Standing before Love

Tony arched an eyebrow, his face devoid of emotion as usual, but when his gaze fell on the top of the woman’s soft head below him, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. At this moment, he leaned forward with his right hand on the poker table, his entire person seemingly engulfing Myra in his embrace.

Meanwhile, the three men at the side wore a tacit smile. We now know why he wasn’t in a hurry to go back and work overtime today. It turns out that the catch is here. He knew that she’s going to come over, didn’t he? And why didn’t he have a drink any other time but right when she was about to leave? Plus, he could’ve just taken a drink, yet he just had to use his injured hand. Wasn’t it obvious that he wanted her to stay? The three of them truly couldn’t stand seeing his desperation, so they gave him a hand.

The atmosphere at the poker table was undoubtedly peaceful, but Myra gradually felt perturbed. I don’t know whether Tony Hart is doing this intentionally, but he said he’ll let me play by myself and get a feel of things, but every time I want to flip open a card, he’ll suddenly stop me and open another card. This is no big deal, but our hands always brush together inadvertently.

“You’ve just drawn this card, so don’t open it so hastily. Wait and see what card Elliot opens later.” She was just about to flip open the card she’d just drawn earlier, but Tony stopped her. As he took the card from her, his fingers gently brushed across her hand. He’s manipulating my hand so casually that I feel as though I’m quickly losing possession of it.

When his hand again half-wrapped around hers, Myra abruptly pushed her chair back and got to her feet. “How about you take over, Director Hart? I really don’t know how to play,” she said to Tony. Her face was as red as an overly ripe tomato and stained with a trace of irritation.

Seemingly rather surprised, Tony raised an eyebrow and looked at her placidly. “It’s okay. Just play a few more rounds, and you’ll be fine.” Just after his words fell, his cell phone seemingly vibrated. Holding his cell phone, he greeted the person on the other end before patting her on the shoulder. Then, he spun around and walked out.

At the sight of his hypocritical demeanor, the three men doubled over in laughter inwardly though they outwardly maintained a nonchalant expression and urged Myra to sit back down.

As Myra looked at their innocent expressions, she was all the more regretful for staying and helping Tony draw cards. I must have had a loose screw earlier!

When Tony had exited the private room, his smiling countenance gradually darkened significantly, and he merely murmured apathetically, “Come over.” Then, he hung up the phone right away. Taking out a cigarette, he lit it in the corridor itself.

Without Tony by her side, Myra was much more relaxed. However, with no one to guide her, she quickly messed up after the three veterans railroaded her. Tony had won a lot of chips earlier, but Myra lost them all when he went out to take a phone call.

Upon seeing that he’d gotten a full house, Elliot happily extended a hand for chips. Myra embarrassingly glanced at the small drawer beside her, only to see that it was… already empty.

At this time, someone pushed open the private room door. Never had Myra been so hard-pressed to see Tony. When she looked over her shoulder and saw that it was Tony walking in, even she herself didn’t realize that her eyes abruptly lit up, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

The moment Tony glimpsed her expression upon entering the room, the corners of his mouth instinctively curved upward, and he strode over to her in a few strides. “What’s wrong?”

This time, Myra stood up without the slightest hesitation. “I don’t want to play anymore, so you should play instead. I… don’t quite know how to play.” There was a faint blush on her face even as she shyly tucked the few strands of hair that fell to her forehead to the back of her creamy ear. If I play with my own money, it’s fine if I lose, but losing other people’s money—especially his—feels rather disturbing.

At this, Tony placidly swept a gaze over the small drawer before her. Understanding instantly dawned, upon which a glimmer of mirth flashed across his eyes.

Elliot who was at the side naturally wouldn’t squander this golden opportunity to win Tony’s money. “Just rest assured and play dauntlessly, Miss Stark. Tony won’t miss such a pittance!”

Myra’s flush deepened, and she waved a dismissive hand profusely in mortification. “T… That’s okay. I have to work tomorrow, so I’ve got to go home now.” After saying that, she slipped behind Tony, not realizing that her action resembled that of a demure little woman.

Casting a look at Elliot who was eagerly awaiting more money, Tony suddenly dipped his head and glanced at his watch. Then, he frowned. “It’s indeed quite late.” When his words fell, everyone knew that he meant it as a dismissal.

Elliot was on a winning streak, so he was a tad disgruntled. Unexpectedly, Lucas who was beside him kicked him hard under the table, so he hastily zipped his mouth at the bolt of pain.

“You should indeed go back and rest earlier today since you’re injured, Tony. We’re still planning to go for karaoke and a few drinks after this, so Miss Stark, do you mind dropping him off on your way home?” Lucas asked. As soon as he said this, the other two men understood at once, and they nodded profusely as well.

Myra had already made to leave after taking her bag, but she could only turn back helplessly upon hearing his question.

At this moment, Tony was pretending to take his wallet out to pay for the chips he’d lost earlier, but Elliot then smugly declared, “Philip and Lucas neither won nor lost today, while I just happened to win your chips just now, Tony. However, Miss Stark forgot to give me my winnings for the last round. It’s just the right amount, so your villa in the southern part should be mine, no?”

Myra belonged to the elite class as well, so she knew full well the worth of their chips in a night despite having been out of touch for a long time. Nevertheless, a sliver of guilt still slithered into her when she heard that, and she blushed up to her ears.

“As you like,” Tony murmured placidly at this time as though he wasn’t at all bothered.

Thus, Myra initially wanted to decline, but she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

Upon seeing this, Elliot snickered and walked out. “I’ll accompany you to your car, Miss Stark. Zion Club is too dangerous at night.”

At this precise moment, a black Lamborghini came to a stop in front of Zion Club, a sharp screech splitting the air. As soon as the car stopped, a man climbed out from inside, his expression grim and his thin lips tightly pressed together. A near distance away, a woman in a pale pink dress waved at him. “Here, Sean!”

Stalking over to the woman in a few strides, Sean demanded with narrowed eyes, “Was everything you said on the phone earlier true?” The night sky out there was stunning, but as the neon lights reflected in his eyes, they were pools of gloom.

Lyla couldn’t help shivering at the sight even as a glimmer of something flittered across her eyes. In no time, she nodded hesitantly. “I think I got the right person. I went in for dinner with a few people in charge of the concert, and I saw Myra. She was holding a man’s jacket and went into VIP Room A.”

Upon hearing that, Sean’s eyes turned even colder. After all, all elites in Bradfort City were aware that VIP Room A was Elliot’s personal private room in Zion Club, and no outsiders were allowed in.

“I don’t know whether I should tell you this…” Lyla glanced at him, hesitating as she spoke. When she saw that he didn’t stop her, she bit her lip and admitted softly, “I was feeling rather restless after seeing Myra going in with a man’s suit…”