Annabel tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. Her expression darkened. ” Whatever it is, it’s none of your business,” she said coolly.
Then her eyes narrowed. “Let go.”
“Cold as ever,” Jonathan muttered, voice laced with mockery. “You slept with me, took my token of affection, and now you treat me like this?”
He leaned in, drawing in the faint, cool fragrance lingering on her body.
Annabel frowned. “Token of affection?”
“The handkerchief,” Jonathan said with a smirk.
Annabel’s face fell. That cheap piece of cloth? And he had the nerve to call it a token of affection? She couldn’t help but think to herself.
“How much do you want?” she said, pulling the handkerchief from her purse and throwing it at Jonathan. Then, she pulled out her phone and opened her online banking account. “Name your price.”
Jonathan’s face darkened at her sharp, transactional tone. He let out a low hum.” Three hundred billion,” he said, then added with a dark glint in his eyes, “Or…”
He wrapped his other arm around her slender waist, pressing her firmly against his chest. “Just give yourself to me as a gift,” he said, voice dropped to a low, husky whisper.
Annabel’s brows drew together in a tight frown, her eyes turning colder by the second. When he still refused to let go, she raised her hand to slap him across the face.
But before it landed, Jonathan caught her wrist mid–air. “Fiery little thing, aren’t you?” he said, cocking a brow. “Always so quick to throw hands.”
Annabel glared at him, eyes blazing, then stomped hard on his foot.
“Ouch!”
Jonathan sucked in a breath, surprise flashing across his face at the sheer force behind that step.
Annabel took advantage of the moment and shoved him aside, turning on her heel to
run.
Watching her retreating figure with
Successfully unlocked!
u spivuuny
he said to himself. “You’ve got fight.
yy across Jonathan’s face. “Not bad,” Let’s see if you get this lucky next time.”
1/4
Chapter 17 Play Along And Name Your
Price
Annabel made her way to the CEO’s office and slammed down sixty million, sealing the acquisition of Aether Studios on the spot.
By the time Charles rushed over, she and Mason had already signed the contract and left.
Not only had he lost the deal, but Charles was also rudely blocked by a security guard
at the front desk.
“Sorry, new orders from the CEO. Anyone named Charles Shaw is not allowed to set foot in this company,” the guard said flatly.
Charles was stunned. “New CEO?” he snapped. “I haven’t even spoken with your execs yet! Who’s this new CEO?”
The guard remained impassive. “No comment. Please leave.”
Standing at the entrance with his lawyer, Charles looked like he’d swallowed a whole. lemon. Who stabbed him in the back this time? He pondered, almost furious.
Just then, his phone rang. He picked up with a scowl, only to hear a soft, syrupy voice on the other end.
“Charles,” it’s Lillian’s voice. “Today’s the day I booked at La Table Royale. Come with me, okay?”
Despite the sting of losing a major deal, the thought of Lillian’s soft curves made his tone soften. “Yeah, sure,” he replied.
La Table Royale, the most exclusive restaurant in Frostville–only twenty tables served per day, and reservations were booked through the following year.
But Annabel and Mason had walked in on a whim and somehow landed the best table
in the house.
As they sat down, Annabel tossed a folder in front of Mason. “Get familiar with this,”
she commanded. “You start at Aether Studios tomorrow.”
“Annabel!” Mason whined, eyes wide. “You’re working me to death! I’m human too, you know. Can’t I get a few days off first?”
He scooted closer with a shameless puppy–dog look.
“Get lost.” Annabel shoved his head away without missing a beat.
At a nearby table, Jonathan couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he didn’t miss the playful back–and–forth. His jaw clenched, lips pressed into a thin line.
Leonard, sitting next to him, suddenly felt a chill. Following Jonathan’s gaze,
he
spotted Annabel leaning in close with a man he didn’t recognize.
Whoa. He thought. Since when did Annabel pick up a new boy toy?
Annabel and Mason both noticed the intense stare and quickly scanned the room.
Chapter 17 Play Along And Name Your Price
She only recognized three faces: the arrogant Jonathan himself, her pet Leonard, and the stunning woman who had been with Jonathan in the hospital parking lot.
Annabel shot Jonathan a cold warning glance, then turned away.
Mason, however, smirked. “Well, well,” he mocked. “The Sherman family’s graced Frostville with their presence, and even Mr. Mayer is here… Should we go say hi, Annabel?”
Annabel followed his gaze. Just then, her eyes met Celia’s.
She didn’t recognize the woman and looked away without much thought. “No need, not for now,” she replied calmly.
But from Celia’s perspective, she saw a woman who had just captured Jonathan’s full attention a quiet beauty with an elegance that stirred envy.
Her fingers tightened around her fork as she asked tentatively, “Mr. Turner, do you know that woman? I think the man with her is from the Cole family.”
Jonathan didn’t answer. When Annabel stood up, he rose too.
Annabel was headed for the restroom but stopped short when she saw a man and woman by the decorative screen–Lillian clinging to Charles’s arm, giggling like a
schoolgirl.
Charles leaned in, whispering into her ear, the two looking all kinds of intimate. It made Annabel’s stomach turn.
She snapped a few photos on her phone and turned around, ready to tell Mason that this high–end place was letting in all kinds of riffraff these days. But she didn’t expect to walk straight into someone’s chest.
“You-” she blurted, startled. Before she could say anything else, her eyes flicked over her shoulder.
Sure enough, Lillian and Charles had noticed the commotion and ducked behind the screen, sneaky as thieves.
A glint of mischief flashed in Annabel’s eyes. She suddenly stood on tiptoe and brushed her fingers against Jonathan’s face.
“You’ve got something on your cheek,” she said softly.
It wasn’t like they hadn’t been more intimate before, but Annabel’s sudden boldness still made the tips of Jonathan’s ears flush red.
He cleared his throat and glanced toward the couple hiding behind the screen. “Lousy excuse,” he muttered under his breath.
Annabel flushed, having acted on pure impulse.
She leaned in, whispered into his ear, “Play along. Name your price.”
3M
Chapter 17 Play Along And Nanie Your Price
Jonathan’s hand shot out. Before she could blink, he’d wrapped an arm around her slim waist and pulled her close.
He leaned down, brushing his lips near her ear, voice a dark purr. “Money’s not what I want.”
There was something about her scent–like fresh grass after the rain, tinged with the brightness of citrus on a summer afternoon. Jonathan inhaled deeply, as if he couldn’t get enough.
But while he seemed utterly relaxed, Annabel’s whole body went rigid. ‘This brat, she cursed silently. ‘Is he seriously trying to take advantage of me right now?”
“You’re crossing the line,” she hissed, grinding her teeth and pressing her hands hard against his chest to push him away.
But the man didn’t budge. In fact, he was leaning down for something more.
2 Likes
