"Sean Blair wants to see me?"

Harlan sat on the leather armchair to check up on Sophia, who was standing in front of him in a brazen way. He was stunned by her beauty.

​​

Although Sophia was not a mature woman, she had flawless skin and a pretty face. Still, she was too raw and innocent compared with other women Harlan used to go out with.

But this was what attracted Harlan, and he liked how determined she was when she made the offer.

"Sophia, who is Sean to you?"

"No one."

"Then why does he come to me for you?"

Sophia hated his look, but she had to put up with it. She was here for the negotiation and couldn't afford to displease him and compromise her actions.

"I don't know."

"He came to me two days before, and he came back..."

"I have nothing to do with him. He's only my friend's husband."

"I see."

Harlan stood up and approached Sophia. He lifted her chin up and said, "I agree with what you just offered."

Instead of getting relieved, Sophia got more intense. She closed her eyes in despair and said, "Don't forget what you promised me."

"I always deliver my promise."

"Take a shower. I like clean girls." He ordered immediately.

Sophia got stiff.

"But you haven't released him."

"I will after our business is done. You have to honor your words."

Harlan smiled and stroked Sophia's rosy lips, "I'll be back soon after I get rid of Sean."

"Don't give him a hard time." In a slow voice, she uttered.

"Okay."

Like he would harm Sean.

Catherine got impatient, and then there was Harlan.

Catherine was terribly afraid that if she was late, something bad would happen to Sophia. Then she would chop Harlan to a million pieces to make him regret forever messing with her.

"Sean, welcome to my humble place. Your presence brings light to my humble dwelling."

Harlan asked to entertain Catherine and Sean with the best tea. Then he looked at Catherine brazenly.

"Who is this?"

"She's my wife, Catherine," Sean said, but a sharp tone obviously was threatened.

Catherine glared back at Harlan. She hated how Harlan looked at her because it made her feel like a piece of the commodity.

Harlan smiled and winked at Catherine.

Catherine fought back the urge to puke.

"Mrs. Blair, how do you do? You're a bit young than I thought, aren't you? But you make a lovely match to Sean."

Businessmen knew what to say to other businessmen, especially Harlan. He has seen all sorts of people. Although he was 27, he was as sophisticated as a fox.

"Thanks."

Catherine grabbed Sean's hands, suggesting he get to the subject.

"Sean, you aren't here to have tea, are you?"

"Not really."

"Do you need my help with something tough?"

Sean would not take what Harlan said seriously.

"I have a friend in your place by accident. I want her back."

"Oh, who is she?"

"Sophia Walls."

Harlan was right that Sean came for Sophia.

Harlan smiled and said freely, "Sean, this is a casino, a place to relax and enjoy life. Whoever comes in and goes out has to be checked. How does she come in?"

"You know that."

Catherine sneered and thought how cheeky Harlan was to glorify the casino. It was the reason so many families got broken. In Catherine's heart, it was a hellhole.

"Mrs. Blair, you look mad. Have some tea to quench your fury."

Sean said coldly, "Harlan, we both know Sophia is here. Give her back to us."

Sean wouldn't waste time playing games with Harlan.

"What if I don't?"

Harlan said casually. He was a good-looking man with a clear jawline and tan skin.

But Catherine thought he was a disgusting man. He would prey on women.

"Try it."

Harlan smiled, "Sean, I'm trying to run a business here. Please spare us. It's not easy in my line of work."

That man has no shame, Catherine thought, and she could hit him.

"We talked about this through two days before. Give me 20 million and Sophia, and I will release Tom."

"Let Sophia go, and I don't care about Tom."

Harlan waited so long for a toy he was interested in. He would not give Sophia back without having fun first.

"I might think about it after I get tired with her."

"How dare you!"

Catherine snapped out.

"Harlan, you're in no position to say no."

"Sean, don't get mad. You scare me. Our family is not like yours. If the mayor gets upset and asks for this casino to be shut down, I'm going broke."

"20 million."

Harlan shook his head and said, "That's only one of the terms."

Catherine said without hesitation, "What do you want!''

"I want the money and the girl."

"No way!"

Harlan shrugged the shoulder and said, "I'm the one who can decide."

If Harlan wouldn't let Sophia go, there was nothing Sean would do.

"You can have whatever women you want. So just let Sophia go."

"Mrs. Blair, you are right. I can have any woman. And I want Sophia. Do you like my answer?"

Catherine was so mad that she turned livid.

Sean grabbed her hands to comfort her.

Sean said, "Don't you have a rule that if I win you, you do one thing for me?

Harlan said, "Oh? You want to gamble?"

"Why not?"

"Fine."

Sean said, "If I win, release Sophia."

Harlan looked reluctant. But he made the rules and couldn't break them.

"Fine. What if I win?"

"You can have her and the money."

Harlan said, "But I already have her. That's not good enough for me."

Sean said harshly, "How do you like your odds if the Blair family decides to go against yours?"

"Not much."

There was one mayor, a young marshal, and business talent in the Blair family. They had a wider social network than the Welsh family. They were powerful and wealthy enough to eradicate Welsh family. There was not much Harlan could do.

Neither Sean nor Harlan wanted to wedge the war between two families. They had to solve this in private.