Chapter 114
The soft hum of the music playing below filled the private section of the bar.
Antonio sat in one of the chairs, and in his hand was a glass of whiskey as he talked with the investors seated around the low table.
Even though he was dressed in casual clothes and more relaxed as opposed to when he was at the office, his presence was still commanding, but regardless, the men were at case.
The conversation revolved around projections and strategies for the company’s latest business venture.
However, the mood wasn’t entirely formal; the relaxed setting allowed the men to lean back, watching people sway to the live music on the dance floor.
“I must say, Antonio,” one of the older investors said, swirling his glass of wine.
“You have an impressive vision. It’s not everyday you meet someone who blends innovation with tradition so seamlessly.”
Antonio smiled politely, raising his glass in acknowledgment. “It’s all about understanding people and their needs. Success lies in connection, not just strategy.”
As the conversation continued, Antonio noticed a familiar figure entering the lounge.
Vanessa.
She was dressed to kill, her emerald dress hugging her figure and catching the soft lights of the club. Her makeup was on point, and her confident stride turned a few heads as she walked toward the bar. It always did.
Antonio’s jaw tightened slightly, though his expression remained calm nonetheless.
He didn’t have to think hard to know that she was up to something.
Vanessa always had a knack for showing up where she wasn’t wanted, and tonight was one of such nights. Plus, this was one of his family’s clubs, and so she had no business being there.
He saw her order a drink as she leaned casually against the bar, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Antonio.
A smirk appeared on Vanessa’s lips as she noticed him glance her way briefly before resuming his conversation with the investors.
Perfect; he had seen her. She thought to herself.
Taking her time, Vanessa sipped her drink, ensuring that Antonio was aware of her presence without making it too obvious.
It was something that had worked multiple times for her, and no matter how much a wall Antonio put up, he would fall eventually.
It was amazing what money could do to people and how they would throw away their morals to help her achieve evil plans.
After some time, when she was sure the men were done with whatever conversation they were having, she walked over to the table where Antonio
was.
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“Antonio,” she smiled, her voice dripping with feigned surprise. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Antonio looked up, his expression impassive. “Vanessa.”
The investors exchanged glances, sensing the tension but choosing to stay silent.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” she said, flashing a sweet smile at the investors before turning her attention back to Antonio.
“Just a business meeting.” Antonio replied coolly. “What brings you here?”
“Oh, you know me,” Vanessa said lightly, swirling her martini. “Always where the action is.”
“The action is on the dance floor; why not go have fun over there?” Antonio smiled at her, and even though he did, she could tell he was dismissing
her
The look in his eyes dared her to stay, and she knew if she did, it wouldn’t be good, Smiling back at him, she left.
However, over the next hour, she played her game carefully. Although she didn’t approach him again, she made her presence impossible to ignore.
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Chapter 114
She waited for the perfect moment, and eventually it came as the investors finally stood to leave, shaking Antonio’s hand and expressing their gratitude for his time.
As they exited the lounge, Antonio returned to his seat, intending to finish his drink before heading home.
Time to make my move,‘ she muttered to herself.
She immediately made her way to him with a fresh drink in her hand and placed it on the table in front of him.
“Peace offering?” she said sweetly, gesturing to the drink.
Antonio raised an eyebrow, his gaze steady. “And what exactly are you offering peace for, Vanessa?”
“Let’s just say I’m trying to bury the hatchet,” she replied with a sly smile.
“You’re not that important for me to even have a hatchet with,” Antonio told her, and his words stung, but she brushed it aside.
“I should apologize for the other night; I was drunk, and I didn’t know what I was doing,” she said to him.
“Jeremy and I have been going through some rough times, and I have been doing things I’m not proud of.”
“Things like going around and kissing your sister’s husband,” Antonio remarked.
“I’m sorry,” Vanessa apologized once again.
Antonio opened his mouth to speak, but he was distracted when there was a little commotion downstairs.
Antonio immediately got up to look at what it was all about, and Vanessa used the fact that he was distracted to slip something in his drink.
That way, even if he rejected the one she had spiked, he would still drink the one that he had placed down.
After about a minute, Antonio returned to his seat, and he squinted his eyes on still finding her there.
“Are you still here?” He asked her.
“Come on, Antonio.”
“You have five seconds to get lost before I ask the guards to throw you out,” he hissed in annoyance, and Vanessa immediately got up.
“So rude!” She muttered under her breath as she walked away.
Antonio watched her walk away, after which he picked up the glass and gulped down the contents.
Vanessa’s smirk widened as she watched him do so. Just as expected, he didn’t touch the glass she had brought.
“Too bad, I’m much smarter than you!‘ She muttered to herself as she finally made her way out of the club for phase two.
“Idiot!‘ Antonio said to himself as a smile appeared on his face.
He felt insulted at the fact that Vanessa thought he was dumb not to keep an eye on her even when his eyes weren’t on her.
His sharp eyes had caught the spiking of his drink, and even if he didn’t, he knew that was her intention, and so her plan had failed before it even commenced.
The same way she had spiked his drink when he had taken his eyes off, it was the same way he had switched it while she was walking away.
What a fool!!
Antonio finished his drink, checked his watch, and decided it was time to leave. Zabelle was all alone, and he wanted to get home to her.
As he got up, one of his guards approached him. “Sir, Vanessa has guards in the club,” he informed Antonio.
“Take care of them and make sure you beat them up,” was all Antonio said before heading out.
Meanwhile, Vanessa was already in the hotel suite she had prepared.
She’d instructed her men to escort Antonio to the room once he was completely under the influence of what she had drugged him with
She couldn’t wait to see the look on Zabelle’s face when she would tell her that she slept with Antonio,
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Chapter 114
Vanessa broke out of her thoughts when she heard a knock on her door.
“They’re here,‘ she said to herself as she rushed to open the door, but when she did, it wasn’t Antonio who walked in.
Instead, it was one of the club’s waiters, looking confused and slightly dazed.
Vanessa blinked, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. “Who the hell are you?!” she demanded.
The waiter, unaware of how he’d ended up there, looked around the room in confusion.
“Uh… I don’t know. I was just…”
Before he could finish, Vanessa’s head began to spin, and her body began to get hotter as the heat rushed to her legs.
What the hell?! She cursed inwardly as she staggered slightly, her vision blurring, and she groaned in pain.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” The waiter, who was now alarmed, asked as he instinctively moved to steady her.
.
As he touched her, she felt the burning sensation under her skin reduce, and that was the last thing she remembered before she completely lost her
senses.
****
Antonio walked into his mansion with a smile on his face.
Unknown to her, Antonio had planned how the entire night would go.
He wasn’t oblivious to the fact that Vanessa had gone snooping around and had found out he was going to be at the club tonight.
Knowing Vanessa, he knew she was going to be at the club to try again, and so he had decided to give her a taste of how it felt to be drugged.
The waiter who had served her all night had been drugging her with the same asphoradic she had drugged him with, only that the effect was much
stronger.
The clueless waiter who would show up outside the room she had booked would be the trigger, as he had been sprayed with the same perfume she had made him inhale.
Now all he had to do was wait for the chaos to ensue.
As he walked into the living room, he saw Zabelle sitting on one of the sofas, and she looked up from the couch when she heard him walk in.
On her face was a worried expression, and Antonio felt his heartbeat increase as he was reminded of his newly found feelings for her.
“You’re finally home,” she heaved a sigh of relief as he approached her and sat down beside her.
“Business ran a little long,” he replied, leaning down to kiss her forehead as he wanted to test if he was mistaken, but the feelings of satisfaction that passed through him told him that he wasn’t.
Antonio’s phone buzzed, and when he brought it out, he saw that it was a message from one of his men:
“Mission accomplished. Vanessa won’t be a problem for a while.”
Antonio chuckled softly, slipping the phone back into his pocket. Cheers to the night ending in his favour.
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